Tukwila back on fast track with light-rail link

Tukwila, at the crossroads of rivers, highways and railways, has been a hub of commerce since the 1860s, when boats on the Duwamish River ferried coal from local mines on a two-day journey to Seattle.

That trip now takes 37 minutes from the new Tukwila light-rail station near the airport.

That station (officially known as the Tukwila International Boulevard Station) has increased homebuyer interest in the neighborhood surrounding the towering structure.

"The last two homes I've sold were because of the light-rail station right up the street," says Windermere Real Estate agent Marilyn Ferris.

Housing in the neighborhood around the station is "eclectic and affordable," Ferris says. "There's a lot of diversity and multigenerational households," she says, citing the recent sale of a "really cute" 1,700 square-foot home to an extended family for $245,000.

"They don't drive and can walk to the bus, light-rail station and stores, and they're thrilled to be homeowners," Ferris says.

The neighborhood features some of the most affordable houses in the Seattle area. Recently a three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,768-square-foot house three blocks from the station was listed for $159,999 while a new, custom-looking four-bedroom, 2,590-square-foot house with coffered ceilings sold for $366,000.

Prices across Tukwila are similarly affordable. The median price of 12 single-family houses sold in Tukwila during February was $285,000, according to figures compiled by Seattle-based Zillow.com. The median price of 11 condos sold during February in Tukwila was $132,000, according to Zillow.

Most of the houses in Tukwila have been built since the 1960s and are a mix in terms of size, style and vintage, often along the same block. Many have large yards popular with homebuyers with children, though the area's condos and apartments are also a popular choice with families looking for affordable, low-maintenance living spaces.

Tukwila probably is best known for the Westfield Southcenter mall, its surrounding retail corridor and the commercial strip along Highway 99/International Boulevard South on the way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Tukwila's quiet residential neighborhoods fill the area between them.

In what formerly was mostly farmland and wooded hillsides, Tukwila has grown from population 520 in 1940 and 3,570 in 1980 to about 18,000 today. It's also known for racial and ethnic diversity; more than 55 languages other than English are spoken by residents.

Members of the Duwamish Tribe were the area's original settlers and city's name comes from the local Native-American dialect Tuck-wil-a, which means "land where the hazelnuts grow," though few hazelnut trees remain.

Tukwila celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008 with a year of centennial activities looking back at its history and forward to its next century.

"I've lived here all my life," says Helen Ives. "People tend to stay for generations. My children and grandchildren graduated from the same schools I did. I hike once a week with a women's group from the community center and swim five mornings a week at Tukwila Pool. It's such a popular spot that there's 10 or 15 of us waiting to get in at 5:30 a.m. every morning."

Tukwila's retail development provides a strong local tax base for its public schools and other civic developments including the large, modern Tukwila Community Center near the Duwamish River.

"I follow the local school sports teams, enjoy local theater productions and belong to the Historical Society," says Ives. "This is a special place, so close to the big city, but with our own sense of community."

Outdoor recreation includes Tukwila Pond, 25 acres with picnic tables, trails and a greenbelt hidden in the busy retail area near Southcenter; Fort Dent Park/Starfire Sports baseball and soccer fields; a golf course and the Green River Trail pedestrian and bicycle path.

City plans for economic development include Tukwila Village, a retail, office space, condominium and rental housing complex at International Boulevard and South 144th Street and Tukwila South housing and parks development planned for the area south of 180th Street along Interstate 5.

Also, The Seattle Times recently reported on plans to create a 500-acre development in the south end of Tukwila to be developed by the Segale family. It would create a campus of office and research buildings, stores, restaurants, town houses, condos and a hotel.

Work is expected to begin this spring, but it could take up to 30 years for the entire project to be completed.

Light-rail, however, has arrived and it's attracting attention from potential homebuyers, commuters and even those using it to attend sports and cultural, says Ferris.

""I think it will really catch on for summer recreation," says Ferris.

"Beyond commuting, it connects the South End to Seattle's arts and culture, the Pike Place Market, Seattle Center," she says.

"People from SeaTac, Burien and all over the South End can come and park, take the light rail to get to Seattle quickly, avoid parking fees, save gas and cause less pollution, too. And as more people use the light rail for recreation and for transportation to and from the airport, there'll be more people interested in looking at living in Tukwila."