HomeMy WebLinkAbout20_Mayors Newsletter_120116View from Liberty Park
View from Houser Way
DECEMBER 1, 2016
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. 1, NO. 20
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Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in
the city, please e-mail me. Thanks for reading.
Kickoff the holiday season at
the annual Ivar’s Clam Lights at
Coulon Park this Friday. There’s
entertainment for the whole
family featuring Santa and Mrs.
Claus, characters from “Frozen”
and a bonfire at the “Hawks Nest.”
Festivities start at 6:15 p.m. At 7 p.m.
we’ll switch on the lights, watch the
Rainier Yacht Club’s parade of boats
and be entertained by Dickens
Carolers on the Argosy Christmas
Ship. See you there!
CLAM LIGHTS
Speaker Chopp tours Sunset area
We were privileged to have Frank Chopp, the Speaker of the
State House of Representatives, tour and hear a presentation
on the redevelopment work we’ve been doing in the Sunset
area. The Speaker was joined by our local state legislators
Steve Bergquist, Mia Gregerson and Zack Hudgins, and
Renton Housing Authority Executive Director Mark Gropper.
I’m pleased to say that Speaker Chopp was very impressed
with the accomplishments to date.
Mayor Law (center) and Speaker Chopp (far right) were joined on a tour
of the Sunset area redevelopment project by State Representatives Zack
Hudgins (far left) and Steve Bergquist (second from right) and Renton
Housing Authority Executive Director Mark Gropper (second from left).
Proposed plan would turn former city hall site into unique
mix of education, senior housing and public space
With direction from the City Council, the city
will enter into exclusive negotiations with
Winson Investments to explore redeveloping the
former city hall site at 200 Mill Avenue So. The
plans proposed offer a unique opportunity to
create significant public amenities including an
international school, senior housing and public
space, including an outdoor civic plaza and
riverfront park.
For many years we have wrestled with what to do
with the property. The cost of basic upgrades to
property are more than $10 million in addition to
the costs of on-going building operations that have
resulted in losses each year. It was very important to
find ways to eliminate these losses and find a better
use for the site. Its location makes it a natural for a
unique development that will serve the needs of
our community and increases public access to one
of our iconic features, the Cedar River.
Winson’s proposal does that and more. Winson’s
team brings world class development experience
to the city and their proposal aligns with our vision
for the site. The plan includes educational facilities,
community meeting space, a gymnasium/theater,
retail shops, a 340-stall below ground parking garage, and a restaurant with a view of the river.
I believe the project will be the catalyst for further development in downtown while providing a much
needed connection to the Cedar River and areas beyond the downtown business core.
Elevated view from Liberty Park