Mill Creek’s South Town Center Plan: A Much Bigger Downtown Could Be Coming

Mill Creek has approved a long-term plan that could significantly expand the city’s existing Town Center.

The project is called the South Town Center, and despite the name, it is not one new building or a single construction project. It is a plan for gradually redeveloping approximately 82 acres south of the current Mill Creek Town Center.

If the full vision eventually becomes reality, this area could look very different over the next 10 to 20 years.

Where Is the South Town Center?

The project area generally stretches from Bothell Everett Highway west toward North Creek. It begins near Mill Creek City Hall North and continues south to the QFC property across 164th Street.

Today, much of this area consists of older commercial buildings, city property, streets, and large parking lots.

The city’s goal is to create a more walkable extension of the existing Town Center with new housing, businesses, parks, trails, and public gathering spaces.

What Could Be Built?

The city’s long-term plan allows for the possibility of:

• Approximately 5,567 new homes
• More than 233,000 square feet of commercial and retail space
• New restaurants, shops, offices, and services
• Structured parking instead of relying primarily on large surface parking lots
• Approximately five acres of new parks and public open space
• Improved connections to the North Creek Trail
• New sidewalks, bike connections, crossings, landscaping, and gathering areas

The plan also preserves approximately 15 acres around the North Creek natural area.

One of the proposed public spaces is a central park that could be used for markets, community events, outdoor seating, and everyday recreation. Other ideas include a North Creek Gateway Park and a public area that combines open space with better stormwater management.

How Tall Could the Buildings Be?

Most new buildings could be up to approximately five stories or 60 feet tall.

Developers may be allowed to build as high as approximately seven stories or 85 feet if their projects provide additional public benefits. Those benefits could include public open space, better pedestrian connections, environmental improvements, or enhanced streets and landscaping.

This means the future South Town Center could include buildings with homes above shops, restaurants, offices, and other businesses.

Is Construction Starting Soon?

This is the part that is easy to misunderstand.

Mill Creek has approved the overall plan and development rules, but the city is not preparing to build the entire project itself. There is no single developer responsible for rebuilding the full area, and there is no set date when everything will be demolished or construction will begin.

Individual property owners will decide whether and when they want to sell or redevelop their properties. Each future project will still need to go through its own application and approval process.

The estimated 5,567 homes represent what the area could potentially support at full buildout. It does not mean all of those homes are already approved for construction.

Development will likely happen in phases and could take many years. The final result will depend on property owners, private developers, market conditions, infrastructure improvements, and available funding.

What Could This Mean for Mill Creek?

If even a large portion of the plan is completed, it could become one of the biggest changes Mill Creek has experienced in decades.

The new housing could give buyers and renters more options, particularly people who want to live close to restaurants, shopping, trails, and public transportation. More residents could also help support local businesses and bring additional restaurants and services into the area.

At the same time, growth on this scale will naturally raise questions about traffic, parking, schools, utilities, and how existing businesses will be affected.

The intersection of 164th Street and Bothell Everett Highway is already one of the busiest areas around Mill Creek. How the city handles transportation and infrastructure will be an important part of whether the South Town Center feels like a connected downtown or simply a much denser development.

What Happens Next?

The city has created the framework, but the actual redevelopment will depend heavily on private property owners and developers.

The first signs of change may come through individual property sales, development applications, road improvements, or proposals for specific sections of the South Town Center.

For now, the most accurate way to describe the project is this:

Mill Creek has approved a plan that could eventually extend its existing Town Center into a much larger mixed-use downtown district, but the transformation will happen gradually rather than through one immediate construction project.

You can review the maps, development standards, and current project information on the City of Mill Creek’s South Town Center project page.

I will continue following this project as individual developments are proposed and more details become available.

Information and Sources

This article is based on publicly available information from the City of Mill Creek as of September 10, 2026. The South Town Center is a long-term planning framework, and proposed buildings, timelines, businesses, housing totals, public improvements, and other details may change. Readers should confirm current information and individual development proposals directly with the City of Mill Creek.

Thinking About Buying or Selling in Mill Creek?

Large redevelopment plans can influence housing demand, traffic patterns, nearby businesses, and how buyers view different parts of a city. However, the possible effect on an individual property depends heavily on its location, housing type, price point, and proximity to the project.

If you are considering buying or selling in Mill Creek, I can help you look beyond the headlines and understand what the current market and future changes could mean for your specific situation.

Brandice Raybourn
Real Estate Broker
Coldwell Banker Danforth

brandice@brandiceraybour.com

425-367-3881