On September 15, 1992, voters selected a seven-member interim city council and Dr. Arun Jhaveri was selected to serve as the City’s first mayor. The official incorporation was set for midnight on February 28, 1993.
Following are a few milestones in Burien’s 30-year history. For more community history, visit the Highline Heritage Museum.
1995
Groundbreaking and dedication of Lake Burien School Memorial Park
1998
Annexation of Manhattan neighborhood
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board formed
Arts Commission formed
Gary Long hired as city manager
2004
City Council begins study of possible annexation of North Highline area
Conceptual site plan for 20-acre Town Square development approved
2005
Work completed on removal of south seawall and beach restoration at Seahurst Park
Dedication ceremony held for Burien’s Eagle Landing Park
2007
Jacob Ambaum Park opens on Ambaum Boulevard SW
Demolition of former Gottschalk store marks beginning of construction of Burien Town Square
Burien Farmers Market launches
B-Town Blog launches
2009
New City Hall and Library opens
Town Square Park opens
Groundbreaking of South Correctional Entity Regional Jail (SCORE)
Burien Interim Art Space has year-long run
Work completed on phase one of 1st Ave S improvement project
2010
Public Works maintenance crews brought in-house
Community Center opens in newly remodeled former library
Annexation of North Highline and Boulevard Park neighborhoods
2012
Community Animal Resource and Education Society (C.A.R.E.S.) opens in Burien
2013
Phase two of 1st Ave S improvement project completed
Work begins on Seahurst Shoreline Restoration Project, north seawall removal
Burien becomes a “Safe Place City”
Arbor Day Foundation desginates Burien as a “Tree City USA”
2015
NERA Stormwater Facility and Miller Creek Greenway Project Phase One concludes
King Country Metro Transit launches shuttle in Burien
Ground breaks on Merrill Garden developments to complete Town Square
Burien Magazine launches
2018
City celebrates 25th anniversary of incorporation
Ted Boe hired as police chief
City Council creates Human Services Commission and hires first human services manager
StormFest, a stormwater science learning event hosted by Highline area cities for Highline Public Schools students, launched
Green Burien Partnership forms
2019
Plastic bag ban adopted
40% tree canopy goal adopted
Renter protections adopted
Alternative public safety programs, including Burien LEAD, launch
Affordable Housing Demonstration Program launched
2020
Burien community, businesses, and local governments work together to make it through COVID-19 pandemic
Lake to Sound trail (Segment C) for walking and biking begins construction
Urban Center Plan adopted
City hosts community conversations about public safety and policing
Burien Annex building demolished
Rebuilt Peter Western bridge opens
2021
Burien’s first Climate Action Plan adopted
City sells downtown parking lot to developer for Kinect@Burien development
City Council adopts Native Land and Peoples Acknowledgment
City Council adopts suite of policies aimed at pandemic recovery
2022
Plan adopted to use federal pandemic recovery funding
Tree regulations adopted
Burien receives official Creative District designation from Washington State Arts Commission
Adolfo Bailon hired as city manager, replacing Carolyn Hope who served as interim city manager
2023
City celebrates its 30th anniversary of incorporation
King County Metro Transit launches H Line RapidRide
Burien Independence Day parade turns 100
