Two residents at the Sept. 17 Kent City Council public-comment period pressed the council to prioritize ownership and public engagement in redevelopment of a long-vacant site on Franklin — referenced in the meeting record as the Old Davie Bridal property — and to preserve opportunities for volunteer architectural review.

Melanie Neff of 615 Hudson Road told the council she favors remediation of the Franklin site but urged the city and any developer to consider smaller-scale ownership opportunities rather than “more rentals” or high-end units. “If there's any way to work with a developer to turn that land into remediation and help people buy homes who need home, the working poor and small small homeowners like me,” Neff said. She suggested options including working with Habitat for Humanity and local banks to make the site usable for ownership-focused housing and emphasized the limited supply of one-floor small homes in Kent.

Architect and longtime Kent resident Doug Fuller described himself as an architect with 40–45 years' experience and asked the council to invite public presentations from members of the Architectural Review Board (IRB) before considering dissolving or changing the board. “We've been at it now for 3 at least 3 and a half years ... And you have never had the public come before you and have a give and take with you,” Fuller said. He told councilors volunteer reviewers want an opportunity to show what changes they recommended on projects and why those recommendations matter to neighborhood character.

The city manager’s report circulated letters from Jake Shields, Director of Acquisitions with Grama Fox Capital, regarding the Old Davie Bridal/Old Railroad property and a subsequent follow-up letter expressing commitment to the project; those letters were received and shared with council and community members, according to the clerk’s announcements. The record also notes related planning and board agendas posted by the clerk and a letter received earlier in the month concerning the development.

Councilors did not take formal legislative action at the Sept. 17 meeting on the Old Davie Bridal redevelopment or on the status of the IRB. Public speakers asked the council to consider smaller, ownership-oriented housing options, to involve volunteer reviewers in presentations on architectural outcomes, and to explore partnerships (for example, Habitat for Humanity) to increase homeownership opportunities on redeveloped properties.