By MARK HIGGINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

In many ways it is surprising that downtown Renton has changed so little, especially given its proximity to Seattle, Bellevue and Sea-Tac Airport, just six miles to the west.

The big-box chain stores, such as Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, IKEA and Brittania Sportswear, have come to Renton, but not to its downtown. In recent years, J C Penny pulled out. Last summer, it was Bartell Drug that exited.

Is it any wonder, some residents say, that the one question many visitors ask when they come to Renton is, where is Jimi Hendrix buried?

About 100 fans of the guitar virtuoso visit his gravestone at Greenwood Cemetery each month.

Those who know downtown Renton say its evolution has been stymied by conservative-thinking property owners who paid off their mortgages years back, but never were willing to raise the capital to redevelop their land.

"The challenges are much the same as in any older city where the buildings have been allowed to deteriorate and rents are low and the return is not so great that renovations are made," says Norma Cugini, who grew up in Renton and has been active in civic affairs much of her life.

"Renton will not ever be the little shopping city it once was, but there are new opportunities and people have to be very ingenious when they are thinking about these things," Cugini advises.

The very conditions that have held Renton back make the city ripe for redevelopment. Its downtown already is filling with owner-occupied shops, ethnic restaurants, antique and collectable stores, a new brew pub and glass-blowing gallery.

"Downtown Renton has definitely gone through some ups and downs, but I think we are definitely in an upswing," predicts Jerry Kavesh, who runs Renton Western Wear and is a longtime Renton loyalist. His grandfather started the shop in 1950. It now stocks 3,000 pairs of boots and racks of clothing, belts, hats and western accessories.

Continued:

• Blue-collar city retains its character and spirit
• Dinner train put city on track toward revival
• Billionaire's vision would top off renaissance
• Breathing new life into downtown hasn't been easy