Sonics, Storm open Renton digs

RENTON -- In a none too subtle gesture, the Sonics and Storm on Wednesday formally opened an information center in the downtown core of a city where it wants a state-of-the-art arena.

"We are honored to welcome you to the city of Renton," Mayor Kathy Keolker said in an introductory address at the Spirit of Washington Event Center. "This may be your new home."

		Joshua Trujillo / P-I
	Renton officials mingle with basketball staff at the opening of the Sonics and Storm information center in the downtown area.

However, the developer who controls the land in Renton where the Sonics want to build a proposed $500 million arena again threw cold water on the team's plans.

"We have looked at it as a retail site, and we continue to do that," said Bob Baker, a partner with Dallas-based Harvest Partners. "We have plans to build retail there."

The Sonics want about 21 acres that are designated as the third stage of a development called the Landing, a 68-acre urban village that's under construction just off Interstate 405 in Renton's South Lake Washington neighborhood.

Baker said he already has tenants interested in the property the Sonics want, and he repeated the company's stance that it has no intention of giving up the land.

The property in question is owned by The Boeing Co., but Harvest Partners has the first right of refusal to buy it.

Baker said with the Sonics still working on getting public funding from lawmakers in Olympia there are "a lot of balls in the air" and he's pushing forward on the retail project.

"The train has left the station," Baker said.

Baker's comments came during an interview after an International Council of Shopping Centers function in downtown Seattle, where Baker provided details of his project.

Earlier in the day, the Sonics and Storm worked to drum up support in Renton.

Led by Clay Bennett, chairman of The Professional Basketball Club -- the Sonics and Storm's new ownership group -- the organization is seeking to build a multipurpose events center to replace KeyArena.

Bennett and his group have said they would pay $100 million of the cost for the arena and want to keep most of the revenue generated by the facility.

In addition to opposition from Baker, Bennett and his group face significant obstacles in the Legislature, where a measure that would allow King County to extend taxes to pay for the arena is a long shot to pass. There is also a significant time crunch, as the legislative session is slated to end in late April.

Even if the legislation passed, there could be a public vote in King County, where there has been significant opposition to providing public funds for professional sports teams.

At least publicly, Renton city officials and club ownership believe a favorable result is still possible.

"We're not even looking at Plan B," said Danny Barth, interim chief executive officer and president of The Professional Basketball Club. "For us, it's Plan A. Plan A is that we want to move this forward, move this out of the Legislature and get it to King County and go from there. We believe we'll be successful with Plan A."

None of the uncertainty seemed to loom over the proceedings Wednesday, as two busloads of Sonics and Storm staff were brought in to attend the welcome ceremony. They then walked across the street to the ribbon-cutting at the new information center.

The 1,000-square-foot space sits at the corner of Burnett Avenue South and South Second Street. Three full-time employees will staff information desks and make sales calls.

Barth and Storm chief operating officer Karen Bryant were on hand, along with former Sonics player Slick Watts.

In statements from Keolker, Barth and Bill Taylor, president and CEO of the Renton Chamber of Commerce, the mood of the afternoon reflected optimism that the Sonics and Storm were close to moving in.

Keolker and Taylor, who were presented with honorary Storm and Sonics jerseys by Barth, were excited by the potential economic impact of a new arena, as well as a higher profile for Renton.

"There are a lot of players involved, a lot of hurdles," Keolker said. "It's one of those things, where if it's meant to be and it happens, it's really, really good. We're hopeful this will get done."