Downtown Renton

One of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the Greater Puget Sound region is Renton’s downtown district. Once just a commercial and residential center resulting from the nearby Boeing employment boom, downtown Renton has grown by leaps and bounds in the 21^st century.

Originally developed as farm land in the 1800’s, Renton, Washington became a major center for mining after its founder, Erasmus Smithers, discovered coal on his property. The city saw a significant increase in population after the Boeing aerospace company built a factory there to produce B-29 airplanes during the Second World War. Today, the Boeing Factory concentrates on the building of 737 passenger jets, accounting for approximately 40% of all commercial aircraft in the world.

Planes don’t have a monopoly on employment in Renton, though. The Paccar commercial truck production company is located there, as is the famous Wizards of the Coast game company, the current owners of the wildly popular Dungeons and Dragons line. There is also an IKEA facility in Renton, as well as a Fry’s Electronics store.

Downtown Renton is at the center of many major transit systems, including State Route 405 and the recently opened expansion of the Sound Transit Light Rail. The area at the south end of Lake Washington, specifically at Port Quendall, has seen a lot of recent development. In concert with the ongoing revitalization process in central downtown Renton, the city has remained on the forefront of modern urban design for the past decade. Many of the new downtown constructions are mixed-use buildings, allowing for vibrant, convenient neighborhoods.

The most prominent up-and-coming area of downtown Renton is known as The Landing. It is a brand-new 68 acre plot including retail, restaurants, residences and entertainment options. The Landing opened in 2007 and has further developed since then.

Most of the schools in Renton are located outside of the downtown district in neighborhoods like Lakeridge, the East Renton Highlands and South Renton. Downtown Renton caters more to professionals and those who prefer an urban environment. St. Anthony’s K-8 private program is downtown, as is the public Renton Senior High School.

There are a few green spaces near downtown Renton, the largest being Liberty Park just west of State Route 405. Closer to downtown is Pedestrian Park and Jones Park. Farther down Renton Maple Valley Road is the lovely Riverview Park as well as the public Maplewood Golf Course.

With an expanding number of amenities and plenty of very new housing, downtown Renton is fast becoming an attractive alternative to the often pricey options of nearby Seattle. It has long been a center of business and industry, and is now embracing the diversity and culture of the modern Pacific Northwest metropolis.