360 apartments pitched for Lacey’s Midtown near Huntamer Park
New development projects coming to Lacey — including a mixed-use proposal that would bring 360 apartments to a site east of Huntamer Park — were on the agenda for a Lacey committee Tuesday.
Lacey Community and Economic Development Director Rick Walk provided the update on the status of existing projects as well as some new ones, including the latest proposal from MJR Development of Kirkland.
Walk said developer representatives are set to meet with the city next week to talk about a mixed-use proposal that would take place on a parking lot east of two office buildings that overlook Huntamer Park. That’s where MJR wants to build two, five-story buildings and 360 apartments, with ground floor retail along Seventh Avenue, he said.
MJR has been active in the area around the park. It owns most of the office buildings there and has brought the state Utilities and Transportation Commission, South Sound Behavioral Hospital and the restaurant Ricardo’s to Midtown. MJR also is developing an apartment project along Sixth Avenue.
Other projects new to the city:
▪ Intelco Loop multifamily: This proposal, which is under land-use review, is set to bring 216 apartments spread across eight, three-story buildings to 4512 and 4514 Intelco Loop Southeast, not far from the Yelm Highway and College Street intersection.
▪ Martin Village: A developer wants to bring a mixed-use development, including 355 apartments, to a site on Martin Way East that would take the place of the Burlington store. “The mixed-use development at the Burlington site would include the entire property, with the existing building being demolished,” said Grant Beck, planning and development services manager, in an email.
▪ Seventh Avenue roundabout: The city continues to have discussions with MJR Development and Saint Martin’s Abbey about building a roundabout at Seventh Avenue and College Street. The project would require that the city acquire right of way from the Abbey, Community and Economic Development Director Walk said.
Walk also touched on two apartment proposals for Hicks Lake and the Meridian Market and Gas in northeast Lacey. All three controversial projects are set to come before the Lacey Hearings Examiner. Residents have raised concerns about environmental impacts to the lake and have questioned putting a gas station in a residential area across from a park.
Walk said Meridian Market and Gas is set to come before the hearings examiner in April, followed by the Hicks Lake proposals, possibly in May.
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
