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Pick up, drop off | School district reminds parents about proper procedure [2] Gypsy moths | They’re mostly in Tukwila but state will spray some of the ravenous moths in the spring in a small part of south Renton. [16]
FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 2013
RTC students cook for the governor page 6
Library may avoid U.S. permits By TRACEY COMPTON
Engineering reports
tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Library development in Renton may soon be getting some traction, as city officials have identified the permits necessary to begin work on the Highlands and downtown Renton library projects. One hurdle the city may not have to face is triggering federal permits and the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work to renovate the library over the Cedar River.
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“We will not trigger any federal Army Corps of Engineers permits as long as we stay above the base flood elevation,” said Chip Vincent, the city’s community and economic development administrator. Peter Renner, the city’s facilities director, and Vincent at an open house Tuesday night updated the public on the processes that lie ahead for both projects.
Vincent seemed fairly confident based on what the city knows right now about the Cedar River library project that the city could avoid extending its timeline because of federal permits. “Everything is being done in the design and the planning for the development of this site to not go below the base flood elevation, to ensure we don’t trigger those permits,” he said. [ more libraries page 10 ]
Next RHA townhomes in works Lena gets day off from school to sing for new governor By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Nine-year-old Lena Hou skipped school Wednesday to do something few could use as an excused absence: she sang to the state’s newest governor. Lena of Renton, who attends Sierra Heights Elementary School, was personally selected by Gov.-elect Jay Inslee last month to perform the National Anthem at his inauguration. Inslee spotted Lena at a media event, liked her singing and inquired about the fourth grader performing in Olympia for his inauguration. Lena has been taking voice lessons since 2010. For the past two months, she has been working on the “Star Spangled Banner” with Gretchen Rillos, her piano and vocal coach. Lena traveled with her family to the state capitol on Jan. 11 for a rehearsal. [ more sing page 6 ]
Kirkland Townhomes the next key step in creating affordable Highlands housing. By DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
The rolling redevelopment of the 100-unit Sunset Terrace has received a big push forward, recently receiving about $2.1 million that ensures construction of the Renton Housing Authority’s new Kirkland Townhomes. For about 20 years, the housing authority has been purchasing land so that some day it could tear down the 60-year-old housing project and replace it with affordable housing dispersed through the Highlands for those with low incomes. And that vision is helping to spur a wider redevelopment of the Highlands centered on Sunset Boulevard Northeast that will include the new King County Library System branch, new market-rate housing and retail shops and a new park. That entire Sunset redevelopment, both private and public,
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Mark Gropper, Renton Housing Authority’s executive director, is a key architect of the redevelopment of Sunset Terrace that will include the new library branch, new housing and new retail shops. Dean A. Radford, Renton Reporter is expected to total about $110 million and take another five to 10 years to complete.
The key partners in the redevelopment, besides the housing authority, are the City of
Renton and Colpitts Development Co., the private developer on the project. The Kirkland Townhomes are expected to cost about $4 million to develop and build. The housing authority already owns the land on Kirkland Avenue. The $2.1 million includes a $1.2 million from the state Housing Trust Fund and a $950,000 loan through King County, both of which the housing authority eventually will pay back. Rents, housing authority reserves and additional loans are additional sources of revenue. The City Council is considering whether to waive $139,000 in development fees that will save the housing authority $7,728 a unit because the project meets the city’s goal of adding affordable housing in the Highlands. The first visible sign of the housing revolution was the construction of Glennwood Townhomes, which is now home to the 16 largest families living at Sunset Terrace. Those Sunset Terrace units are now empty. With the Glennwood project now done, the housing [ more RHA page 12 ]
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Nine-year-old Lena Hou performed the National Anthem at Gov. Jay Inslee’s inauguration on Wednesday. Submitted