The expansion of West Seattle's esteemed Elliott Bay Brewery to Burien's Main Street was the tipping point for me.

Now, I'm really excited about Burien's future.

For a skeptical columnist, it was dicey for a while.

A few years ago, the city began renovating Southwest 152nd into Burien's Main Street with trees, benches, a funky street clock and a welcoming arch.

The remodeling was expensive and a burdensome intrusion on already struggling businesses.

Finally it was finished. It looked beautiful.

Then, nothing happened. The rundown stores stayed and the vacancies remained vacant.

However, commercial real estate time is longer than impatient reporter time.

Gradually, a classy restaurant row emerged. Olde Burien blossomed into a symbol of the new Burien as a trendy destination shopping spot. Town Square plans moved forward.

And now comes Elliott Bay-renown for its pub grub, micro brews and family-friendly atmosphere. Giant brewing tanks taking up 1,000 square feet in the dining area will be the entertaining floorshow.

What gives me hope about Burien's transformation is that I lived in West Seattle during the 1970s and 1980s-pre-Elliott Bay.

Back then, West Seattle was a sleepy blue-collar peninsula newly reconnected to Seattle. A wayward ship had destroyed its previous main bridge to downtown.

Where I lived consisted of young couples in starter homes saving up to move to the suburbs. Forced school busing fueled the flight.

Old-timers, who had never saved up the money or the energy to leave, made up the other main demographic.

A seedy housing project occupied a high point on a hill.

Penney's, downtown West Seattle's last department store, finally pulled out, just like Burien's Gottschalks did a few decades later.

Independent businesses like the Husky Deli were left to scrape by.

Let's fast forward to West Seattle now.

In the words of a real estate blurb, "Drawn by its relaxed island style, charismatic energy and artistic 'vibe,' the area is quickly becoming the city's hottest 'new' neighborhood."

Over-the-top advertising copy, but you get the idea.

A faded fabric store corner is transforming into a Whole Foods organic grocery/retail complex with 178 apartment units.

Condos and town homes at the former High Point slum start at $300,000!

Neighborhood families and young singles flock to the Elliott Bay Brewery.

They also gather across the street at the brewery's ice-cream supplier, Husky Deli. The independent business is so popular that the Ben and Jerry chain ice cream store that set up shop nearby was run out of town in short order.

Now, that "hotness" is spreading south to Burien.

Besides the reinvigorated 152nd, the much-anticipated Town Square project is underway.

It will feature 400 condominiums above shops, up to 60,000 square feet of retail, a one-acre park and library/city hall,

"This is the first condominium development in south King County with mixed use, where people can live, shop, work and play," consultant Beau Fong reminds us.

Town Square will attract people who want an urban setting but enjoy a smaller town, a real sense of community and a rich collection of ethnic communities.

I'm excited but I have just one nagging concern. (Editor's Note: Why can't this guy just get fully on board? Somebody give him a Prozac.)

I worry that the old stores that stuck with Burien through thin and thinner and the new businesses that serve immigrants will be squeezed out.

The Square's PR people soothingly assure me that the old stores will benefit from the increased pedestrian traffic (see Husky Deli) and Burien's new broadminded urban pioneers will fully embrace the ethnic businesses.

Maybe a pint of Elliott Bay's No Doubt Stout will wash away my worries.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.