Michael Christ has been brilliant, dedicated, and persistent in bringing Renton’s economic development plans to fruition

Southport’s office plaza, complete with dragon to welcome Wizards of the Coast

Two months ago I wrote about an exuberant discussion with Michael Christ,  the visionary developer of Renton’s Southport, as Renton was finally going to extend Park Avenue from the Landing to his office towers.  This project took longer than it should have because of complex railroad negotiations and other issues. The delay in extending Park Avenue slowed the leasing of Southport’s beautiful Class A office towers. The pandemic and work-from-home trend added further delays.  Mr. Christ and I reminisced about how his project had sprung from planning work Renton started in the 1990s, in my early days on Renton Council, when our legendary Economic Development Director Sue Carlson set about diversifying our economic base for the future.  Mr. Christ had embraced Ms. Carlson’s ideas and ran with them, and his results three decades later are stunning.  My February 9 blog entry includes much more detail, and I hope you’ll find time to take a look at it here.

Upon news that lenders are pressing him to sell some of the property, I phoned him yesterday to remind him how much his visionary work meant to the City during my 28 years on Renton City Council, and to me as a resident of Renton enjoying his facilities. His hotel (that he personally helped design) is the first choice for many of my visiting friends and relatives, and his Dock and Brew, with it’s live music and summertime lakeside sunsets, is unmatched anywhere in the area. Southport hosts numerous weddings (sometimes several at a time), conventions, and other wonderful events, and his restaurants are among Renton’s finest. My sons hope to eventually work out of his inviting offices, and not have to commute to Seattle. He’s made an incredible, indelible mark on our city. Bringing Wizards of the Coast to the office complex was a perfect fit.

Negotiations are in the hands of lawyers so Mr. Christ and I didn’t discuss those details.  But I valued the opportunity to remind him how so many of us in Renton appreciate him.  My personal hope is that the lenders and any additional stakeholders will be smart enough to realize that no one–absolutely no one– could do a better job managing or growing Southport than Mr. Christ.  He is the person that could best market the office space, and he’s the one who knows what Renton residents will seek in future amenities. His vision was perfect, but the unforeseeable timing issues were cruel. Mr. Christ and his wife have been the talent that has made Southport possible, and I hope they maintain a lead role in its future.

Former Renton Council Member Marcie Palmer with Southport’s Michael Christ in one of Southport’s office towers, at the 2019 Chamber of Commerce Holiday Gala. (Photo credit Marcie/Gary Palmer)