By Lindsay Peyton

Economic strength is drawing businesses and homeowners to Burien, city officials say. 

“My staff is telling me that they do not see a let up at all,” city manager Brian Wilson said.  “This is a valuable place to be. There’s history here, there’s excitement and there’s diversity. There’s a feeling of comfort and opportunity.”

Economic development manager Andrea Snyder said Burien has issued a high number of permits for multi-family, residential and business development. She said a lot of businesses are moving into existing spaces, as well.

“We have the lowest vacancies rates that we’ve had in 10 years or more,” she said. 

Snyder explained that some businesses are moving from Seattle, leaving the city because of the high number of regulations. 

“Rents are increasing too,” she said. “We’re seeing continued investment from small businesses that feel pushed out by Seattle.”

Chris Craig, economic development specialist for Burien, said businesses are also attracted to a smaller town, where they don’t have to wait as long to connect with the city government.

“A lot of this is about timing,” he said. “Businesses are worried about how long it takes to get through the red tape. They’re saying, ‘I can’t wait six months for the City of Seattle to approve something.’”
 

When business owners come to Burien, they have access to a growing talent pool of area residents, Snyder said. 

The number of available jobs nearby is one of the draws for homebuyers, she added. 

For example, Snyder said the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) is nearing completion and will become a hub for employment locally. 

The Town Square project was finished last year and has added both retail and residential space. 

Burien’s health industry is also growing. Snyder said that healthcare has become one of the largest employers in the area, with the new Kaiser Permanente clinic and the growing Highline hospital. 

Craig added that the new Puget Sound Skills Center’s health science building recently opened. 

“They’re taking high schools students from the area and training them to work in health care,” he said. 

In total, $52 million has ben invested in Burien’s wellness facilities in the past year, he said. 

Snyder said improvements to public transit and pedestrian walkways are planned for the future. “That’s a huge benefit to the city,” she said. “That’s something we also talk to businesses about, how to get employees to work.”

She said another draw to Burien is its foodie scene. “The amount of food we have here—and good food that’s here—you can’t find anywhere else,” she said. “We have it all here.”

Craig added that home chefs enjoy the specialty markets in the city and look forward to the PCC Community Market opening soon. 

Snyder said younger families are moving to Burien, and senior citizens are staying in the city, moving to retirement communities. 

“We’re not a best kept secret anymore,” she said.