City of Renton Contact
Laura Pettitt, Communications Director
Vanessa Dolbee, Interim Community Economic Development Director
City of Renton receives two Governor's Smart Communities Awards
Family First Community Center and South Lake Washington were recognized for their innovative vision and community planning
RENTON, WA (November 29, 2023) – This month, the City received two Governor’s Smart Communities Awards in recognition of two distinctive projects, the Family First Community Center (FFCC) and the redevelopment of South Lake Washington. Including these awards, the City has now received eleven Smart Communities Awards from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Governor’s Smart Communities Awards recognizes achievements by local governments and their partners. These programs promote thoughtful growth planning and projects contributing to thriving communities, a prosperous economy, and sustainable infrastructure.
The FFCC received the Judges' Merit Award, recognizing success in more than one judged category. The South Lake Washington project received the Smart Planning Legacy Award, recognizing the long-term impact of community visioning, planning, and policy over a period of at least 25 years.
Family First Community Center (FFCC)
The Family First Community Center (FFCC) is a new facility combining a community center with recreational and health services, brought to life in partnership with former Seahawk Doug Baldwin’s Family First Community Center Foundation, the City of Renton, the Renton School District, HealthPoint, and the support of regional and local legislators. Located in the Cascade/Benson Hill community on property donated by the Renton School District, the facility is immediately adjacent to Cascade Elementary School. By design, this project is an excellent example of integrating new land uses in a predominantly residential area.
With 58% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch at Cascade Elementary School, FFCC is designed to empower individuals and families to lead healthy, prosperous, and fulfilling lives through access to education, recreation, and health services. The FFCC provides wrap‐around services in a 21,000‐square foot building that includes a fitness center, studio spaces, a gymnasium, a makerspace for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum, community gathering spaces, with HealthPoint providing needed medical, dental, and behavioral health services.
"The Family First Community Center fulfills an existing need in the Cascade/Benson Hill area as not only a community gathering place but one focused on providing a holistic approach to health, family, and wellness. This project is a result of our community coming together for the common good,” remarked City of Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone.
South Lake Washington
The 20-year transformation of the South Lake Washington area is another successful display of innovative partnership, land use planning, and redevelopment. In 2002, Boeing planned to consolidate operations in Renton, releasing over 50 acres of land. Taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the City and Boeing initiated a partnership to review and evaluate redevelopment opportunities.
This partnership resulted in the creation and adoption of a new urban zoning designation and amendments to the City's 1995 Comprehensive Plan and Comprehensive Plan Map. It also resulted in the development and adoption of the Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider new developments and potential environmental impacts through a streamlined and expedited permit review process.
Over the last 25 years, this segment of South Lake Washington has transformed from an airplane manufacturing site into a mixed‐use lifestyle retail center through innovative development regulations, public investment, and acquiring easements to improve public access to the lake.
In the past year, the City has issued approval for several projects in the South Lake Washington area, continuing to fulfill the City’s long-term vision and enhance its progress. These projects include a new hotel and multi-tenant building adjacent to the existing Top Golf campus. Less than a quarter mile away, an upcoming project featuring mixed-use buildings will include over 1,100 multi-family housing units and approximately 50,000 sq. ft. of new commercial space and host the first standalone grocery store in the area.
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About City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 107,900 (2023), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace, and favorable business climate have attracted nationally recognized companies wishing to provide employees and their families with an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, Super Bowl Champion (2014) Seattle Seahawks, two-time (2016 & 2019) MLS champion and CONCACAF Champion (2022) Seattle Sounders FC (in 2024), and the eternal resting place of rock icon Jimi Hendrix. You can find more information on our website, news releases, Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.
About Governor's Smart Communities Awards
The Governor’s Smart Communities Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of local communities and their partners throughout the state to create vibrant and livable communities. These efforts align with the goals of the state's Growth Management Act and other community development objectives. The Department of Commerce administers the awards program. Since 2006, the awards have recognized the exceptional planning efforts of local governments. These efforts significantly enriched communities in job growth, economic development, housing affordability, homelessness, parks and recreation, transportation, and subarea development. These achievements are outstanding models for Washington’s local governments.
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