New home sales, U.S. Open among 2015 highlights for Chamber of Commerce

Last year brought plenty of changes and additions to the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce. The year boasted new home sales, the opening of new businesses and the arrival of the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

With ribbon-cuttings at both DR Horton’s new housing developments in downtown and South Hill, Tehaleh in Bonney Lake, and Wesley Homes selling units near Bradley Lake, 2015 saw an increase in new home construction.

“We heard from DR Horton that home sales were really good this year,” said Shelly Schlumpf, president and CEO of the Puyallup Sumner Chamber. “Stewart Crossings (at 2800 West Stewart Ave.) is expected to be completed in the next three years. In Red Hawk near Gem Heights, they’re doing really well with military sales in that area since they are so close to the base. In Tehaleh, they are doing really well in home sales as well.”

In addition to home sales bringing new residents to the area, Schlumpf also says the U.S. Open brought golf spectators and tourists to the area.

“It was the year of the U.S. Open, and that had a great impact in Puyallup because of the infrastructure of the Washington State Fair and Event Center,” Schlumpf said. “We would not have had that with out that kind of infrastructure in our city. Our restaurants did great, and our hotels did great.”

Life Care Center opened on the South Hill, providing both new jobs and a facility to address the needs for the aging population in the area, Schlumpf said.

Gov. Jay Inslee visited Puyallup for the Puyallup River Bridge project on Meridian, which opened to traffic June 28, replacing an over 100-year-old steel truss bridge, improving safety for drivers headed into Puyallup.

The past year also brought the 125th anniversary celebration for Puyallup, and an opportunity for business owners, elected officials, and residents to come together to celebrate how far the city has come in 125 years.

In Sumner, 2015 brought the opening of the Gordon Family YMCA.

“It’s exceeding expectations for membership, and they’ve only been open since October,” Schlumpf said.

Trackside Pizza as well as Craft 19 brought new businesses to the downtown Sumner core.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 2:22 PM with the headline "New home sales, U.S. Open among 2015 highlights for Chamber of Commerce."