Block E has the theatre fa ade and maybe the new planetarium could have a theatre fa ade on Hennepin. The 2010 Plan, Development Objectives and zoning regulations encourage the use of open spaces. The Library could enhance its connections to the River and to the greenspace. An open plaza could draw people attending events at the Convention Center. The Development Objectives call for short-term parking in the core of downtown.
Minimal parking is encouraged in the core and if it is added, underground parking is preferred.
The Seattle Experience Deborah Jacobs, Director, Seattle Public Library, made a presentation on the planning and process for the new Seattle Central Library noting that most of the information is available on the Seattle Public Library website. There was extensive public involvement through the use of no less than 20 different public groups. About 500 attended the first of the public architect interviews and 950 at the second interview process. The Building Program is planned for 25 years for the collection and 50 years for the building. The new building will accommodate 1.45 million volumes with the majority of the collection in open shelves and the rest onsite in compact shelving.