Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachment-A-Existing Conditions & Community Profile 2024RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 1 Renton Community Profile & Existing Conditions Introduction and Context Located southeast of Seattle along the southern edge of Lake Washington, the City of Renton’s vision is to be the center of opportunity in the Puget Sound region, where families and businesses thrive. The City is dedicated to providing a range of housing options affordable to all residents, attracting clean, high-paying jobs, providing high-quality multi-modal transit options, and providing a range of amenities and services to keep Renton a great place to live, work, learn, and visit. Renton is a diverse city with a strong sense of community and many established neighborhoods. The City prioritizes consistent and equitable engagement with its residents, businesses, and organizations to facilitate and foster healthy, vibrant communities and involve those in the decision-making that affects their communities. Community Planning Areas Renton includes many distinct communities, each with unique qualities, attributes, and amenities. In 2008, Renton established Community Planning Areas to better align city planning and services to the local experience of Renton’s community members (see Exhibit 1). The Community Planning Areas provide a valuable framework to engage stakeholders in identifying shared vision and goals for each of Renton’s distinct communities. The City’s Comprehensive Plan provides an overall framework for the city and its role within the county and region. Under this unifying vision, community planning allows neighborhood stakeholders to work together refine solutions based on local conditions. Community Planning Areas RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 2 Exhibit 1. Renton Community Planning Areas Sources: City of Renton, 2020; King County GIS, 2020; BERK, 2020. Zoning Map RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 3 Benson Renton’s Benson Hill includes 2,960 acres of predominantly residential uses with two major commerce centers in the southeastern portion of Renton. Several parks, trails, and major utility corridors provide lots of opportunities for recreation. Approximately 300 acres of Benson Hill is an undeveloped wildlife corridor, wetlands, and other natural areas, leaving water quality and wildlife habitat important considerations for the area. Plans by Reference: Benson Hill Community Plan Cedar River The Cedar River flows directly through the Cedar River community planning area. Along the river is the Cedar River Trail, a regional trail offering a scenic setting for runners, walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Cedar River is also home to notable attractions, such as the Renton Civic Theater, Renton Community Center, Henry Moses Aquatic Center, and Maplewood Golf Course, which offer activities for Renton residents and visitors to the city. RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 4 City Center Renton’s City Center is in the heart of the City of Renton. The City Center’s boundaries are generally Lake Washington to the North, I-405 to the south and east, and Lind Avenue SW and Rainier Avenue to the west. The City Center is a unique area that is comprised of diverse activities and land uses ranging from airport industrial uses to regional and local retail districts to residential neighborhoods. PSRC’s VISION 2050 designates City Center as a Regional Growth Center intended to include a mix of uses and activities connected by efficient transportation. Plans Adopted by Reference: City Center Community Plan and Puget Sound Regional Council’s Regional Growth Strategy East Plateau East Plateau is Renton’s eastern most neighborhood East Plateau is largely residential area and contains both single unit detached and attached housing options. East Plateau has the highest average household income out of all Renton’s community planning areas. RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 5 Fairwood Fairwood is one of the City’s Potential Annexation Areas. It is east of Benson and offers a variety of recreation opportunities, including Lake Desire and Shady Lake, Petrovitsky Park, and Fairwood Golf & Country Club. Fairwood offers residential areas, a variety of civic uses (such as the Fairwood Library and Northwood Middle School), and commercial centers. Highlands Located in northeast Renton, the Highlands planning area has the greatest population of all of Renton’s community planning areas at 31,570 residents. Highlands has a large BIPOC [black, indigenous, and persons of color] population, as well as a high number of foreign-born populations and residents with Limited English Proficiency near commercial areas in the neighborhood. The area offers a variety of activities for Renton residents and visitors alike; the neighborhood is home to the Jimi Hendrix Memorial, several parks, and Renton Technical College, a community college offering academic degrees and certificates in professional-technical fields. Highlands has a strong commercial district and is home to many local restaurants and shops. RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 6 Kennydale Located in Northern Renton and along the shores of Lake Washington, Kennydale boasts beautiful shoreline views and swimming and boating opportunities at Kennydale Beach Park. Kennydale is largely residential, though the neighborhood does have pockets of commercial uses and public uses, such as Renton Fire Station 15 and Kennydale Elementary School. The Kennydale CPA is relatively less diverse compared to other parts of Renton, though there is a high number of households with Limited English Proficiency and foreign born populations, especially east of I- 405 and south of May Creek Park. Talbot Talbot offers a variety of recreation opportunities, from playground fun at Victoria Park Children’s Park to pickleball at Talbot Hill Reservoir Park. Talbot contains the Valley Medical Center, though is largely residential and features many tree lined neighborhood streets with townhomes, apartments, and single, detached dwellings. Talbot has a large BIPOC population, as well as a large number of residents with Limited English Proficiency. RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 7 Valley Largely commercial in nature, Renton’s Valley is one of the City’s main job hubs, home to IKEA, business parks, and a variety of other commercial uses. Fostering easy connections to and from the area is the Tukwila Sounder Station, located on the western boundary of the area. The Black River and Springbrook Creek run through Valley. Valley has the smallest number of residents of the Community Panning areas with 917 residents. West Hill West Hill is almost entirely comprised of another one of the City’s Potential Annexation Areas. It lies west of Renton and borders Lake Washington and the City of Seattle. Much of West Hill is residential with commercial nodes and parks. The West Hill community planning area has one of the greatest proportions of BIPOC residents, as nearly three quarters (74%) of the CPA residents are BIPOC. RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 8 Zoning Map Sources: City of Renton, 2020; King County GIS, 2020; BERK, 2020. Community Profile RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 9 Community Profile Located at the center of the Puget Sound Region, Renton is a growing and diverse city. Renton has more than doubled in population since 2000, through both annexation and by residents moving in. Renton is growing at a rate slightly lower than King County as a whole, but faster than other cities such as Tukwila, Kent, and Burien. Exhibit 2. Renton Population, 2000 – 2023 Sources: WA OFM, 2023; BERK, 2023. Renton’s age profile is like King County as a whole, with about a quarter of the population being children (23%) and adults ages 70 and older comprising about 8% of the population. Like King County, the average age of a Renton resident has become older due to an increase in the proportion of the population aged 60 years and older and a reduction in the proportion of the population that is younger than 19 years. Exhibit 3. Renton Population by Age, 2010 & 2020 Sources U.S. Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020; BERK, 2020. Renton has long been a home to waves of new Americans and today is diverse community in which no one racial or ethnic group makes up most of the population (see Exhibit 4). The Duwamish tribe, and more broadly the Coast Salish people, are the original stewards of the land on which Renton sits. The community composition today reflects Renton’s colonial history as well as historical inequities that limited housing opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) households. While no neighborhood in Renton is completely comprised of a single or even two racial or ethnic groups, there are communities with significantly greater representation of specific racial and ethnic groups, such as Asian populations in the East Plateau and Benson Planning Areas, Black populations in the Highlands, Talbot, and Benson Planning Areas, Hispanic/Latino populations in the Highlands Planning Area, and White populations along the shoreline in the Kennydale and the Cedar River Planning Areas. Exhibit 4 displays the distribution of population by the most common race or ethnicity categories. Community Profile RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 10 Exhibit 4. Distribution of Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2020 Sources: U.S. Decennial Census, 2020; BERK, 2023. Community Profile RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 11 All households need safe, affordable housing, access to services, transportation, and economic opportunity. Household income is the primary driver of access to services and housing and is relevant to understanding the needs for services and economic opportunity in a community. Renton household income spans a broad range, with representation all along the income spectrum. Exhibit 5. Household Income, 2010 & 2021 Sources: ACS 5-year estimates, 2006-2010 and 2017-2021; BERK 2023. In 2021, about 42% of Renton’s households had incomes above $100,000. Between 2010 and 2021, Renton experienced an increase in the proportion of households with incomes above $100,000 and a loss of households with incomes less than $100,000 with the greatest reductions in households earning between $25,000 and $39,999. Some of the loss of households with incomes in the lower ranges may be the result of household incomes rising, but likely also could include the displacement of households with lower incomes out of Renton. Household income patterns vary across racial and ethnic groups. Renton’s households led by a person that identifies as Black, Hispanic, or American Indian or Alaska Native have lower median incomes than Renton’s households led by someone who identifies as White and Asian. More than half of American Indian or Alaska Native households (53%) have household incomes of less than 80% of King County median income (see Exhibit 6 on the next page). Housing policies must ensure enough variety in housing opportunity and offer protective measures for vulnerable populations to reduce housing disparities across racial and ethnic groups. Household Income in the Regional Context Located in the center of the Puget Sound region, Renton’s housing market is shaped by influences across the region. Many of Renton’s residents work outside the city, and many people who work in Renton live elsewhere. To better characterize local housing and service needs, household income is benchmarked to the area median income. Washington cities and counties use area median income categories established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for King and Snohomish Counties. Due to data lags, household and housing estimates are based on self-reported 2019 household income and adjusted for household size. The HUD-reported 2019 Median Income (4-person household) is $108,500. HUD also establishes income- limits based that account for account for household size and areas of unusually high median incomes to determine eligibility for housing assistance programs. 2019 HUD-defined income limits (4-person household): • 80% AMI = $88,250 • 50% AMI = $55,350 • 30% AMI = $33,200 Community Profile RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS DRAFT October 9, 2023 12 Exhibit 6: Proportion of Households by Race and Income, 2019 bullets that follow, based on the social vulnerability of current residents; evidence of demographic change associated with gentrification; and changes in market 0-30% AMI All Asian alone, non-Hispanic White alone, non-Hispanic NHOPI alone, non-Hispanic Black alone, non-Hispanic AIAN alone, non-Hispanic Hispanic, any race 30-50% AMI 50-80% AMI 80-100% AMI 100% + AMI prices relative to city-wide patterns.  Social vulnerability is assessed based on the factors that would make it difficult for a household to find new housing in the area if they should be displaced from their current unit. This includes the share of households that rent, the share of the population that identifies as a person of color, and median income relative to the countywide median income.  Demographic change is the change over time (e.g., 2010 to 2021) in the BIPOC share of the population and proportion of households with household incomes of less than 80% of King County AMI. Patterns are assessed for how much they deviate from countywide patterns. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy data (based on 2015-2019 ACS 5-year estimates); BERK, 2023. Displacement Risk Displacement occurs when people are forced out of their homes for reasons beyond their control. Local planning laws and regulations can influence displacement by restricting housing supply, discouraging investment or maintenance of existing housing, or insufficiently managing exposure to environmental hazards such as flooding, urban heat, or air pollution. Exhibit 7 presents an assessment of displacement risk, further identified in  Market prices are assessed based on whether the area was relatively affordable in 2015 and changes in rent for occupied rental units between 2010 and 2021. The results from these three risk factors are evaluated to assign a displacement risk score for the entire census tract. For example, an area with high social vulnerability, no demographic change, but accelerating market prices would have a high displacement risk. Measuring by census tract provides a high-level screening of displacement risk, but the effects of displacement may be concentrated in a much smaller area such as a neighborhood or few square blocks. 28% 48% 12% 15% 50% 32% 14% 10% 33% 11% 33% 13% 36% 9% 13% 12% 16% 16% 9% 28% 22% 25% 15% 25% 13% 12% 12% 44% 15% 14% 30% 9% 8% 16% Community Profile RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 13 Exhibit 7: Displacement Risk by Census Tract, City of Renton Sources: U.S. Decennial Census 2010 and 2020; ACS 5-year estimates, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, 2017-2021; BERK 2023. Housing Conditions RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 14  The Highlands Planning Area has the highest degree of displacement risk. The Highlands Planning Area had relatively affordable rents in 2015 but has seen higher rent increases through 2021 than other areas of the city. In addition, the population has higher rates of social vulnerability. The Highlands Planning Area has the greatest number of BIPOC-identified people compared to all other planning areas as well as high proportions of renters and lower average household incomes compared to county-wide patterns. Housing Conditions Housing Supply Renton needs a wide variety of housing and neighborhood types to meet the needs of all Renton’s residents. In 2023, Renton has an estimated 43,921 housing units (see Exhibit 8). This represents an increase of 4,991 units since 2010 with an average annual growth rate of .93%. Exhibit 8: Total Housing Units in Renton, 2000 - 2023  The Benson Planning Area has a mixed finding of displacement risk. Higher displacement risk is associated with the area between SE 168th St and SE Petrovitsky Road which includes a higher proportion of apartment housing. Higher displacement risk is associated with the areas East of SR515 which has moderately high proportions of renters and higher proportions of people who identify as BIPOC, particularly Hispanic and Latino people.  The analysis suggests that displacement may have already occurred in the central part of the Talbot Planning Area south of S 43rd Street based on the area lagging the county-wide 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Total Housing Units 43,921 22,676 Annexed Housing Units 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2023 change in BIPOC population. However, since the area already had a high proportion of BIPOC people, which continued to increase between 2010 and 2020, the analysis likely overstates the finding of displacement.  The analysis indicates high displacement risk in the Valley Planning Area. However, only 0.7% of the population associated with the census tract lies within Renton city boundaries. Most of the residential areas in the census tract are within the jurisdiction of the City of Tukwila. Sources: WA OFM, 2023; BERK, 2023. Renton’s housing stock includes a mix of single unit, detached homes and attached homes in multiunit formats. About one quarter of Renton’s housing stock has been built since 2000 (see Exhibit 9), including a mixture of single unit, detached housing and attached housing including apartment and condominium housing. Housing Conditions RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 15 Exhibit 9: Renton Housing Units by Year Built, 2023 Sources: King County Assessor, 2020; BERK, 2020. Market Conditions Housing development in Renton has largely kept pace with expected demands from regional projections. However, lower than needed housing production across the region has led to shortfalls in housing supply putting pressure on the Renton market. Exhibit 10 presents trends in Renton home values between January 2010 and July 2023. The 2008-2009 Great Recession caused a slight drop in prices that lasted through the end of 2012. Prices rebounded by 2014 and increased until 2022. In July 2023, Renton’s median home value was $717,804 representing a 104% increase since July of 2010. An even higher precent increase of +141% is observed for homes in the 5th to 35th percentile range, a range that is typically associated with first-time homeownership. Exhibit 10. Renton Home Value Change, 2010 – 2023 $1,200K July 2023 Value & % Change Since 2010 $1,000K $800K $600K $400K Renton High Range $983,426, +90% King County Median $812,132, +118% Renton Median $717,804, +104% Renton Low Range 509,738, +141% $200K $0K 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 *Zillow Home Value Index is a seasonally adjusted measure of the typical home value in the region. "Median" is the typical home value in the 35th to 65th percentile range, "high" is the typical home value in the 65th - 95th percentile, "low" is the typical value in the 5th to 35th percentile range. Sources: Zillow, 2023; BERK, 2023 RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 16 Housing Conditions Meeting the Housing Need for Households with Very Low Incomes Market rents vary across the region. In areas, market-rate rents are affordable to low- and moderate-income households. However, households with incomes below 50% of AMI are not able to afford current market prices anywhere in the region. The amount these households can pay is considerably lower than market rents, and in many cases not enough to cover the ongoing expenses of the building. Government and Non-profit support is necessary to bridge this gap to ensure that affordable housing is feasible and sustainable. As household income rises, less support is needed.  Therea is a range of supports that can be provided for building and preserving affordable housing such as  Direct financial support for development, such as grants, loans, donated land, or tax credits  Indirect financial support for development, such as fee waivers or tax exemptions  Regulatory incentives, such as bonus site densities, lower parking requirements, or flexible development requirements  Financial support for residents, such as housing vouchers or other types of rental assistance However, available resources are currently outstripped by the need for affordable housing. Development costs can be upwards of $300,000 per unit or more, depending on project characteristics and market conditions. Many projects serving specialized populations that require on- site services have additional expenses. A rough estimate would suggest that to meet the need for an additional 6,271 units affordable to households with incomes less than 30% of county-wide AMI would cost $1.9 billion dollars. Different levels of support would likely be needed to provide the target of 1,624 units affordable to households with incomes between 30-50% AMI as well. While new funding from sales taxes under the SHB 1406 and HB 1590 programs can help to address this gap, long-term solutions cannot be addressed by the City alone. Housing Conditions RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 17 About 53% of Renton’s households live in housing that they own. Homeownership offers many advantages including the ability to lock in monthly housing payments, favorable tax benefits, the ability to withstand displacement pressure, and wealth-building through land value appreciation. The Renton community values homeownership opportunity as an important component of an inclusive community. Due to historic and current discrimination, BIPOC households have been denied equal access to homeownership, resulting in persistent disparities in homeownership and exclusion from neighborhoods that have predominantly owner- occupied housing units. For example, the University of Washington’s Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project identified 10 areas with racially restrictive covenants within Renton’s current city boundaries. Exhibit 11 presents Renton’s homeownership rate by race and ethnicity. While more than two-thirds of Asian alone households (69%) live in homes they own, the rate is less than half for Black households (29%) and Hispanic or Latino households (27%). Similar to the Puget Sound Region, Renton has experienced declines in homeownership rates between 2010 and 2020. The reduction in homeownership is observed across all race and ethnic categories except the American Indian Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic) population. Exhibit 11. Homeownership Rate by Race and Ethnicity, 2010 and 2020 One significant factor of homeownership opportunity is affordable housing. Consistent with increased homeownership costs, Renton has experienced rising rental costs. After years of relative rental affordability, rents in Renton have increased faster than the regional average. The affordability of housing is assessed by a ratio of household income to housing costs. Housing is affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s income. Households spending more than 30% of income on housing are housing cost burdened and households spending more than 50% of household income are severely cost-burdened. Exhibit 12 presents patterns of cost-burden for Renton’s owner and renter households. Exhibit 12. Renton Housing Cost Burden, 2020 Housing Conditions RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 18 Projected Housing Need In 2023, the Department of Commerce released projected housing needs at each affordability level, for counties across the state. King County adopted these future targets in its Countywide Planning Policies and allocated the countywide need to all incorporated and unincorporated areas within the county. Renton’s share of the total county future need (in 2044) is 60,362 housing units, which represents an increase of 17,000 units above the 2020 housing stock. More importantly, about half (46%) of Renton’s net new need between 2020 and 2044 is for units affordable to households earning 50% of AMI or less, with 37% of the need for households at or below 30% of AMI. Renton also must plan for capacity to accommodate more than 3,200 emergency housing beds by 2044. Exhibit 13. Renton Housing Supply and Future Housing Need 2020 – 2044 These future housing targets represent a bold step to address housing affordability challenges and supply shortages, particularly at moderate and lower income levels. Currently, Renton can nearly meet its overall housing growth target of 17,000 units by 2044. However, to meet the unit targets for all affordability levels, Renton has made significant land use and policy changes to allow and encourage development of housing types that are associated with moderate and low-income affordability levels. 2020 2044 2020 2044 2020 2044 2020 2044 2020 2044 2020 2044 2020 2044 ≥ 120% of AMI +5,819 units (24% of future 100 - 120% of AMI +1,205 units (14%) 80 - 100% of AMI +1,062 units (20%) 50 - 80% of AMI +1,019 units (17%) 30 - 50% of AMI +1,624 units (13%) 0 - 30% of AMI Not Permanent Supportive housing, +4,110 units (9%) 0 - 30% of AMI Permanent Supportive Housing +2,161 units (4%) 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 Source: King County, 2022; Renton, 2023 8,404 +5,819 units 6,988 +1,205 10,863 +1,062 9,259 +1,019 6,206 +1,624 232 +2,161 1,410 +4,110 Renton’s Efforts to Increase Housing Availability and Affordability for all Economic Segments Housing Action Plan, 2021 Renton developed a Housing Action Plan that identifies a broad set of short-term strategies to build on the City’s efforts to expand housing options. Middle Housing Assessment, 2023 Renton developed a Missing Middle Housing Assessment and Strategy to identify how to best accommodate middle housing types (i.e., duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments) within existing neighborhoods. Employment and Economic Development RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 19 Employment and Economic Development Renton is an opportunity-rich city with a dynamic and varied economic base. The City of Renton is focused on sustaining a prosperous and sustainable economy for all people. Nationally recognized companies such as Boeing, PACCAR, and IKEA have locations in the city, and Renton has also attracted “new economy” companies, including Parallels, Microscan, and Wizards of the Coast. Renton is a medical hub with Valley Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, and Providence systems. The City aims to reduce barriers for communities and businesses and focus development in targeted economic centers. Recent planning efforts include:  The Downtown Civic Core Vision and Action Plan, adopted in 2018, envisions that “the Civic Core and Downtown are places where people of all ages and abilities live, work, shop, recreate, and gather, connected by art and public spaces that encourage investment and creativity.”  In 2011, the City adopted the Clean Economy Strategy, a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental sustainability, and build resilience for impacts from a changing climate. In 2023 Renton is updating the strategy to further integrate climate action. Existing Employment Renton functions as both an employment hub and a bedroom community. Exhibit 14 presents a map of Renton’s regional employment centers, that is the areas where people who live elsewhere come to work in Renton. Indicated with yellow dots (), employment concentrations can be seen throughout the Valley Planning Area, the area along SR 167, and the southern part of the City Center Planning Area. In addition, employment nodes can be seen throughout Renton associated with neighborhood service centers. Areas dominated with blue dots () represent the home locations of people who work outside of Renton. Many of Renton’s residential communities are bedroom communities for workers in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kent among others, see Exhibit 15. A relatively small proportion of Renton’s workforce also lives in Renton (6% indicated with red dots ()), with no obvious geographic pattern. Renton is seeking pathways for people to live and work in Renton to provide economic opportunity for all. Employment and Economic Development RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 20 Exhibit 14: Home and Work Location for Employed Persons who Live and/or Work in Renton Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics, 2020; BERK 2023. Employment and Economic Development RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 21 Exhibit 15: Place of Residence/Work for Employed People who Work or Live in Renton Work in Renton, Live Elsewhere Live in Renton, Work Elsewhere Seattle city 7,105 Seattle city 14,515 Kent city 5,094 Bellevue city 6,201 Unspecified Location 4,908 Kent city 2,932 Auburn city 2,197 Tukwila city 2,483 Federal Way city 2,129 Redmond city 2,322 Tacoma city 1,890 Issaquah city 1,602 Bellevue city 1,887 SeaTac city 1,221 Burien city 1,182 Auburn city 1,174 Fairwood CDP 1,058 Kirkland city 1,165 Maple Valley city 968 Tacoma city 798 Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics, 2020; BERK 2023. As of 2022, there were 64,942 jobs covered by the Washington Unemployment Insurance Act within Renton, which represents roughly 90% of all employment (and excludes self-employed individuals, proprietors, corporate officers, and military personnel). This is an 18% increase since 2011, but a 5% drop from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2019. The job losses over the last few years were almost exclusively in the manufacturing sector, which was particularly impacted by the pandemic with more than 4,700 jobs lost since 2019. This followed significant growth of the manufacturing sector before the pandemic, with Renton adding more than 3,000 manufacturing jobs between 2011 and 2019. Most of the other economic sectors have rebounded from the pandemic with modest or considerable growth. Retail is a notable exception; the sector had experienced the slowest growth of all sectors in Renton before 2019 and has since lost all gains to below 2011 levels. Exhibit 16: Covered Employment in Renton, 2011 - 2022 2011 2019 2022 2011-2019 Change 2019- 2022 Change Construction & Resources 1,625 2,599 3,238 60% 25% Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 1,884 2,113 2,313 12% 9% Manufacturing 15,700 18,782 14,063 20% -25% Retail 5,374 5,509 5,158 3% -6% Services 17,808 23,768 24,591 33% 3% Wholesale Trade, Transportation, & Utilities 4,374 5,368 5,676 23% 6% Government 6,272 7,547 7,563 20% 0% Education 2,136 2,371 2,339 11% -1% Total 55,173 68,057 64,942 23% -5% Source: PSRC Covered Employment Estimates; BERK 2023 Parks and Natural Environment RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 22 Commuting patterns for employed residents have shifted significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest change is the share of workers who work from home, with at least 13% of employed residents working remotely, up from under 5% in 2019. This change is largely responsible for the decrease in mode share for residents who drive alone to work, and those who take public transportation. Exhibit 17: Commute Mode Share for Employed Renton Residents, 2021 Source: ACS 5-year estimates, 2017-2021, Table B08301; BERK 2023. Future Employment King County estimates a total job growth within its urban growth areas at roughly 491,000 by 2044.1 Classified as one of eleven “core cities” under PSRC’s Vision 2050, Renton is projected to add nearly 32,000 jobs by 2044, the second most among “core cities” and fourth overall in King County. This represents an overall job growth of 48% over 2019 levels. Using the city’s original 2035 targets, King County’s Urban Growth Capacity report estimated that Renton had sufficient industrial and mixed-use land supply to accommodate its job growth target (at the time of the UGC report, the city did not have any vacant or redevelopable commercial parcels). However, when evaluated against King County’s updated 2044 target for the city, Renton sits at a deficit of 5,500 jobs. Land use policy changes and potential rezones will need to be considered to close this gap and ensure that Renton’s land supply can accommodate needed growth. Parks and Natural Environment RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 23 Parks and Natural Environment Natural Areas Renton is home to much natural beauty, with riparian forests, rivers and creeks, and Lake Washington on its northern boundary. Natural areas within the city preserve habitat or include environmentally sensitive lands, including streams, ravines, steep hillsides, and wetlands. They are undeveloped areas that protect sensitive resources and, where appropriate, provide trail access. Renton’s extensive floodplains are concentrated along the Cedar River, May Creek, Soos Creek, and the Green River. Parks and Trails Renton maintains an extensive system of parks, trails, recreational facilities, and natural areas. This system offers a variety of opportunities for active recreation and peaceful reflection that serves an important connection between people and the environment, builds stewardship, fosters connections, encourages active lifestyles, helps attract residents and businesses, and helps protect and conserve natural resources. Parks range in scale from smaller neighborhood parks, such as Glencoe Park to larger regional parks, such as Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. The City has an adopted Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas Plan (2020) and a Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan (2019). With these plans, Renton is committed to promoting a walkable, bicycle friendly city with a variety of recreation opportunities and connections between neighborhoods and community spaces. Investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure reflect the City’s commitment to reducing reliance on vehicles and improving environmental resiliency. With 33 total developed park sites covering nearly 450 acres, Renton strives to provide access to parks and trails within a 10-minute walk from home, see Exhibit 18. The city has an additional 16 undeveloped sites or natural areas that comprise an additional 805 acres. More than half of Renton’s parks are neighborhood parks located in close proximity to residential neighborhoods. Renton’s parks and natural areas include 13 maintained miles of trails, 20 playgrounds, 18 sports fields, 17 tennis courts, 12 basketball courts, and a skate park. There are two community gardens and a dog park. The city sponsors more than 60 annual events across its park system. Tree Canopy Renton completed an Urban Tree Canopy Assessment in 2018, which showed a citywide canopy coverage of 4,382 acres, or 29.3% of Renton’s geographic area at the time. This represented a slight increase from the previous assessment in 2011. In addition to Renton’s upland forests, street trees are an important part of the city’s tree canopy, with more than 10,000 street trees across the city and more than 20,000 trees within the city’s developed parks. Meanwhile, Renton’s natural areas are home to nearly 110,000 trees. An additional 20% of the city’s land area not presently occupied by tree canopy is suitable for tree plantings. Shorelines Renton is dedicated to protecting and enhancing its shorelines, largely through the City’s Shoreline Master Program, which provides regulations to guide and manage development along the shorelines. Renton has over 18 miles of shoreline, including Lake Washington, Green River, Cedar River, May Creek, and Springbrook Creek. These waterbodies are home to chinook, sockeye, and coho salmon runs. Parks and Natural Environment RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 24 Exhibit 18: 10-Minute Walkshed from Renton Parks Source: City of Renton, King County; BERK 2023 Utilities, Facilities, and Public Services RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 25 Utilities, Facilities, and Public Services Utility Service Renton aims to provide sustainable, cost-effective utility service while meeting the City’s current and future needs and protecting existing neighborhoods and the natural environment. The city owns and operates a multi-source municipal water system, which includes supplying, treating, storing, and distributing potable water to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers. Most of Renton’s water supply comes from the Cedar Valley Aquifer, a sole-source aquifer that the City protects for long-term benefit, and the rest from Springbrook Springs in the south end of Renton. The entire system serves users across sixteen square miles. Renton also owns, operates, and maintains its Wastewater Utility, which covers an area of twenty-one square miles. Collected wastewater is discharged to King County wastewater facilities, where it is transmitted to the King County South Treatment Reclamation Plant. Three energy providers distribute electricity throughout Renton. Most electricity consumers in the city receive power from Puget Sound Energy. Seattle City Light provides electricity to the Bryn Mawr and Skyway areas. Meanwhile, the Bonneville Power Administration operates transmission lines that transmit power from generation facilities to retailers across the state, who then sell power to local customers. Puget Sound Energy provides natural gas service within the city. PSE receives natural gas from the Northwest Pipeline Corporation, which operates pipelines that cross the Renton Planning Area and terminate at the South Seattle Gate Station. The City also provides no-charge public wireless network for residents and visitors in and near every city building, and around select parks, intersections, and reservoirs. Fire and Emergency Services The Renton Regional Fire Authority (RFFA) serves the Renton area and provides three core services: response operations, community risk reduction, and safety and support. Voters established the RFFA as a special purpose district in 2016. It operates seven stations within the Renton city limits. In addition to engines and aid units, it has one hazmat unit, one water unit, and one FD CARES unit. Police Services The Renton Policy Department employs 120 sworn and 28 non-sworn personnel. It is accredited by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and its average response times range from under 3.5 minutes for Priority I calls, to under 21 minutes for Priority IV calls. Schools Renton, Kent, and Issaquah School Districts all overlap Renton’s city limits. During the 2022-2023 school year, more than 60,000 students were enrolled across all three districts, with more than 15,000 in the Renton School District. All three districts have diverse student bodies, with no one race or ethnicity comprising a majority. Within the Renton School District, Hispanic or Latino students are the largest share of all students (28%), followed by students that identify as Asian (25%), White (21%), and Black (15%). Roughly 77% of students in the Renton School District are English language learners, and 16% live with disabilities. About 4% of students in the district are experiencing homelessness. The three school districts are home to 102 schools, with 29 schools within the Renton School District. Eleven of those schools provide pre-kindergarten services. Transportation RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 26 Transportation Transit Renton serves as a key hub for the region’s multimodal transportation system. Renton strives to ensure that the City’s transportation systems provide options that meet all users' needs. Renton’s location offers convenient access to SeaTac International Airport, I-5, I-405, and state routes 167, 169, 515, and 900. Transit projects underway in Renton, such as Sound Transit’s Stride project extension of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to I-405 and construction of a new Transit Center in south Renton, reflect the Region’s emphasis on reducing the number of trips in single occupancy vehicles and reducing transportation impacts on the environment. The Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan identifies action for improvements to the City’s walking and biking environment. In addition to Sound Transit’s project that will bring BRT service to the South Renton Transit Center (via the S1 line from Burien to Bellevue), Renton is also served by King County Metro’s RapidRide F Line BRT service, which has several stops in the city, including at the Renton Transit Center. Meanwhile, the future RapidRide I Line will bring an additional BRT service to the city, connecting the Renton Transit Center with Auburn’s transit station to the south. I Line is expected to begin service in 2026. Exhibit 20: Future Service Maps for King County Metro RapidRide I Line and Sound Transit S1 Exhibit 19: King County RapidRide F Line System Map Transportation RENTON COMMUNITY PROFILE & EXISTING CONDITIONS 27 Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Renton completed a Trails and Bicycle Master Plan in 2019, which described a vision and set of goals related to trails and bicycle facilities. As of 2019, the city managed 30 miles of regional and local trails and bicycle facilities. The network services about one-third of Renton’s population and about two- thirds of the city’s employees; however, Renton seeks to create a larger and more connected system to support the city’s growing population and thriving economy and to increase comfort, safety, and access for all ages and abilities. The future proposed network will increase the system from 30 to 128 miles within the city limits, with another 8 miles of new trails planned in areas immediately outside of the city. Many areas within Renton are walkable, and the city has at least 343 miles of existing sidewalk. However, there are gaps in the pedestrian network – particularly along local neighborhood streets – with at least 188 miles of missing sidewalk and low levels of pedestrian comfort in some areas. In 2023, the city initiated a Comprehensive Walkway Plan process that will evaluate existing conditions for pedestrians across the city and produce a set of prioritized recommendations to improve the walkability, safety, and overall pedestrian experience.