Though Blethen's announcement hinted about relocating to Bothell, where the Times' printing press is located, the city of Bothell is apparently indifferent. "If they come, we'll welcome them, but we're not making any overt efforts to bring them here," says Bill Wiselogle, Bothell's community devolpment director. Renton thinks otherwise.
Carlson, who was instrumental in bringing IKEA to Renton a few years ago, beating out Kirkland for the yuppie furniture store, is gung ho. She claims her city will offer quicker permitting turn-around time and fewer taxes than Seattle. "We don't have a business and occupation tax, and we can do six months of Seattle permitting time in about 10 weeks," she boasts. The Times echoes other local businesses when the paper complains about Seattle's notoriously slow permitting process. (Businesses must get city permits to expand or build.) Carlson claims that Renton will bundle three or four permits together, unlike Seattle, which confirms permits step by step. But according to Mary Jean Ryan, head of Seattle's economic development office, the Times has never approached the city with complaints about permits or other concerns.
The Times already owns property in Renton. According to the King County Department of Assessments, the Times owns roughly 18 acres of unused, vacant, and mixed warehouse space. "The space would be adequate for their headquarters and the printing press," claims Carlson. She's also tempting the Times with fast-track access to city government. "The Times could talk directly to our mayor or any department head," she says. The Times was unavailable for comment.
