Future of North Highline: The first joint meeting between King County, Seattle and Burien to discuss the potential annexation of North Highline was held July 31. The three entities earlier in the year entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that commits them to work together, to create an annexation plan that meets agreed-upon objectives. The City Council met the evening of July 31, following the meeting with King County and Seattle officials, to discuss the next steps in the process.

Town Square: Burien Town Square took a big step forward July 17 when the City Council approved a key element of developer Urban Partners’ financial plan for the private portion of the development. Of the estimated total $138 million cost for the private portion of Town Square, Urban Partners has arranged for $40 million in cash equity to come from Westport Capital Partners, L.L.C., a firm that manages institutional real estate investments for pension funds, insurance companies and Wall Street investment banking houses, and from a subsidiary of Urban Partners LLC. When completed in 2009, Town Square will have more than 300 condominiums and apartments, retail shops, restaurants, professional offices, a new City Hall/Library and a one-acre public plaza and park, which will become the community’s main gathering space.