Commercial life and country living coexist ... for the most part

By JACK HOPKINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The belief that things can get better permeates this city, which has slightly fewer than 15,000 residents but many of the problems of a bigger city. The work force and shoppers swell the city's population to anywhere from 80,000 to 90,000 on any given day.

Boeing is the city's biggest employer with nearly 9,000 workers. Kenworth Truck has about 650 and Metro employs nearly 600 at its transit operating base, according to the city. Total employment in the city in 1996 -- the most recent year for which figures are available -- was 38,789.

But the large number of people driving in and out of the city on a daily basis hasn't kept Tukwila residents from enjoying many of the benefits of small-town life.

There are 128 acres of parks and wetlands and more than 16 miles of foot trails winding through the city.

This is not a place where gourmet restaurants abound. Many of the town's movers and shakers, in fact, often can be found enjoying a meal at The Deli at Larry's Market. Locals go to places such as the Pancake Chef or Country Vittles on Highway 99.

But residents here like the low-key, no-frills feeling.

Paul and Betty Gully, who operate Gully Gardens and grow fresh produce, berries and flowers, say one of the benefits of residing in Tukwila is being close to a bigger city, but not having to live in it.

"This is an area where people want to live because it is easy to get places," says Betty. "You can hop on the freeway and get anywhere you want in a hurry. But we also are able to have our friendly neighborhoods here."

Being in a small town gives you access to government officials that isn't possible in larger cities, she said.

"You can go to a city council meeting here, raise your hand and stand up and talk about anything," she says proudly. "And the mayor's door is always open."

But there may be troubles ahead.

Port of Seattle officials are moving forward with plans to add a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport, an expansion bitterly opposed by many Tukwila residents and officials. And there is a simmering dispute over the route of the Regional Transit Authority commuter rail project.

"We live with the noise; we live with the smell of jet fuel when the wind is blowing in the right direction," says McFarland.

"I don't think people who live outside this area understand what that means in the terms of quality of life. There are places in this city where at certain times of the day it is very noisy from a combination of the airport and the freeways. And it will probably get noisier with a third runway."

As for the commuter rail system, city officials are hoping to convince the RTA that a route near Highway 99 isn't the best option.

Sometimes McFarland looks back on what Tukwila used to be with a sense of nostalgia -- especially when he gazes out of the windows at city hall and looks down on crowded I-405 and Southcenter Mall and other developments sprawling as far as he can see.

"I can vividly remember when this valley was all a dairy farm," says McFarland. "As recently as the late '50s you could look out there and there was nothing in the valley but farmland."

Continued:

• 'Small town' growing out of its shady image
• People come from all over the world to live here