Downtown Subarea Plan Update

What is the Downtown Subarea Plan?

Downtown Bothell looks very different than it did 15 years ago. New residents, new businesses, and major improvements to streets, sidewalks, and public spaces have made the area more vibrant, active, and welcoming.

The 2009 Downtown Subarea Plan laid the blueprint for this transformation. The plan guided infrastructure improvements, new housing, businesses, and public spaces, helping create a lively, walkable downtown where people can live, work, shop, and gather.

Why Update the Plan?

As downtown Bothell continues to evolve, the community needs a renewed vision to guide the next 20 years of growth. The Downtown Subarea Plan Update will assess current conditions and help shape an inclusive, forward-looking vision for downtown's buildings, transportation systems, public spaces, and economy.

The Existing Conditions section of the plan provides a detailed snapshot of downtown today and serves as a foundation for the plan update. View the Existing Conditions section to learn more.

How Will the Community Be Involved?

Community input is key to shaping the Downtown Subarea Plan Update. Throughout the project, the City and its consultant team will host a variety of ways for people to get involved, making sure a wide range of voices are heard. Special efforts will be made to reach underserved and marginalized groups.

Early engagement activities are already underway. In June–July 2025, the City conducted an initial community survey to gather early input and understand priorities for downtown. View the Survey Results.

The City also recruited community members to serve on the Downtown Ambassador Committee, which is the project's steering committee. This team will meet four times over the course of the project to provide more detailed input on plan deliverables and help spread the word to the broader community.

How to Get Involved

1. Follow the project online. Create an account and click the "follow" button at the top of this page to receive updates.

2. Submit feedback and ideas. Email us directly at imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov

3. Provide comments on the draft plan. Comments can be provided online through August 31, 2026.

4. Come to the Open House on July 22. Join us at the Open House on July 22 to learn more about the draft plan and continue to check this page for additional project updates. Visit the Event Page for more details.