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Burien Economic Development Partnership outlines 2025 priorities: downtown corridor, marketing, tax increment study
Summary
The Burien Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) presented its 2024 annual report and 2025 work plan, emphasizing corridor vitality and marketing, advancing a tax increment financing feasibility study, and a Gateway Monument refresh project at 140 Eighth & First Avenue.
Representatives of the Burien Economic Development Partnership presented the board’s 2024 accomplishments and a proposed 2025 work plan to the City Council on May 12. Council Member Alex Andrade, the council’s BEDP liaison, introduced the presentation and noted recent BEDP appointments.
The BEDP said it provided guidance on the city’s economic action plan, supported an investor/broker event (about 65 attendees at the Highline Heritage Museum on May 8), advised on ARPA-funded childcare and workforce-development awards, and participated in the tax increment financing (TIF) feasibility study now nearing completion. The Partnership proposed focusing 2025 work on corridor vitality and redevelopment, investing in marketing and branding, and moving toward specific implementation recommendations for the council to consider.
BEDP speakers described a four-part framework they labeled HOME (Hook, Open, Marketing, Enforce): create a distinctive marketing "hook" for Burien; reduce unnecessary regulatory friction to make events and entrepreneurship easier; expand marketing to retain residents and attract visitors; and address code enforcement as a lever to support business vitality. They also described a Gateway Monument refresh at 140 Eighth and First Avenue: budget constraints mean the consultant will retain the existing four columns and provide a refreshed “hat” or cap and other design refinements; the private property owner must give final approval.
Council members asked about outreach, BEDP’s relationship with the council and city staff, and special opportunities such as the FIFA/World Cup-related events and use of parks for activation. BEDP members said they felt well supported by council and staff and proposed a joint BEDP–council meeting later in the year to present prescriptive next steps for implementation.
No formal council action was taken; council members commended the BEDP for its work and asked staff to return with implementation steps and schedule.
