Developer pitches 151-unit apartment project near Lacey City Hall
A regional developer who has worked closely with the city of Lacey in recent years has proposed a new project not far from City Hall, city information shows.
MJR Development of Kirkland proposes to build a four-story, 151-unit apartment building at 4418 and 4420 Sixth Avenue Southeast. The parcel of land at 4418 was once home to a Chinese restaurant. Although the restaurant has closed, the green building still sits the site.
The project will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and the following amenities have been proposed: a taproom, a bocce ball court, a gazebo and two common spaces for tenants.
An MJR Development official declined to comment in detail about the project. The company is still working on its marketing materials for the project and expects to make a wider announcement in about a month, the official said.
The latest proposal from MJR is a continuation of the development and redevelopment work they have pursued the last several years in that area of Lacey. The city has proposed renaming the area “Midtown.”
After the Great Recession, MJR bought several largely vacant office buildings that were hollowed out by the slow economy. Since then, they have renovated buildings or sought new development, such as the new building for the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
MJR had once considered putting housing where the new state UTC building is.
South Sound Behavioral Hospital also occupies one of their properties. But perhaps the best known MJR tenant in the area is Ricardo’s Kitchen & Bar, which was one of the first tenants MJR announced after they acquired the office buildings.
Before the apartment proposal, Ricardo’s owner Rick Nelsen had considered the former Chinese restaurant site for a second restaurant, but that project never materialized.
MJR submitted its plans to the city on Oct. 29. The application was deemed complete on Nov. 23.
Lacey is accepting public comment on the proposal until Dec. 7. Send comments to Senior Planner Sarah Schelling at Lacey Community Development Department, 420 College St. SE Lacey, WA 98503, or by email to sschelli@ci.lacey.wa.us.
This story was originally published November 26, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
