New information about Burien Town Square will be presented to the public by developer Urban Partners LLC at a community meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The first hour of the meeting at Burien City Hall and the Town Square site will be held in the parking lot next to Gottschalks, where the public plaza will be built.

People will be able to view different plans and studies at several booths set up in the lot. The displays will be set up and ready for viewing at 6 p.m. for people who would like to arrive early.

Urban Partners representatives and city officials will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

A formal presentation and question-and-answer session will be held during the second part of the meeting inside city hall with Urban Partners and city officials.

Community residents who want more information or have questions about Town Square are encouraged to attend this important meeting.

The city has entered into partnership with Urban Partners and the King County Library System for the $130 million development west of Southwest Fourth Avenue Southwest between Southwest 150th and Southwest 152nd streets in the heart of Burien.

Urban Partners has conducted a market study of Burien and determined that most, if not all, of the housing units will be sold to private owners as condominiums. Prior to the market study, Urban Partners planned for the housing to be high-end rental apartments with some condominiums.

City council and community members have expressed a strong preference for condominiums.

At the Sept. 15 meeting, Urban Partners will present results of the market study and the proposed mix of condominiums, such as the number of studios versus one bedroom and two-bedroom homes.

Urban Partners will begin conducting focus groups later this year with prospective condo buyers to determine the exact mix of units, sizes of and features in the condos, as well as other amenities at the complex.

Persons interested in more information on the residences at Town Square can sign up on an interest list at www.burientownsquare.com or at the Sept. 15 community meeting.

Urban Partners will also present plans for the southwest corner of Town Square, where the empty Gottschalks building now stands. A multi-plex cinema along with retail stores has been suggested for this site, although it could be used for additional housing.

Plans for affordable housing will be presented. The City is in line to receive $1.4 million from the King County Housing Authority for a small number of affordable housing units as part of Burien Town Square.

Construction of Town Square is expected to begin in 2006 and continue through 2010.