$20M Hotel, Condo Project to Complement Kent Station

KENT, WA-The City of Kent, two private property owners and Plan B Development are proposing a $20-million-plus hotel and condominium project that would connect the ongoing $100-million Kent Station development to the city’s Downtown core. Multiple hotel franchises are reportedly bidding for the hotel name. The hotel and condo project, known as Project Springboard, would consist of a full service 50-unit hotel, 50 condominium units, 50 senior condominium units, a 5,000-sf indoor waterpark for hotel guests and condo owners, a 2,000-sf conference center, retail and restaurant space and at least 200 public parking stalls in a two level structure. Plan B Development GM Ben Errez did not return a phone call seeking comment.The City’s economic development director Nathan Torgelson tells GlobeSt.com that in addition to the hotel and condominium structures, the city will develop a 35,000-sf Town Square Plaza next to the project that will sit across from the city library. The plaza will host the Kent Lions Club’s Farmers Market, other community festivals, a concert/amphitheater venue, an interactive water feature, an additional water feature donated by the Kent Rotary Clubs, and landscaped and open areas for seasonal activities.The Kent City Council will consider a land trade agreement and a public parking replacement agreement this summer to allow development of Project Springboard and the Town Square Plaza. Plan B Development would begin project feasibility immediate after Council approval and is scheduled to break ground on Project Springboard in late 2005 or in 2006. The City plans to begin construction of Town Square Plaza in mid to late 2006.Meantime, across the street from Project Springboard, the $43-million first phase of Kent Station by Tarragon Development is well under way and set to open in November. The 10-building phase will feature a 14-screen AMC theatre, a branch campus of Green River Community College, and numerous restaurants and retail. Phase Two of Kent Station will include five additional retail buildings that will be filled with “a lot of national retailers,” says Torgelson. Phase III will be a residential development, either condominiums or apartments, and Phase IV will be a further expansion of Green River Community College.In addition, Torgelson says the City of Kent is making numerous other improvements downtown, including a Wireless Fiber Hot Zone, additional public parking spaces in the City’s Centennial Parking Garage and better pedestrian connections along 2nd Avenue, which links Kent Station and historic downtown.