Team's choice proves "Renton is a player"

Whether or not Renton ultimately says yes to the Sonics, it was clear on Tuesday that the city was flattered to have been asked.

After months of flirting with both Bellevue and Renton, the team announced late in the day that it wanted to move to the city of 56,000, where work on the Seattle Seahawks headquarters breaks ground next month, and construction on a sprawling shopping and residential complex is already under way.

"I'm delighted that Renton was the cream that rose to the top," said Bill Taylor, president of the Renton Chamber of Commerce. "It says a lot about us, and about everything exciting that's happening in Renton."

The proposal caps more than a decade of self-promotion, as Renton has forged a new economic identity in the wake of job losses at Boeing and truck manufacturer Paccar.

The goal is to promote Renton as a center of opportunity, a city "ahead of the curve."

The Landing, a 46-acre, $300 million "urban village," is scheduled to open this fall. Construction on a regional Federal Reserve Bank is under way. And homes priced as high as $3 million are planned for the waterfront neighborhood where the new, 200,000-square-foot Seahawks headquarters and training facility will stand.

For some in the city, the Sonics announcement on Tuesday came like a kind of confirmation that the city had truly arrived.

"It kind of shows that Renton is a player," said Randy Matheson, spokesman for the Renton School District.

The 21-acre arena site, next to The Landing, is owned by Boeing.

Peter Conte, a spokesman for Boeing, said the Sonics owners have discussed the possibilities with the company.

"We are excited about the prospects for Renton, but Boeing has a number of significant issues to review, including security matters for the Boeing Renton site, traffic flow around the site for our employees and suppliers, and parking availability," he said.

Even the city's biggest economic boosters stressed that Tuesday's announcement is just one step in a long process that will involve much public input. Council members said they already had heard from dozens of residents concerned about traffic, parking, police services and overall quality of life.

There was another looming question on the minds of many:

"What do they want from the city?" asked Councilman Don Persson. "I'm not willing to commit our citizens to a lot of tax dollars."

The Sonics have made no requests of Renton yet. Once the team lays out its expectations, city officials said, they will proceed with their own economic-benefit analysis, community meetings and finally a council vote.

At the Dog and Pony Alehouse, just down the street from the arena site, server Deanna Roumas said the Sonics could be a real boon for the city. Roumas, 43, attended Renton High School and remembers people scoffing at the city's blue-collar reputation.

She said an arena could make the city even more attractive. "Renton still has a little ways to go, but there's a lot more to offer now."

Staff reporter Ashley Bach contributed to this story. Cara Solomon: 206-464-2024 or csolomon@seattletimes.com