Seattle Suburb Plans its Civic Core

The city of Renton, Washington recently approved a Civic Core Vision and Action Plan.

1 minute read

July 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Renton, Washington

SounderBruce / Flickr

Anthony Marris-Swann writes of a new Civic Core Vision and Action Plan for the city of Renton, one of the fastest growing cities in the Seattle region.

"The city’s population has more than doubled since the 2000 census–propelled in part by annexation–and city government has been struggling to adapt. Given the obvious physical and political constraints on future development in the hinterlands, Renton has begun to look toward its historic downtown to absorb some of its new growth," writes Marris-Swann.

Approved earlier this year by the Renton City Council, the Civic Core Vision and Action Plan, "calls for transit revisions, streetscape improvements, investment in public art and place-making, promoting Downtown Renton as a regional cultural destination, and a robust effort to connect the city’s green spaces with a multimodal trail through Downtown Renton."

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

3 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles Public Press