HomeMy WebLinkAbout45_Mayors Newsletter_071317I had the honor to participate in the
ribbon-cutting celebration for the new
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington on
Monday, located at Southport on the
south side of Gene Coulon Park. It was
a great event that was kicked off with
an impressive, traditional Chinese lion
dance.
The hotel was stunning in the afternoon
sun with spectacular views of the lake
to downtown Seattle. The amount of
quality detail and materials used to build
this hotel was unveiled as community
leaders and Hyatt and elected officials
came to celebrate the opening of one
of Washington’s finest hotels. Seattle
Seahawks Doug Baldwin participated in
the opening event.
This has been a long journey for Michael and Min Christ, who purchased this property from Puget
Sound Energy over 17 years ago. Development started with two quality apartment complexes with
many rooms featuring sweeping lake views. From the beginning, Michael had a vision of a grand
waterfront hotel, taking advantage of one of the most spectacular views available in this region. His
plan also called for a large office campus behind the hotel that would be Renton’s first Class-A business
complex.
But as we all know, the bottom fell out of the market ten years ago. With a significant investment
already made in the property, many developers would have opted to build whatever was necessary to
fulfill cash-flow needs. But Michael and Min held onto their vision and commitment for the highest use
of this property, resulting in a beautiful hotel that is literally a game-changer for Renton and for south
King County. Construction will soon begin on the office campus.
The Hyatt Regency is already booking events well into next year, and the high-tech convention center
will certainly be a draw for many major corporations that previously were limited to downtown Seattle
or Bellevue. No other venue offers this type combination of quality experience and ambiance, as nearly
every part of the hotel was designed to capture the spectacular view of Lake Washington. Its location
next to a popular urban shopping village with dozens of restaurant options and other entertainment
and adjoining one of the finest public parks in King County plus close proximity to SeaTac Airport,
creates a natural draw for business travelers and families.
In addition to the Hyatt, The Hampton Inn on Lake Washington Boulevard opened this past week. It,
too, is a high-quality facility that not only offers great hotel amenities, but a special dining experience
for local residents that includes outdoor seating areas.
Renton has 32 parks covering
277 acres. We have another 688
acres of natural areas and 10 miles
of trails. Parks, open space, and
natural recreation areas are vital to a
community. They improve the quality
of our water and air, prevent flooding,
and provide habitat for salmon and
other wildlife.
From Gene Coulon Park along the Lake
Washington to the Cedar River Trail,
we are extremely fortunate to have
some of the most picturesque and
well-maintained recreational facilities
in the Puget Sound area. We salute
the dedication and hard work of our
Community Services staff by joining
with the U.S. House of Representatives
to proclaim July as National Parks and Recreation Month. The next time you’re enjoying one of our
many facilities, please take a minute to remind yourself how lucky we are to live in Renton.
JULY 13, 2017
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. II, NO. 22
Feedback
Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in
the city, please email me. Thanks for reading.
Donna Eken and Todd Black accepted the mayor’s
proclamation on behalf of the entire Community Services
team.
Photo by Jerry and Lois Photography
Photo by Leah Abraham, Renton Reporter
The Seahawks Doug Baldwin joined the mayor at the
Hyatt’s grand opening ceremony, which opened with a
traditional Chinese lion dance (below).
Spectacular Hyatt Regency opens in grand style
July is Parks and Recreation Month
Cruz the Loop returns in August
The Renton Loop was famous. Some might even say infamous. On
Friday and Saturday nights, youth from around the Puget Sound
region gathered in their hot rods, cruised the downtown area, and
made connections that survive to this day.
However, cruising the loop was frowned upon and eventually
abolished by the city. But the lure and lore of The Loop hasn’t gone
away and now the city is leading the revival of this Renton tradition.
We’re excited to say we’re bringing back Cruz the Loop for one day
on August 19, from 12 to 5 p.m. It’s going to be an afternoon of fun
and nostalgia from the entertainment to cars and dress, all capped
by a re-creation of the Cruz.
We’ll have more on the day’s events later, but I hope you’ll mark it on your calendars and plan to take
part.