A Renovated Home, Reputation -- Renton Housing Project Puts On A New Face

RENTON - Two years ago, residents at the Royal Hills Apartments would have been the first to admit that the low-income complex was a less than ideal place to raise children.

It had a bad reputation, said Rosalita Christianson, who has lived there 11 years: lots of drug use, domestic violence, kids breaking windows and stealing things. It was so bad that parents from other neighborhoods would not let their kids play there.

Today, residents are crediting themselves and a broad-based community effort for turning around Royal Hills, creating what they now describe as a "safe" and "pleasant" environment.

"It's changed the whole attitude of the place," said Rosemary Gaudet, mother of four and a 10-year resident. "We've come together."

City officials say an experiment last summer at Royal Hills has had lasting effects. Through ongoing efforts by residents, Renton police, parks and recreation workers and the owner of the complex, Royal Hills has seen some remarkable changes.

Reported crimes declined from 205 in 1992 to 160 last year. Residents say there's far less violence in the complex.

Built in the late 1960s, Royal Hills is home to a diverse mix of 1,100 people, ranging from African Americans and Latinos to immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

Most tenants get federal rent subsidies and pay an average of $100 a month to live there.

With an isolated location on a dead-end street in the Cascade Vista area of southeastern Renton, the center was cut off from the city's recreational facilities, and youngsters had little to do in the summer. They'd hang out in cliques based on race or ethnic background, residents said. Sometimes fights would erupt.

The idea was to "eliminate the negative, idle time kids have," said Bill Higgins, who led the Parks Department programs at Royal Hills.

The city and residents combined to create a mix of programs aimed at both children and adults:

-- The Parks Department organized games and other activities for children and parenting classes for adults.

-- Firefighters and police officers visited the complex every day to give demonstrations and talks about drugs and criminal activity. Mostly, they got to know Royal Hills residents personally.

-- Owner John O'Neil gives scholarships to graduating high-schoolers and Christmas turkeys to residents.

Gaudet relates a story that happened last week, that would have had a different ending in the old Royal Hills. She says a man, not from the complex, was pushing his girlfriend around in the parking lot one day.

A resident told him to stop and threatened to call the police.

"We look out for one another now," Gaudet said. Give us your ideas: This is an occasional series focusing on creative ways to tackle problems. If you know of a person or project helping solve problems - from crime to the environment to kids - call the "What's Working" voice-mail line, 464-3338, or write describing your nominee: c/o Bill Ristow, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Include a phone number for more information.