Ever heard of “Uptown Triangle”? I haven't either. But it's shown in this map.

Historically, the area is distinguished by warehouses, wide roads (such as Dexter and Aurora), and, well, not much else. But now a group of property and business owners—who insist that it has potential to become rather lively—are pushing the city to let them redevelop the 36-acres southeast of Queen Anne.

The Uptown Alliance along with architect Craig Hanway of the Queen Anne Community Council (QACC) presented a plan (.pdf) to the City Council's Committee on Built Environment last Wednesday to spruce up this area. The proposal includes changing city rules for new, taller buildings, affordable housing, more trees, and a transit center.

Hanway told The Stranger that the proposal seeks to give the triangle (which is squeezed between Aurora and the Seattle Center and sometimes called “the lost triangle”) an identity. Ideas range from a complete rebranding (maybe calling it Denny Hill?) to creating plazas, parks, and bike lanes to make the place more accessible and lively.

Hanway said that neighbors in the area southeast of Queen Anne are witnessing tremendous growth around them—such as the recent arrival of Amazon and the Gates Foundation in South Lake Union—and want to see more housing and retail to encourage people to live close to where they work. "A sustainable urban village," to be precise, Hanway said, complete with transit-oriented development, pedestrian-friendly retail, and urban farming.

The triangle’s proponents hope the project will benefit from the rebuilding of the Mercer Mess and the northern portal of the proposed deep bored tunnel, which would open up transportation options by reconfiguring street grids.

Both the committee and the city's Department of Planning and Development (DPD) dig the proposal, but acknowledged that this is a bad time for development. DPD is in the middle of a budget crisis and is facing major layoffs. Still, the Uptown Alliance and the QACC want some money ($100,000 or more) from the city to conduct a study required to change any development rules. “Clearly, it will be a challenge,” said DPD spokesperson Alan Justad. "We are hopeful," said Hanway.