r/Kirkland

Is this a domestic goose?

The 39,000-square-foot H-100 space in Kirkland Urban South, intended for a movie theater, has been leased to an undisclosed luxury fitness club.

Staff notes from the January pre-submittal meeting (PRE25-00912) describe converting the theater-designed space to retail fitness use. The City confirmed that a fitness club is permitted and would not require a master plan modification. Proposed improvements include new storefront glazing and relocating the main entrance approximately 30 feet south.

The subsequent permit application (BNR26-06772), submitted this September and currently under review, proposes reclassifying the space from A-1 theater occupancy to A-3 assembly occupancy and filling the theater pits to create a level floor.

While the lease is official, no tenant improvement application has been filed and no tenant has been publicly announced. Equinox, a New York-based luxury fitness club, is rumored to be the anchor tenant. Represented locally by Real Retail, Equinox has been exploring the Eastside market since opening its long-delayed, 50,000-square-foot Seattle location at Rainier Square in May 2025. Memberships at the Seattle location start at approximately $275 per month before tax.

For many, eliminating the planned movie theater breaks a longstanding promise to the Kirkland community. For nearly two decades, developers have presented a theater as a key component of the Parkplace redevelopment master plan. Parkplace Cinema’s closure in 2016 was an immense loss, and residents and the City Council have advocated for a replacement. That year, iPic announced plans for a seven-screen, 450-seat theater, but the deal collapsed following the company’s 2019 bankruptcy. Since KU South opened in 2023, the theater space, pits and all, has remained vacant.

The applicant’s project team includes CollinsWoerman as architect and BNBuilders as contractor.

Greetings!

There is a black bunny (possibly a Havana rabbit) under the hedges in the area outlined. I don't have the resources or knowledge to trap the little guy, but perhaps someone here does. I haven't tried approaching it, but it seems domestic.

The area is specifically across from Peter Kirk Park, 10 feet from Arete.

Update on 10/10/26: I have placed a box with blankets and veggies inside. Fingers crossed!

Found this old article (https://www.theurbanist.org/kirkland-moves-to-add-dedicated-funding-stream-for-safety-projects-but-bikes-mostly-a-side-note/) that outlined potential plans to add a protected promenade for pedestrians and cyclists.

Since moving to Kirkland a few years ago I’ve enjoyed walking along the waterfront, however whenever I bike along Lake St I am always nervous about getting doored by parked cars. Also biking into the downtown Kirkland zone is always sketchy.

Does anyone know more about the city’s plans for bike infrastructure?