The City's highly focused efforts to revitalize its downtown
are recognized through the public and private projects
that have been taking shape within the urban core. These
efforts were launched in 1996 when the City relocated
existing downtown car dealerships to the new Automall.
The City acquired the land as a catalyst for new residential,
retail, transit and open spaces as part of the revitalization.
Click on the map points below to learn more about
area amenities.
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Highlights completed to date include:
Relocating
auto dealerships from the downtown to the new Automall
on Grady Way;
Designing
and building a pedestrian-friendly street with urban
amenities such as benches and sidewalk treatments;
Creation
of a beautiful new urban park, the Piazza, which provides
a space for community-wide special events and activities,
including the Renton Farmers Market and the Cinema
on the Piazza;
Construction
of a new Regional Transit Center, a partnership between
the City, King County and Metro;
Construction
of City Center Parking, a $9 million City-owned parking
garage adjacent to the transit center. The seven-story,
562-space garage provides parking for shoppers, commuters,
employees and other downtown visitors;
$2 million renovation of the Pavilion Building,
a City-owned structure with 11,783 square feet of
usable area plus patio space. The Pavilion Building
is leased to the Spirit
of Washington Event Center to operate an event,
banquet and meeting facility;
Working with Dally Homes to establish
three multi-family development projects near the urban
core, bringing people into the heart of the City;
The Renaissance is a mixed-use
development featuring 110-residential units, a parking
garage and 6,000 square feet of retail space. According
to developer Don Dally, this project was rented out
faster than any other Eastside development in history;
Burnett Station is a 58-unit
urban-style residential mixed-use development with
5,000 square feet of retail space;
Metropolitan Place, a transit-oriented development
featuring 90 apartments and a two level park-and-ride
lot;
Working with Centex Homes to build the 37-unit 55
Williams development, the first condominium project
in downtown Renton;
These new investments in downtown have encouraged the development of other projects surrounding the area including a remodeled Super Safeway, a new Walgreens and a number of new restaurants, including Melrose Grill, The Met coffee and wine bar, Giant's Causeway Irish pub and the Red House Beer & Wine Shoppe Tapas Bar, plus a new home for the Whistle Stop Ale House.
A VISION 2020 award from the Puget
Sound Regional Council honored Renton for its exceptional
downtown revitalization efforts in 2000. The award spotlighted
the efforts that support a strong community, efficient
transportation and a healthy environment for the central
Puget Sound region. In 2002, Renton was honored with
the award once again for the success of the regional
transit center and its transit-oriented development.
The City's goal for downtown Renton
is to create a pedestrian-oriented area that contains
a lively mix of residential, office, retail and entertainment
opportunities within walking distance of each other.
