Rainier Valley
The Rainier Valley is a larger community that includes the following neighborhoods: of Mount Baker, Columbia City, Brighton, Dunlap, Rainier Beach and Rainier View.
The valley itself is defined as an area bounded by Interstate 90 to the north, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the west, Lake Washington to the east and the city of Renton and the unincorporated community of Skyway to the south.
Rainier Valley is currently in the midst of significant change – due to the installation of Sound Transit’s light rail line that will run right through it, down Martin Luther King Jr. Way from South McClellan Street to the Boeing Access Road. Construction of such a large public project is bound to have some significant negative impacts, however, those impacts will be mitigated to some extent by the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. The purpose of the fund is to disburse money for business relocation costs, transit-oriented development, community development initiatives, and job training programs so valley residents can access of the jobs created by the construction. The loans and payments will be to cover losses and expenses directly related to the light-rail construction that are not covered by Sound Transit. Overall, the main purpose of the fund it to ensure that the benefits that result from light rail go to residents and businesses already located in the valley and that they will be able to afford to stay in their community.