A major redevelopment of Renton Housing Authority property – Sunset Terrace – would increase affordable housing in the Highlands and maybe even attract new stores and businesses to Sunset Boulevard.
This area has long struggled with deteriorating World War II-era housing and streets, sewage lines and other public infrastructure that have seen better times and in some cases have failed.
For city officials and neighborhood leaders, including those who served on Highlands’ task forces, it’s the chance to revitalize an area where elected leaders and the community couldn’t find the common political ground to make it happen.
So, now the Renton Housing Authority, with the help of federal money and in partnership with some key private and public agencies, wants to see built hundreds of new housing units.
A centerpiece of the plan is an urban village where generations of families can live, learn and work, no matter their economic well-being.
“The connection between housing, education and jobs is very important to us,” said Mark Gropper, the housing authority’s executive director.
Federal money, including from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing, will play a key role in paying for the redevelopment, which would go beyond just the public housing at Sunset Terrace. The City of Renton sees this as a chance to revitalize Sunset Boulevard itself, with improved intersections, bike trails and sidewalks.
To tear down and replace Sunset Terrace alone is estimated to cost about $110 million, according to Gropper. It was built in the 1950s and while it is still “a vibrant community,” Sunset Terrace is expensive to maintain, he said.
Under the development option favored by the housing authority, about 310 housing units would be built in this part of the Highlands. Housing densities would increase and would include a mix of public, private and market-rate units.
Buildings would go up, multi-story, and not spread out.
It all starts with Sunset Terrace.
A 100-unit public-housing project, Sunset Terrace dominates the bend in Sunset Boulevard Northeast near Harrington Avenue. At a minimum, the housing authority is required to replace those 100 units with another 100 units of housing. That means, for example, replacing eight four-bedroom apartments with a like number.
But beyond creating affordable housing, the housing authority wants to incorporate a new KCLS library branch in its “urban village.” The library and other amenities would become part of a large pedestrian plaza.
Now based in Renton, the Providence Health and Services wants to develop a senior-housing complex, newly named Providence John Gabriel House, as part of the redevelopment. A PACE facility would go on the first floor, providing health care to seniors from all over Renton.
“We are ecstatic about bringing such a facility to Renton,” Gropper said.
There’s also a matter of logistics – where to house families while their new ones are built.
Part of that answer is already known. The housing authority has received a federal grant of nearly $2 million to build townhomes on property it owns on Glennwood Avenue. They would replace eight, four-bedroom apartments at Sunset Terrace. This grant was awarded to the housing authority by the King County Department of Community Services, Housing Finance Program.
The housing authority is working with the City of Renton to develop properties away from the Sunset Terrace for more homes, which could involve a land swap.
The housing authority will seek additional federal funds for housing, including for the Providence project, later this year.
The housing authority’s vision is spelled out in detail in the final environmental review for the project.
But this document is also what’s called a “planned action.” That means future proposals in the geographic area covered by the environmental review won’t need to go through a similar review if they meet development requirements already spelled out.
The public can testify on the “Sunset Area Planned Action and EIS” on April 6 at a hearing before the Renton Planning Commission.
Sunset hearing
The public hearing before the Renton Planning Commission is 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in City Council chambers on the seventh floor of City Hall, 1055 S. Grady Way. Written testimony also is accepted. Send that testimony to Erika Conkling, Senior Planner- Department of Community and Economic Development- 1055 S. Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 or econkling@rentonwa.gov. All written comments must include your full name and mailing address. The public can view the Sunset Area FEIS online at rentonwa.gov or at City Hall.
