Kent Des Moines Station TOD

Project facts 

• Location: Kent Des Moines Station, Kent, WA 
• Site area: ±2 acres 
• Current use: Transit construction 
• Status: Partnering/RFP 
• Development partner(s):  
  • North site: Mercy Housing NW 
  • South site: None selected  
• Program: 
  • North site: The proposed project is expected to include up to 233 units that serve households earning up to and between 30% and 80% area median income. 
  • South site: To be determined 

About this project 

Sound Transit and the City of Kent are partnering to develop the area around the Kent Des Moines Link light rail station. The under-construction station is part of the Federal Way Link Extension. The area the station is part of the City's Midway neighborhood development plans. The focus is to build affordable housing for people with various income levels and bringing in commercial and community-serving facilities. 

Sound Transit purchased roughly four acres of land in the Midway area of Kent and Des Moines to store construction equipment and mobile offices used to build the future Federal Way Link Extension light rail and a new station in the Kent/Des Moines area. Station construction is expected to be complete in 2026. As construction nears completion, contractors are planning to move off the north site and south site in June 2025 and September 2026, respectively. Once the sites are clear, the land will be available for TOD construction.  This development will contribute to a vibrant neighborhood connected to transit with housing, retail, and community activities. 

Development updates 

In 2022, Sound Transit's Board of Directors authorized offering the site for development as mixed-use, mixed-income TOD with an affordable housing priority. In late 2022, Sound Transit, in coordination with the City of Kent, released two Requests for Proposals (RFP) – one for the North block and one for the South block – seeking development teams for TOD. Potential projects were eligible for pre-committed funding from King County, bond allocation from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and Amazon.  

Kent Des Moines North Site Updates 

• In June 2023, Sound Transit issued a Notice of Intent to Award to Mercy Housing Northwest in partnership with Open Doors for Multicultural Families, a Kent-based non-profit organization which provides services and programing for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
• The proposed mixed-use project will bring inclusive, affordable housing with at least 175 units of affordable housing, with the goal to deliver over 230 units, offered to residents earning up to and between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Mercy Housing Northwest will offer services on site to residents through its Family Services and Mercy Scholars programs.
• The Sound Transit Board approved the key business term sheet in December 2023

Kent Des Moines South Site Updates 

• Sound Transit amended the RFP in July 2023 to require market-rate housing and extended the RFP deadline. The Federal Way Link Extension Development Agreement between Sound Transit and the City of Kent includes a commitment that Sound Transit will partner with the City of Kent on the redevelopment of the North and South blocks at the Kent Des Moines Station to pursue a “mixed-income walkable urban center” on Sound Transit’s TOD property near the station. 
• Given that the proposed project for Kent Des Moines North included affordable but not market-rate housing, the RFPs on Kent Des Moines South were extended and amended to require market-rate units. 
• Sound Transit closed the Request for Proposals without selecting a development team in November 2023. Sound Transit did not receive proposals sufficiently meeting the RFP criteria. Agency staff will continue working with the City of Kent and the Sound Transit Board on next steps.