Solera and Astra Apartments officially opens!
Over the weekend, the City of Renton’s Community & Economic Development Department and DevCo Residential Group held the grand opening of Astra and Solera apartments.
Together, the two communities will bring nearly 600 new apartment homes to the Renton Highlands area, helping to meet Renton’s growing population and housing needs. This project is one of the last remaining pieces of the Sunset Area Redevelopment Plan.
Over the past 15 years, the city has worked with public and private partners to revitalize the Sunset Area and transform this neighborhood from World War II-era housing to a walkable mixed-use neighborhood. The completion of Solera and Astra adds to the area’s mix of affordable and market-rate housing, along with amenities such as the King County Library, Meadow Crest accessible playground, and three-acre Sunset Neighborhood Park.
Astra Apartments is a 275-unit affordable housing community offering modern one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, and townhome layouts. Residents can enjoy amenities such as a fitness studio, indoor basketball court, business center, courtyard, and a pet-friendly environment with an off-leash dog park. Astra opened in November of 2024.
Solera Apartments is market-rate housing with 315 units, including one- to three-bedroom apartments and townhomes. Residents can access amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center, indoor sports court, gated garage parking, an off-leash dog park, a community courtyard, and a business center. The property is accepting applications, with construction completed this June 2025.
Thank you to the efforts from DevCo Residential Group for hosting the event, Evergreen Impact Housing Fund for their financial support, and the City of Renton for their planning and permitting. All parties involved helped guide this project through completion.
July 4 information for Coulon Park
Plan accordingly at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park this Independence Day. Please review these important updates for Thursday, July 4, 2025:
Park hours
- Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- No city-sponsored fireworks or events will take place on this date.
Boat launch & moorage
- Boat launch parking remains open 24 hours.
- Moorage areas and the park will close at 7 p.m.
Fireworks prohibited
- Fireworks are strictly prohibited in both the City of Renton and unincorporated King County.
Food & amenities
- Ivar’s and Kidd Valley will close at 7 p.m.
- Picnic shelters and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Swim Beach Safety
- Swim beaches will not be lifeguarded. Visitors swim at their own risk.
Looking for fireworks?
While Renton will not be hosting a fireworks display, there are several alternative celebrations around King County. Check them out here!
Don't forget to join us Friday, July 25, 2025, at 9:30 p.m. at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park for the Renton River Days drone show. For details, visit rentonwa.gov/riverdays.
Juneteenth celebrations continue through the weekend. Attend Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration, an event co-sponsored by the city and a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) grant recipient.
Join Renton King County Justice Alliance, Elevate PR Management, and the community on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Liberty Park.
Shop with local Black-owned vendors, enjoy live performances, connect with resources, eat good food, and celebrate freedom in action.
For more details, visit their Facebook or Instagram page.
Neighborhood BBQ heads to Heritage Park
Celebrate the start of summer at the third 2025 Neighborhood Program BBQ! This time, we're joining the South Union Neighborhood Association, several city departments, and community partners for free food, music, and fun.
Find us next Wednesday, June 25, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Heritage Park (233 Union Ave. NE).
RSVP at rentonwa.gov/register using the keyword ‘bbq’. This event is free and open to all residents! See you there!
The 2025 BBQ Series is hosted by Renton Parks & Recreation’s Neighborhood Program.
Rainier Avenue South update
We know the Rainier Avenue South Phase 4 project has impacted many residents, commuters, and businesses. For the rest of the project, we will post regular updates on social media (@cityofrenton) that include completed work, upcoming closures, and what's planned for upcoming weeks.
We appreciate your patience as we finish up this critical regional transit corridor that handles high transit, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic volumes.
This project is not just about improving overall traffic flow through the corridor and making pedestrians safer. This project also upgrades the critical utilities beneath the road that have not been replaced for decades.
Last week, contractor crews prepared the roadbed, repaired trench areas, and paved the first layer of asphalt. They're also working on curbs, sidewalks, and driveways.
Crews will begin paving during the day and night in late summer.
Some recent milestones from the project include a pedestrian HAWK signal at SW Victoria Street that was turned on May 6 and a new traffic signal at Airport Way that was activated on May 29.
Heads up for next week! Beginning Monday, June 30, the intersection at Rainier Avenue South and South Second Street will temporarily operate as a three-way stop for the next month.
Uniformed Police Officers (UPOs) will be stationed during the day to help direct traffic and ensure safety while work is underway on the traffic signal and rebuilding the concrete road over the Seattle Public Utilities waterlines. Suggested routes to consider when commuting:
- Northbound on Rainier, traffic will be diverted to Lake Avenue South.
- Southbound on Rainier, traffic will be diverted to Shattuck Avenue South.
Street closures remain on South Tobin Street, Hayes Place SW, and Nelson Place NW.
For updates on Rainier Avenue, please subscribe to the project newsletter or visit the website at rentonwa.gov/rainier4.