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Council authorizes multifamily tax exemption for 565‑unit Sutton apartments in Midway area
Summary
Kent council authorized the mayor to sign a multifamily tax exemption contract for the Sutton apartment project — a 565‑unit market‑rate development adjacent to the new light rail station — under the city’s targeted residential investment program, subject to final terms acceptable to staff and the city attorney.
The Kent City Council on Jan. 21 authorized the mayor to sign a multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) contract with STU 565LP for the Sutton apartment complex, a proposed market‑rate development in the Midway area near the new light‑rail station.
Sam Alcorn, senior planner with Economic and Community Development, told council the project proposes development on 12.69 acres that would include 565 residential units and one small commercial café. Unit mix described in the packet and at the meeting was 248 studios, 151 one‑bedroom, 143 two‑bedroom and 24 three‑bedroom units, with roughly 675 parking stalls. Alcorn said the development includes multiple building types: a seven‑story building with two parking levels and five floors above, two five‑story elevator‑served buildings of about 140 units each, and six three‑story townhome‑style buildings of roughly 24 units each. Planned amenities include a 5,000‑square‑foot clubhouse with a pool and exercise center.
Alcorn said the project lies within the city’s targeted residential investment program area, codified in Kent City Code section 3.25, which focuses MFTE benefits on downtown and the Midway subarea. He said the program was enabled by state legislation (1995) and that Kent’s MFTE program was updated in 2020 to concentrate incentives in targeted areas. The council motion on Jan. 21 authorized the mayor to sign an eight‑year multifamily tax exemption contract, subject to final terms acceptable to the economic and community development director and city attorney.
Council members asked about timing. Alcorn said the MFTE requires completion within three years of approval and that building and civil permits were under review with civil site construction likely to begin in spring 2025. He noted Mercy Housing is developing an adjacent affordable housing project of about 275 units on Sound Transit property and said the Sutton project is intended to add market‑rate units near transit.
Councilmember Larimer moved the authorization; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote.
