The city plans to sell the Kent, Wash., property’s par-3 golf course to a developer that plans to build a mixed-use project with 500 apartments. The complex’s 18-hole golf course, driving range, miniature golf and golf merchandise facility are not part of the deal.
The Kent (Wash.) City Council voted 5-2 on May 2 to sell the nine-hole, par-3 golf course at the Riverbend Golf Complex property for $10.5 million to a developer who plans to build a mixed-use project with 500 apartments, the Kent Reporter reported.
The complex’s 18-hole golf course, driving range, miniature golf and golf merchandise facility will remain open.
What had appeared to be a smooth transition over the last several months to sell the 20 acres turned controversial when council members Dennis Higgins and Dana Ralph voted against the sale of the city-owned course. Higgins and Ralph pursued a last-minute proposal to get King County involved to potentially keep the property in its natural habitat rather than to allow more apartments to be built, the Reporter reported.
“A viable option has been presented,” Ralph said prior to the vote. “Granted, it was in the 11th hour. It’s been literally in the last two weeks that our regional partners have come together to support the maintenance of this open space. It would not stay a golf course. It would be habitat preservation, flood storage and recreational space.
“Once we cover that ground, we take away all of the things that it provides, it’s not going to come back,” Ralph said. “As a body and administration we refused to look at this option in detail. That process was not allowed to go forward. I just think it’s important that our residents know there was an opportunity to save this property and we did not look at it.”
Auburn-based FNW Inc./Landmark Development Group plans to build 500 apartments as well as restaurant and retail space in place of the par 3 course. Once the property sale closes, construction could start in July, said City Attorney Tom Brubaker who helped negotiate the purchase and sale agreement.
The council approved trying to sell the property in 2014 to help eliminate the city’s enterprise golf fund debt of nearly $3 million and allow for about $6 million in capital improvements to the 18-hole course across the street from the par 3 as a way to draw more players to boost revenue. The Riverbend Golf Complex operates at a deficit of about $300,000 per year, the Reporter reported.
“I want years down the road for someone to mention my name by making that tough decision,” Council President Bill Boyce said. “There’s no doubt that this is the right project for us. We will be without a par 3, but we will have a better (18-hole) golf course.
“And to me it’s all about economic development. There are two ways to grow this city to generate revenue. We can tax the heck out of everybody or we can find projects to generate revenue for this city. Every year we pay out of the general fund to the golf course. Without this project, you’re looking at losing property tax, sales tax and B&O tax, potential revenue for the city.”
Council members Jim Berrios, Tina Budell, Brenda Fincher and Thomas agreed with Boyce to approve the development to be known as Marquee on Meeker. Mayor Suzette Cooke also supported the sale to Landmark Development and helped shut down the proposal by Higgins and Ralph to keep the property in its natural state, the Reporter reported.
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