A process to design a future "neighborhood center" in the area of Normandy Park's Manhattan Village will continue with two community workshops on Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Normandy Park Recreation Center, 801 SW 174th St.

All city residents and especially those living or working near the Manhattan Village shopping area are encouraged to attend one or both events.

The Wednesday meeting will introduce a set of conceptual plans for the area, each based on comments from an earlier meeting and previously adopted plans. Facilitators will lead group exercises to identify the best features of each plan and to consider "guiding principles" to lead all planning efforts.

Thursday's event will introduce new schemes developed in response to Wednesday's work, and will ask residents to suggest conditions for the plan's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Consultant Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade, a Spokane-based planning firm, will lead both workshops. Economic consultant Chris Zahas of Leland Consulting and Darren Greve, manager of King County's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program, will also speak during the Thursday session.

The final plan is expected to be complete by December, and will provide policy and strategic guidelines to help improve economic conditions and, over time, attract the type of mixed-use features envisioned by the city's comprehensive plan.

Consultants and the city have set up a project-specific website at www.manhattan-village.org.