Permanent supportive housing with services coming to Renton (Sunset Gardens)

Back in 1999, Renton Housing Authority paid about $1.1 million for a small old office building at 2900 N.E. 10th St. that’s in the Sunset neighborhood, where RHA has been gradually redeveloping its old properties. Most of that stock was dilapidated World War II-era housing for workers at Boeing, with new townhouses and midrise replacements now coming online.

The office redevelopment plan, Sunset Gardens, is a little different. First, the 40-year-old A.J. Ladner Administration Building will be razed. It has 13,416 square feet.

Then RHA will gain slightly more office space on the ground floor of the four-story Sunset Gardens, which is being designed by SMR Architects, with Andersen Construction as the builder. The top three floors will have 76 units of permanently affordable housing. Services will be conveniently located below. SMR estimates a total project size of 64,162 square feet.

The city is contributing $1.5 million to the project, which the architect values at about $38.9 million. The city funding will come from the state’s 0.1% sales tax increase, which was approved by the state Legislature in 2020. (HB 1590 went into effect in January 2021.) The city describes future residents as likely to be formerly homeless seniors, disabled folks and veterans.

King County will also contribute nearly $1.5 million. Other funding sources aren’t stated, but more public money seems likely.

The L-shaped building will open to a courtyard and surface parking with about 51 stalls. (Tenants will also have a bike room with 38 stalls.)

RHA has said it would like to break ground this spring; a demolition permit was issued last month. Andersen estimates a construction schedule of about 17 months to completion. Planning for the project began some two years ago.

The Sunset Gardens team also includes Fazio and Associates, landscape architect; and Otto Rosenau & Associates, geotechnical.

Mayor’s Update – Sunset Garden’s Groundbreaking