Rainier Food Innovation District
Seattle, WA
The Rainier Beach station area along Seattle’s Central Link light rail corridor had a unique opportunity to combine its urban farms and light industrial zone to become a hub of food and agricultural production.
Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development teamed with VIA Architecture and Jonathan Rose Enterprises to create an Innovation District development strategy for this area, building on Rainier Beach’s unique assets. A key piece of this strategy is the creation of a new district zoning classification that would incentivize industrial and flexible incubator uses while promoting a vibrant, sustainable and walkable urban environment.
In addition, VIA worked facilitated a coalition of community members, not-for-profits, educational institutions and city agencies to work together on a preliminary site design study, i.e. test fit, for a preferred food innovation facility and educational opportunity center to catalyze a transformation of the Rainier Beach station area into a center for employment, education and entrepreneurship for the community; this will serve as a catalyst project for the Food Innovation District.
