Burien previews Gateway Monument sign refresh using ARPA and state arts funds

Burien — City staff on Feb. 9 presented concept designs and next steps for a refresh of the Gateway Monument sign at the northwest corner of Southwest 148th Street and 1st Avenue.

Chris Craig, Burien’s economic development manager, told the council the monument is on private property and the city must coordinate with the property owner on any final design. Craig said the project is financed in part by a $143,000 allocation from the city’s ARPA implementation plan and a $75,000 grant from the Washington State Arts Commission that the city and partners secured.

Craig walked council members through early design options — ranging from updates that reuse existing columns to bolder, colorful concepts intended to reflect Burien’s diversity and natural environment. He said designers sought to preserve existing trees where possible and to minimize underground work because funding is limited. The Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership and the Creative District reviewed the concepts; the property owner has tentatively approved moving forward with a preferred option.

Staff said no council action was required tonight. The next steps are to finalize construction documents, release a request for proposals to select a contractor, and complete fabrication and installation. Craig noted timing constraints tied to grant requirements: some state arts dollars must be expended by the end of June, and federal ARPA funds must be spent by the end of the calendar year.

Council members praised the outreach process and emphasized the need to balance design ambition with the project’s funding constraints.