HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4238CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 4 2 3 8
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING AN
APPLICATION FOR A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTATION
GRANT FOR THE SUNSET AREA TRANSFORMATION PLAN.
WHEREAS, the Sunset Area (as reflected in the attached Sunset Area Vicinity Map) is
one of Renton's older commercial and residential areas and is in need of revitalization; and
WHEREAS, since the late 1990s, the City has viewed the Sunset Area (a.k.a. the
Highlands) as a high-priority redevelopment area targeted for improvement and investment;
and
WHEREAS, in June 2009, the City commissioned a Community Investment Strategy study
to prioritize additional public investment in the 269-acre Sunset Area study area which resulted
in the City Council's adoption of the Sunset Area Community Investment Strategy in November
2009;and
WHEREAS, the highest priorities for the Sunset Area Community Investment Strategy
included support for the Renton Housing Authority's Sunset Terrace Redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, in June 2010, the City and the Renton Housing Authority partnered together
to conduct a Sunset Area Community Planned Action NEPA/SEPA Environmental Impact study.
The study was completed in April 2011 and resulted in the City Council's adoption ofthe Sunset
Area Community Planned Action in June 2011, to help facilitate and support private and public
investment and redevelopment in the Sunset Area over the next 20 years; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, 27% of the households in the Sunset Area lived in poverty; the
median average household income was $39,318 [more than $16,000 less than the city as a
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RESOLUTION NO. 4238
whole ($55,950) and more than $29,000 less than King County ($68,775)]; 75% of the students
at the neighborhood elementary school qualified for free or reduced fee lunch; and 35% of
students at the neighborhood elementary school had limited English proficiency; and
WHEREAS, the Sunset Area is a high-priority investment area for the City and the
Renton Housing Authority; and
WHEREAS, the City, the Renton School District, and the Renton Housing Authority have
invested or committed more than $66 million to date in public investments in the Sunset Area
to support the Sunset Area Community Revitalization and/or the Sunset Terrace
Redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the City is seeking to leverage public and private investment in the Sunset
Area to help address the needs of Renton's Sunset Area residents; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a
Notice of Fund Availability for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) Implementation Grant
Program and applications are due February 9, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the purposes of the CNI funds are to: (1) replace distressed public housing
and assisted housing with high quality mixed income housing, (2) improve educational
outcomes and intergenerational mobility for youth and their families and (3) create the
conditions necessary for public and private investment in distressed neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the City and Renton Housing Authority have asked the King County Housing
Authority (KCHA) to join them in a mutual effort to apply for the CNI grant and, if successful, for
KCHA to administer the CNI grant and build mixed income housing primarily in the Sunset Area
of Renton; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 4238
WHEREAS, the City is working with the Renton Housing Authority, the King County
Housing Authority, the Renton School District, Neighborhood House, and other public and
private entities to create a HUD CNI implementation grant application for the Sunset Area
Transformation Plan. The CNI grant would potentially provide up to $30 million to support the
Sunset Area Community Revitalization efforts;
WHEREAS, the City, the Renton Housing Authority, and the Renton School District have
taken significant steps towards planning and implementing substantial housing and
neighborhood improvements already in the Sunset Area, including: (i) construction completed
for the Meadow Crest Early Learning Center, the Meadow Crest Playground, and 26 units of
new affordable housing; (ii) construction under way for a new Renton Highlands Library, the
Harrington Green Connection and water main improvements, and the Sunset Terrace Regional
Stormwater Facility; and (iii) relocation of residents from the Sunset Terrace distressed public
housing development;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above recitals are found to be true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The Mayor is authorized to (i) apply for funds and prepare a U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI)
grant application for up to $30 million for the Sunset Area Transformation Plan in cooperation
with the King County Housing Authority and the Renton Housing Authority; and (ii) sign all
certifications and provide all information required by HUD for the CNI application for the Sunset
Area Transformation Plan. The Mayor is further authorized for the City to be a Co-Applicant
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RESOLUTION NO. 4238
and the Neighborhood Lead for the CNI application with the Renton Housing Authority as a Co-
Applicant and the King County Housing Authority as the Lead Applicant and the Housing
Implementation Entity, a role to be fulfilled in conjunction with the Renton Housing Authority if
the CNI funds are awarded.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 12th day of __ J_a_n_u_a_r..:..y ___ , 2015.
Denis Law, Mayor
Approved as to form:
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Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES: 1656: 12/29/14:scr
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