Port Quendall (Northern Renton)

West off the 44^th street exit of I-405, in between Newcastle and north-central Renton, lies Port Quendall—Renton’s most newly developed waterfront neighborhood.  Since the early 1990’s the City of Renton has cleaned up the contamination left by 60 acres of saw-mills and other manufacturing plants, and has revitalized much of the area.  Now home to Virginia Mason Athletic Center—the new Seahawks training facility and 200,000 square-foot headquarter building, and 22 acres of earth-friendly waterfront homes, I’d say a mission well accomplished.

It goes without saying that to live here one must be a Seattle Seahawks fan. Banners hang from porch rails, green and blue hawk stickers are stuck to car-bumpers and living room windows, and then there’s even the father and son jogging along the street in matching team t-shirts. Since moving from their old location on Kirkland’s Carillon Point in 2008, the Seahawks have been warmly welcomed by the Port Quendall community. A new street, Seahawks Way, was named in their honor, and in late summer months, up to 3,000 fans enjoy watching outdoor practices on the 4 lakefront football fields. The 3-story complex is massive and includes a team weight room cafeteria, locker room, lounge, several meeting rooms, and an indoor turf field. Outside, parking spots are designated with painted last names.

The second revitalization effort Renton completed was to construct Barbee Mill, a luxury waterfront community on the southern 22 acres of Port Quendall. Unlike the harsh treatment of the land in years past, Barbee Mill homes were built by Conner Homes Earth Sense Home, promising to minimize environmental impact, and utilize recycled and renewable materials throughout construction. All of these luxury-paired homes have been designed to incorporate the elements of wood, rock and glass, giving each home a natural glow. The entire community is expected to be completed by 2010; Barbee Mill’s first batch of homes were opened in 2008.

Aside from the more comprehensive shopping centers a few miles away in neighboring Newcastle and North Renton, the 44^th Street Salon and Exit 7 Center provide not only for traveler needs, but also provide many valuable and convenient amenities for nearby Port Quendall residents. Among the small shops, the plazas feature a fitness center, Starbucks, Kindercare, Wine Shoppe, and a necessity-based mini-mart. For fresh eats there is a Subway and a Teriyaki Wok.