Economic Development in Burien, Washington
The City of Burien’s economic development staff actively works to recruit and retain businesses, attract new development, promote the city to visitors, and work with local and regional partners to increase Burien’s quality of life. Burien has a history of successful proactive economic development. Read our success stories here.
Town Square
The City assembled properties and partnered with developers and local agencies to create a Town Square - the city’s premier catalyst project. Comprising a library, city hall, new retail space, and over 500 units of housing, Town Square is home to year-round events including a weekly Farmers Market and connectivity to Burien’s downtown businesses. The project contributed to Burien being named one of the most walkable communities in the Pacific Northwest and has had faster lease-ups than comparable developments in Seattle and the eastside, proving Burien is a strong market.
NERA
The City is partnering with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Port of Seattle to help bring a new employment base to Burien. The North East Redevelopment Area (NERA) is 153 acres adjacent to SeaTac International Airport primed for industrial/flex space development. In 2017, due to proactive efforts to assemble land and leverage partner funding, the City welcomed the largest cold storage facility in the state, making Burien the staging ground for Washington food products to be shipped all over the world. Adjacent parcels house 480,000 square feet of industrial space, providing more jobs for Burien residents.
