A Seattle developer plans to turn the Hawthorne Suites hotel into apartments along South 212th Street in Kent.

Goodman Real Estate bought the building and 6.4 acres on Nov. 17 for $19 million from HSK 212 LLC, according to King County property records.

“They are planning to repurpose the existing extended stay hotel as apartments,” said Matt Gilbert, city deputy director of Economic and Community Development, in an email. “The owner is at the very beginning of the permitting process, and in fact has not yet filed formal applications.”

Hawthorne Suites, which is now closed, opened in 1990 at 6329 S. 212th St., just west of 64th Avenue South.

Goodman is the same developer that built three other Kent apartment complexes: the Midtown 64 Apartments at West Meeker Street and 64th Avenue South in 2020; the Platform Apartments downtown on West Smith Street across from Kent Station in 2014; and the Signature Pointe Apartments, 25102 62nd Ave. S., in 1989.

“They will be meeting with staff at the end of December for an early review of their plans,” Gilbert said. “They plan on doing the work next year.”

According to Gilbert, the general scope of the work includes:

Phase 1

■ Site work

1) Add iconic signage at property entry.

2) Landscaping refresh.

3) New landscape lights for circulation safety.

4) Add parking stalls.

5) Add carports.

■ Existing 19 hotel/motel buildings

1) Change of use from hotel/ motel to apartments (R-2 occupancy).

2) Interior remodel.

3) Exterior siding/ stair/ deck repair.

Phase 2

■ Existing clubhouse

1) Interior remodel.

2) Replace existing conference room with 4 commercial flex space (B occupancy).

■ Existing pool/ rec house

1) Interior remodel.

■ Outdoor amenity area

1) Remove existing hot tub/ spa.

2) Replace existing tennis court with covered BBQ and pickleball court.

The King County Assessor’s Office appraised the building at $9 million and the land at $5 million in 2021 for 2022 taxes. The appraiser described the building condition as average and dropped the value $2 million from 2020.

Lala Salama Hospitality Inc. bought the property and building for $9.1 million in 2013 and sold it for $16.7 million in 2018 to HSK 212 LLC, according to county property records.

Article Source: Kent Reporter