Economic development is hot in Sumner

The Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World is growing a lot more than delicious pastry filling. From industrial expansion to development that will nurture artists and entrepreneurs, projects a-plenty are in progress and in the works for the City of Sumner:

• Industrial building boom. Seven industrial buildings totaling more than 840,000 square feet are under construction or in the planning phases. Prep for 23 building pads is in progress. All told, permitting is in process for more than 1 million square feet of warehouse space.
• Win for Sumner and salmon. The City renegotiated the sale of the former Sumner Meadows Golf Links property to include only 74 acres of the original 156 acres. Remaining land and additional acreage will be utilized for a flood protection overflow area for salmon recovery. The reworking allows needed economic development in the valley while providing habitat for endangered and threatened salmon runs. Sumner is working closely with  the Muckleshoot and Puyallup tribes, Pierce County and the City of Pacific on the monumental effort.
• Town center ready to rise. The brokerage listing for a bundle of parcels near Sumner City Hall has been awarded to Kidder Mathews for the town center/downtown redevelopment project. The vision for the project is four-story mixed-use development with ground-floor retail that will complement Sumner’s historic downtown.
• Cut to commercial. Several significant commercial and residential projects are also in progress, including The Main & Lofts, a mixed-use development adjacent to Fred Meyer on East Main, featuring 108 housing units and more than 1,600 square feet of commercial space. The 122-room Candlewood Suites just off SR 167 is scheduled to welcome guests this fall.
• Traffic relief ahead. Rail commuters and others cruising through Sumner in the late afternoon are well aware of the bottleneck on Traffic Ave. near SR 410. The overpass is expected to be widened in the next few years. Over the next year, the city will work on design, permitting and construction of the $17 million expansion.
• Getting artsy and innovative. The city is considering zoning amendments to create an Innovation & Artisan District. Utilizing a long-vacant grocery store, the city hopes is to provide a hub for startups, entrepreneurs, artists and other creative types to kick off and incubate new businesses to complement Sumner’s manufacturing and industrial areas.
• Speaking of which. In January of this year, the Puget Sound Regional Council certified the Sumner-Pacific subarea plan to support the continued growth of industrial and manufacturing jobs in the area.

“Sumner embraces its small-town values, but recognizes that to be competitive and vital, it must be forward thinking and innovative,” said Ryan Windish, City of Sumner community development director. “From new construction to traffic solutions to projects that enhance the quality of life for our citizens and visitors, Sumner is and will continue to be a great place to live, work and do business.”

For more information about what’s happening in Sumner, contact Ryan Windish or visit the city’s website at sumnerwa.gov.