Tensions between the City of Auburn and the development firm, Parkstone Investment Inc., ratcheted up on July 11, 2007.

That’s the day that the Auburn City Council rejected Parkstone’s proposal to build a 120-unit senior apartment and retail project, Renaissance at Auburn, on a 2.67-acre parcel opposite the Valley 6 Outdoor Theaters on Auburn Way North.

Council members said at the time they were worried about the single entrance and exit, fretful about senior citizens trying to cross the busy intersection of 277th just to the north and concerned about how the project fit within the scope of city code requirements.

Parkstone President Daniel Stoner accused the city of sandbagging him after he said it had repeatedly assured him of approval. He sued.

On Feb, 22, 2008, a Superior Court judge reversed the city’s decision and kicked it back to the City Council for consideration of several issues Parkstone had raised. Now, on the strength of a few safety improvements, the City Council has approved the development agreement.

Stoner said he believed the city had simply decided the time had come to put this behind them.

“Obviously, I am very pleased,” Stoner said.

“The council’s concern all this time has been flat about safety,” said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis.

What the city and Parkstone agreed on was a secondary emergency access curb cut from Auburn Way North on the north end of the property, and another exit out of the back of the property whenever the city or another owner could find a way through the back of the parcel. Parkstone also added a van service, which will be on call for its residents from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

“The city’s concern is they don’t want people walking from that site, especially across the street,” Lewis said. “There’s no safe area from council’s consideration in that area. So, having a van available as a concession from Parkstone was a valuable thing to the city.”

The agreement also directs Parkstone to continue to cooperate with neighboring properties as they change ownership or are proposed for development to work toward providing a second general purpose access.

The Renaissance at Auburn will offer a 120-unit, independent senior apartment community consisting of a single, four-story, wood frame building. The second component will be complementary retail, comprised of a single, 1-story building containing five commercial retail bays of 1,200-square feet each. The total rentable space will be 6,000-square feet.

Stoner will seek funding from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to allow the project to be age restricted, independent senior housing, serving households with all primary members 62 or older and income restricted.

Stoner said he doesn’t know when construction can start.

“Obviously, given the economic uncertainties we are under right now, it’s hard to say,” Stoner said. “Hopefully soon, but we’ve got to see the credit market loosen up a bit to receive financing. At the time I originally applied for this, I had all my financing lined up, but unfortunately I had to let go of all that at the time when this was foolishly denied.”