Renton business owners, residents ask city to intervene after aggressive towing at The Reserve

Multiple business owners and residents told the Renton City Council during public comment that private towing and aggressive parking enforcement at The Reserve, a mixed-use development at 495 Renton Centerway SW, is costing businesses customers and harming vulnerable residents.

"I lose almost 50%" of my income, said Ty Nguyen, a local business owner, describing repeated tows and customers who now avoid the area. He told council staff the tow trucks linger in the lot and that customers have been scared away; he also said a property manager named Heather and a man he identified as her husband patrol the lot and that vehicles were vandalized overnight. "Please help us," Nguyen said.

Regina Weaver, who said she has advocated for The Reserve since it opened, told the council she and other tenants had gone without hot water for 26 days and had received a notice of a 56.59% rent increase effective in January. "I can't afford it," she said, adding that tenants were moving out and seeking city help.

Lumen (transcribed as Lerman), owner of Lumen Spa at Suite 101, said unclear signage and indistinct markings make it easy for customers to mistake private reserved parking for public spaces. She said customers have paid fines that she estimated at nearly $800 for two tickets and that weekend fines can exceed $1,000. "A lot of people here are older residents. Their eyesight is bad. Their English is not good," Lumen said, asking the council for clearer enforcement and protections for customers.

A frequent customer, who gave the nickname "Diamond," said she had seen several cars towed while receiving services and called for better allocation of parking for businesses so customers are not deterred from patronizing local stores.

Mayor Armando Pavoni acknowledged the comments, told speakers staff would look into options and that the police chief was speaking with residents at the meeting. The mayor and council did not adopt new policy on the floor; rather, Mayor Pavoni said staff and police would follow up to identify potential remedies.

Why it matters: Small retail and service businesses near the Reserve say lost customers and large towing fines are threatening viability; tenants report living-conditions problems such as long water outages and large proposed rent increases. Council members asked staff and the police department to investigate and report back, and the council flagged the issue for follow-up.