Kent: ReDiscover Downtown Plan
The City of Kent is undertaking a comprehensive planning effort, known as the ReDiscover Downtown Plan, to revitalize its urban core and prepare for future growth. Downtown Kent is a designated Regional Growth Center by the Puget Sound Regional Council, a classification that requires the area to accommodate a significant mix of businesses, cultural facilities, transportation connections, and residential development. The plan serves as a strategic roadmap to create a more vibrant, safe, and mixed-use urban center over the next 20 years, aligning with regional growth goals and the city's own vision.
The decision to update the downtown plan comes more than a decade after its last revision. In the intervening years, significant changes have occurred in Kent and the broader Puget Sound region. Recent city initiatives, such as the Kent Housing Options Plan and the Meet me on Meeker Street Corridor Plan, have already begun to reshape the downtown landscape. Furthermore, new state and regional requirements necessitate a fresh look at how Downtown Kent will evolve as a Regional Growth Center. The ReDiscover Downtown Plan aims to meet these requirements, including the statewide Growth Management Act and the PSRC’s VISION 2050 regional goals.
The planning process is divided into several stages: Launch, Frame, Refine, Adopt, and Implementation. The initial phases—Launch and Frame—have been completed and involved a kickoff meeting, site and market analysis, community workshops, and stakeholder interviews. The project is currently in the Refine stage, which includes drafting development and concept designs, conducting a growth analysis, and continuing to gather community feedback through pop-up events. The final stages, Adopt and Implementation, are scheduled for later in 2025 and beyond.
The ReDiscover Downtown Plan is not just about development; it’s about preserving and enhancing the unique character of Downtown Kent. The area is a blend of historic charm with its ethnic businesses and older restaurants, and modern amenities like Kent Station and the ShoWare Center. It also provides key community gathering places, such as the library and parks, that are essential to the city's vitality. The plan’s study area encompasses the core Regional Growth Center boundary and extends to include surrounding blocks that connect downtown to neighboring parts of the city. The overall goal is to foster infill and redevelopment that supports Kent's economic, environmental, and transit objectives, ensuring the downtown area remains a welcoming and inclusive heart for the entire community.