Feelings strong for rural identity

By DEBERA CARLTON HARRELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

While it has lost strawberry fields and horse farms in the Sammamish River Valley, Redmond has retained civic protectiveness of its rural identity, as seen in recent battles over siting a mega-church and subdivisions in its woodsy hills and atop its ridges.

As more high-tech employers seek to build or expand offices here, the city of about 42,000 residents is trying to strike a balance between growth's less desirable effects, especially traffic, and the quality-of-life aspects citizens cherish -- love of arts and historic preservation, animals, recreation, open space, good schools, a low crime rate, natural beauty, environmental integrity and a sense of community.

"Microsoft is certainly a part of everyone's life, but it's not all there is to Redmond, and it's relatively new (1985) to the area," says journalist and town historian Nancy Way, author of "Our Town Redmond."

"Redmond is growing and becoming. It is hard to put a finger on what Redmond is because it has had such dramatic growth," Way says. "I think people are proud of the new industry. I don't think there's any clash. But Redmond also has these old roots. It's a unique and interesting mix of old and new."

Redmond residents appear to value both. Voters rejected a chance to preserve a municipal golf course and open space years ago, paving the way for the new upscale mall known as Town Center.

Yet nostalgia also runs deep. Demand to attend May's 75th Anniversary of Redmond Elementary School exceeded the 700-person allotment, says organizer Way. The school will avoid the wrecking ball, becoming a community center.

"We had two ladies in their 90s, former teachers at the school, holding court with their former students, in their 70s and giving each other hugs," Way says. "It was so touching."

Continued:

• This high-tech town has deep roots in agriculture
• Thriving suburb still feels like a small town