Written by A few years ago, the Renton City Council held a hearing regarding the West Hill/Skyway area, and the possibility of adding the area to Renton’s Potential Annexation Area (PAA).
Residents in the West Hill area seemed evenly split on the idea, with some wanting annexation to Renton, but many others being very adamantly against it. Some were very clear that they did not want to be part of a city, as the sign below indicates.
As we have gathered more data on the costs of annexation in recent years, it has become increasingly clear to me that Denis Law’s position was the right one for West Hill. We have found that there is no way that the city can annex this area without a major subsidy from all the rest of us in the city of Renton, on the order of many millions or even tens-of-millions of dollars.
With Denis in the Mayor’s office, he will likely get council support if he choses to revisit this issue. While state growth management law does not make it easy for us to remove West Hill from our PAA, it’s possible we could find a way to do it. Even if the area stays in our PAA, Denis has promised voters that he will be slow to annex the area if it costs existing residents too much….and I will support him in this view.
Renton and the West Hill is starting to look like a marriage which will never make it to the alter. I would encourage the residents of this area to put thought into where they really want to end up, and let the governments of King County, Seattle, Tukwila, and Renton know their preferences.
This area has some pretty dramatic public infrastructure needs, as well as a clear need to bring in private investment dollars. Here are a few more pictures, along with the shot of the dilapidated building with the No On Annexation Sign…that pretty much says it all.
The “No Annexation” sign says it all. While it was put up by West Hill residents, it could have just as easily been installed by Renton officials
Seeing those pictures is what makes annexation necessary I just wish we would all see the bigger picture. And if I have my camera next time I am up there I will snap some shots of the yes to annexation signs.
That place is a mess!
We all understand how the place will need a bunch of infrastructure improvements, however it may make sense to clean the place up just so we don’t have a pocket of crime ridden slums next to our city.
By kicking out the slum-lords and enforcing the building code, Renton could at least get rid of most of the criminals there.
Re: That place is a mess!
And we cant do that without bringing it into our city and i hope we do that. Because you see the neighboring areas and they look like your average clean safe neighborhood weather it be Renton or Seattle.
West Hill
Are we talking about West Hill or are we talking about MLK/Sunset? There are nicer,i.e. more middle class areas, on the West Hill. There are also some tough poorer areas. These areas will present issues but as it is now the County has washed their hands of the area. Many of the stores in Skyway have shut down. There is a fair amount of crime. I can understand why Renton also wishes to wash their hands of the problem but remember the people of West Hill shop in Renton, eat in Renton, etc. Renton is happy to take their sales tax money so please remember that the residents of West Hill are making a contribution to Renton. You City Council members should ask yourself if you really want to have problem areas right next to the city. Long term I think it would be to your benefit to make the West Hill part of Renton. If you need more financial help from the County or State then ask for it.
Thanks,
Brian Hamel
Re: West Hill
We also have businesses in Renton, are members of the Renton Chamber and our children attend Renton schools.
West Hill
Are we talking about West Hill or are we talking about MLK/Sunset? There are nicer,i.e. more middle class areas, on the West Hill. There are also some tough poorer areas. These areas will present issues but as it is now the County has washed their hands of the area. Many of the stores in Skyway have shut down. There is a fair amount of crime. I can understand why Renton also wishes to wash their hands of the problem but remember the people of West Hill shop in Renton, eat in Renton, etc. Renton is happy to take their sales tax money so please remember that the residents of West Hill are making a contribution to Renton. You City Council members should ask yourself if you really want to have problem areas right next to the city. Long term I think it would be to your benefit to make the West Hill part of Renton. If you need more financial help from the County or State then ask for it.
Thanks,
Brian Hamel
thank you
thats it, guy
thanks much
well done, brother
Just what exactly truly moved you to post “West Hill
Potential Annexation Area – Renton Community Update”?
Iseriously appreciated it! Thanks ,Carlota