The first steps toward a major revitalization of the Sunset area of the Highlands was taken today with the groundbreaking for eight, four-bedroom townhomes.

The Glennwood Townhomes on Glennwood Avenue off Sunset Boulevard Northeast in Renton are just the beginning of the Renton Housing Authorty’s 10-year effort to replace Sunset Terrace public housing project that has stood for more than 60 years.

The redevelopment will include replacing all of Sunset Terrace’s 100 units in a new mixed-use neighborhood that will have as one of its anchors the new Highlands branch of the King County Library System.

The groundbreaking was attended by Renton, King County and Renton Housing Authority officials, as well as representatives of the development company, Colpitts Development.

Work will start on the new townhomes in the next couple weeks, said Mark Gropper, the housing authority’s executive director, who said it took “literally hundreds of people” to bring the project together.

The redevelopment will provide quality housing for all, he said. No longer will it be possible to differentiate the housing of those with money and those without, he said.

“Those days are long behind us,” he said.

Residents will move into the new townhomes next fall, setting the stage for work to begin on the new library.

Gariye and Sadomosamed Jofey and their four children, who have lived in Sunset Terrace for six years, will be among the first to move to the new townhomes.

“We are grateful,” said Gariye Jofey, a native of Somalia, who gave brief comments at the groundbreaking. He and his wife have six children in all, including two whom they’ve sent to college.

Mayor Denis Law also spoke, saying the redevelopment will help create a vibrant and attractive neighborhood that the city hopes will stimulate other public and private development.

Major funding for the project, nearly $2 million, came from the King County HOME funds. The Washington Community Reinvestment Association contributed $750,000. The housing authority has donated the land and Renton has contributed funds  and waived fees.