2. VISION STATEMENT

The Market Neighborhood is much beloved by both residents and the broader community. The vision for the future is to maintain and enhance the many unique elements that make this neighborhood highly livable, while contributing to Citywide objectives of environmental protection, housing affordability, and mobility.

There are many notable assets of the Market Neighborhood. The Market Neighborhood adjoins downtown Kirkland and sits adjacent to the commercial corridor of Market Street, which provides access to public transportation, and an easy walk to neighborhood shops and services. Bordering Lake Washington, the neighborhood provides public water access, and beautiful lake, city and mountain views that are enjoyed by the community. Importantly, the neighborhood has five parks, Heritage, Lake Avenue West, Waverly, Kiwanis, and Juanita Bay, where the public can enjoy extensive open spaces, walking paths, tennis courts, beaches, and wildlife viewing in natural habitat. The neighborhood is rich in historic buildings and contains a mixture of old and new housing stock. Many mature trees have been preserved, yet public and private westerly views abound along the neighborhood’s topography that slopes down to the lake. Routes for bicycles and pedestrians are present, although partially developed, with valuable potential for future north-south connections. Most of all, people who live in the Market Neighborhood feel a strong sense of connection, they welcome newcomers, and they are actively involved in the local schools and in the broader community.

Priorities for the Market Neighborhood include fostering the elements of the neighborhood that make it highly livable – such as walkable streets, access to parks and the lake, and community connections – while accommodating growth in a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all segments of the population. Street safety for school children and other pedestrians is another priority; increased traffic, increased demand for on-street parking, and missing sidewalk segments pose challenges to safe and easy pedestrian access. And finally, community members are keenly interested in the proposed Greenway along Waverly Way and up Sixth Street West, which could be both a neighborhood and community asset if appropriately implemented.

Annual Independence Day Parade Crossing Central Way onto Market