Planners play an important role in how a city grows. One of their roles is informing Renton on how and where communities can best grow. From encouraging affordable housing and efficient transportation to mapping out the steps to protect and preserve nature, planners help shape a vibrant and resilient future for residents.
During Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Armondo Pavone designated October as National Community Planning Month in Renton. The proclamation was accepted by Planning Director Matt Herrera who stated, “Planners not only aim to ensure a high quality of life for present-day residents but also future residents”.
Here are a few standout developments that showcase recent and ongoing projects. These efforts wouldn’t be possible without the behind-the-scenes work of planning staff.
- Astra and Solera Apartments opened in June, bringing nearly 600 new homes to the Renton Highlands. The apartments also provide space to nearly 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail space including a 10,000 square foot child daycare.
- Legacy Square is under construction and will provide a space to watch World Cup 2026 matches live on the big screen and bring a new community space downtown. Once the celebrations conclude, the area will be activated for ongoing community use and event programming.
- Redevelopment will turn the Longacres Campus into a mixed-use property with a hotel, music venue, and multiple residential buildings with ground floor retail.
- Sunset Gardens opened in 2024 as a Renton Housing Authority Redevelopment that provides affordable housing for veterans and new administrative offices.
- Towns on 12th is under construction and will bring 90 townhome units with open space amenities while preserving and protecting existing wetlands and vegetation.
Learn more about the Planning Division and additional projects at rentonwa.gov/planning.
Recognizing manufacturing industries in Renton this month
It’s no secret that Renton is home to multiple manufacturers in a variety of industries. As part of National Manufacturing Month, we’re highlighting the businesses and people that help keep Renton’s economy strong and innovative.
One of these businesses is Out of the Box Manufacturing, an electronics manufacturer that specializes in aerospace assemblies, medical devices, industrial systems, and other hardware.
Earlier this month, Out of the Box Manufacturing opened their doors to 40 students from a local school for a facility tour, and they expect to host another regional group of students in the coming days. They’ll continue connecting students with exciting career pathways at the Future in Flight Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Expo on October 30, reflecting their commitment to workforce development and inspiring the next generation.
Aero-Plastics Inc. is another Renton manufacturer that has been providing quality products for aerospace, defense, medical and other commercial application since 1945. Aero-Plastics Inc. will also be at the Future in Flight Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Expo.
Tours and expos featuring local companies, in addition to Advanced Manufacturing programs at Renton Technical College, provide students with hands-on experience in modern manufacturing, helping Renton grow its workforce and invest in our future.
In Renton, advanced manufacturing accounts for about 21% of all jobs in the city. This includes approximately 264 businesses in a variety of industries such as:
- Aerospace & aviation
- Fabricated metals and sheet metal
- Food and beverage
- Electronics and instruments
- Signs and specialty or miscellaneous
Stay tuned on the city's social media platforms as we highlight several local manufacturers in Renton.