What kind of light rail retail, housing, etc. development do you want to see?

As part of the construction of the Capitol Hill Light Rail station (CHS light rail posts), Sound Transit will be leading a process to sell development rights for the area surrounding the coming transit hub. You'll hear this process referred to as Transit Oriented Development -- when you hear that phrase, you'll probably want to pay attention. How the rules and guidelines for the Capitol Hill station development shake out will help determine the kinds of housing, retail and community spaces that will shape around the Broadway station.

It's the start of a long discussion -- the development bidding process likely won't get started until after 2012 with retail, housing, etc. not opening until 2015 or 2016 when the station opens.

But it's time to start talking about it now. Next step in the TOD process is a series of planned community forums starting in March and continuing into 2010. The tentative schedule for the forums is below. If you have questions or suggestions about the topics and schedule, contact Michelle Ginder michelle.ginder@soundtransit.org

More about some of the issues below as the forums approach. I'm especially interested in the future of Nagle Place as an interesting opportunity for pedestrian use near Cal Anderson. The March forum on issues including Community Uses should also be interesting. We've written in past about the need for a community meeting place near the core of Capitol Hill. This process could be one way to set a plan for that in motion.