Sammamish celebrates 25th anniversary with past council members
Sammamish celebrated its 25th anniversary with a reception at the City Hall on July 16 that was attended by both current and former council members. The event was a prelude to a community jubilee celebration set for Aug. 16.
Reflections of Sammamish revealed how far the city had come, from a modest beginning with a small staff and limited budget to a full fledged city government delivering community-focused policies.
Since its incorporation in 1999, Sammamish has undergone a transformation from a quiet, rural area to the 19th largest city in Washington state.
The early days of Sammamish were characterized by simpler aspects, with a two-lane 228th Avenue and even a store that had a hitching post for horses. Ramiro Valderrama, who served on the city council from 2012 to 2020, noted the rapid growth over the past few decades.
“The city has expanded dramatically,” Valderrama said. “It had a lot of positive growth.”
An important milestone in the city’s development was the town center project. Planned for over two decades, the town center promises to bring a variety of activities and options to the city, reducing the need for residents to leave the plateau for basic needs and entertainment.
“People said ‘you can’t buy socks in Sammamish’,” Valderrama said. “So that’s something that the town center will be bringing for us — other activities, other shopping, other experiences.”
Former mayor and council member Don Gerend shared an optimistic view of what is in store for Sammamish’s future.
“I feel now that the city, even though it’s close to 70,000 people, is a better place to live than when we started the city,” Gerend said.
The development of new parks, improved roadways, and enhanced public transportation options have also contributed to the city’s growth. And besides infrastructure, events like the farmers market, Fourth of July celebration, and various children’s activities have fostered a sense of community. Residents from different backgrounds have also brought many unique traditions and perspectives, according to Valderrama.
“The diversity that has come into this city has dramatically improved and enriched the city,” Valderrama said.
Current council member Amy Lam has been an advocate for more diverse and affordable housing options in Sammamish. With 85% of the city’s homes being single family residences, there is now a pressing need for housing that caters to different stages of life. Lam is working towards a future where singles, young couples, and seniors can all find suitable living options within the city.
“That’s something we’re working really hard to achieve,” Lam said.
Valderrama and Gerend agree that other housing opportunities will benefit the community.
“We need more housing for people — houses priced from $500,000 to $1,400,000 — so people can downsize when their kids grow up and they’re left in a larger house,” Gerend said. “I’d like to see the height limit removed so that we could build 12 to 15-story buildings in the town center.”
Valderrama shared the same view.
“As adults who are older than me want to downsize, they really don’t have an opportunity to downsize here, and so you see them moving to Trilogy, Redmond Ridge, and Issaquah when they want to stay here in the town center,” Valderrama said.
Residents have also mentioned the need for more community spaces and opportunities, which Mayor Kali Clark plans to address by bringing a potential facility similar to the Issaquah Teen Garage to Sammamish.
“High schoolers could hang out and do different activities,” Clark said. “I also want to add other things for young adults and teenagers to do.”
Clark is looking forward to what comes next.
“I know we’re a young city being only 25 years, but I think we have a lot of potential ahead of us. So whether that be more conservation of our trees, some retail opportunities, coffee shops, something other than pizza,” Clark said. “I want Sammamish to be a place for all to do everything they want to do.”
