Kent Multicultural Village: What the New 233-Unit TOD Means for Local Real Estate
Kent Multicultural Village is a 233-unit affordable housing development now under construction beside the Kent Des Moines light rail station in Kent's Midway area.
The project is being developed by Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families at 23510 Pacific Highway S, Kent, WA 98032. Current plans include one- to four-bedroom apartments, an Early Learning Center, family services, nonprofit office space, and retail. Mercy Housing currently expects pre-leasing to begin in Spring 2028, followed by an opening in Summer 2028.
The timing matters.
Kent Des Moines Station is no longer a future transit project. Sound Transit's Federal Way Link Extension opened on December 6, 2025, bringing 1 Line service to Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown. That means the transit connection already exists while Kent Multicultural Village is being built beside it.
For local real estate, that makes this more than an apartment construction story. It is one part of a broader question about how housing, transit, services, and future development may come together around Kent Des Moines Station.
Kent Multicultural Village at a glance
Project detail | Current information |
|---|---|
Location | 23510 Pacific Highway S, Kent, WA 98032 |
Development team | Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families |
Housing | 233 affordable apartments |
Unit sizes | One to four bedrooms |
Income range | Current project materials describe affordable housing for households earning up to 60% of area median income |
IDD housing | 47 homes designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities |
Family-sized housing | 135 two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments |
Community uses | Early Learning Center, Family Resource Center, Open Doors offices, services, and retail |
Transit | Adjacent to Kent Des Moines 1 Line station |
Current status | Under construction |
Pre-leasing | Planned for Spring 2028 |
Opening | Planned for Summer 2028 |
Mercy Housing confirms the current 233-unit count, address, bedroom range, affordability, construction status, and 2028 schedule. National Equity Fund reports that 47 homes are designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, commonly shortened to IDD, and that 135 units will have two to four bedrooms.
What is Kent Multicultural Village?
Kent Multicultural Village is a mixed-use affordable housing community being built next to Kent Des Moines Station.
Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families officially broke ground in March 2026. The project is intended to combine housing with services that residents can use close to home.
The housing component includes 233 apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms.
Current project information says all apartments will be affordable to households earning less than 60% of area median income. Other 2026 project materials describe the affordability range as 30% to 60% of AMI.
The development also includes:
- a six-classroom Early Learning Center
- a Family Resource Center
- office space for Open Doors for Multicultural Families
- resident services
- retail space.
The result is a project designed around more than the apartment units themselves.
Why the housing mix matters
Kent Multicultural Village includes a larger share of family-sized apartments than many people may expect from housing built next to a major transit station.
National Equity Fund reports that 135 of the 233 apartments will have two, three, or four bedrooms. It also reports that 47 units are being designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
That matters because this is not simply a collection of small apartments aimed at individual commuters.
The unit mix can serve households with different space needs, while the IDD component connects housing with the accessibility and support goals that helped shape the project.
For readers following Kent's broader rental market, this new construction adds a different type of supply than the preservation work happening at older affordable properties elsewhere in the city.
For more background, see our guide to Kent's affordable housing and local rental market.
When will Kent Multicultural Village open?
Mercy Housing currently plans to open Kent Multicultural Village in Summer 2028, with pre-leasing expected to begin in Spring 2028.
The project is currently listed as under construction.
That timeline gives renters an approximate point to watch, but it is still a future construction schedule. Construction projects can change.
Anyone interested in applying should rely on the developer's current leasing information as the opening gets closer rather than assuming application details today will remain unchanged.
When can renters apply for Kent Multicultural Village?
Current developer information says pre-leasing is planned for Spring 2028. Detailed application procedures are not yet listed on Mercy Housing's current project page.
That distinction is important.
The project has announced:
- its housing count,
- expected affordability,
- unit sizes,
- pre-leasing season,
- and opening target.
It has not yet published a complete 2028 leasing package with all application steps and documentation requirements.
Renters interested in the development should watch Mercy Housing's official project information as Spring 2028 gets closer.
How is Kent Multicultural Village connected to light rail?
The development is being built beside Kent Des Moines Station, which is already operating as part of Sound Transit's 1 Line.
The Federal Way Link Extension opened on December 6, 2025. The extension added Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown stations to the regional light rail network.
Sound Transit says Kent Des Moines Station serves Highline College and was planned with affordable housing development beside the station.
This sequence is worth remembering:
December 2025: Kent Des Moines Station opens.
March 2026: Kent Multicultural Village breaks ground.
Spring 2028: Current pre-leasing target.
Summer 2028: Current opening target.
The transit infrastructure arrived first. The housing is now following.
Bus connections are changing too
Light rail is only part of the station-area transportation picture.
King County Metro's August 29, 2026 service changes added and adjusted South King County routes, including:
- Route 164 connecting Des Moines, Kent, and Auburn
- Route 166 connecting Burien with Kent Des Moines Station
- additional service on other South King County routes
- more overnight frequency on RapidRide A Line.
For someone considering where to live, the practical question is not simply whether a light rail station is nearby.
It is whether the full trip works.
That means checking:
- walking conditions
- bus transfers
- train schedules
- work location
- parking
- evening service
- weekend travel
- daily errands.
Our RapidRide I Line Renton, Kent, and Auburn buyer guide uses the same property-level approach to evaluating transit access.
What does transit-oriented development mean?
Transit-oriented development, or TOD, generally places housing, businesses, services, and community spaces close to major transit.
Sound Transit describes its TOD program as supporting development near transit stations, with housing, retail, community spaces, and access designed around people using transit, walking, and rolling.
Kent Multicultural Village fits that model because several uses are being combined beside an operating station:
- housing
- light rail
- bus connections
- early learning
- family services
- nonprofit space
- retail.
But TOD does not mean every trip suddenly becomes walkable or that residents no longer need cars.
The real test is how the entire station area functions after development opens.
Is Kent Multicultural Village part of a larger change around Midway?
Yes, the project sits within a broader planning conversation around transit-oriented growth in Kent's Midway area, but one development should not be confused with a completed neighborhood transformation.
Kent's current comprehensive-planning materials identify transit-oriented land-use changes in portions of the Midway area. Some parcels are designated or proposed for land-use patterns intended to support development around high-capacity transit.
Sound Transit also has additional transit-oriented development property around Kent Des Moines Station beyond the Kent Multicultural Village site. Its current project information identifies Mercy Housing Northwest with the north site and lists the south site's future program as still to be determined.
That means there is more station-area development to watch.
It does not mean every nearby site will be redeveloped quickly or in the same way.
Future development can depend on:
- financing
- permitting
- public decisions
- developer interest
- construction costs
- zoning
- infrastructure
- market conditions.
What is confirmed now, and what is still worth watching?
Keeping those two categories separate makes the project easier to understand.
Confirmed now | Worth watching |
|---|---|
233 affordable apartments | How pedestrian activity changes after opening |
Construction is underway | Which nearby services or businesses are added |
Kent Des Moines Station is operating | How residents actually use transit |
Spring 2028 pre-leasing target | Additional station-area development |
Summer 2028 opening target | Future use of other TOD parcels |
Early learning and family services are planned | How the broader Midway area develops |
Family-sized and IDD housing are included | How nearby ownership housing performs over time |
The left side is based on current project information.
The right side should be measured over time rather than predicted today.
What could 233 new apartments mean for the surrounding area?
The clearest effect is that Kent is adding 233 income-restricted rental homes next to an operating regional transit station.
From there, several reasonable things are worth watching.
More households near transit
The project will place more residents within immediate reach of the 1 Line and connecting buses.
That creates an opportunity for more transit use.
It does not tell us exactly how many residents will use transit or how often.
More daily activity around the station
Residents, employees, families using the Early Learning Center, visitors to the Family Resource Center, and retail customers can add everyday activity around the site.
That could support the development of a more active station area.
It does not guarantee that specific businesses will open or succeed.
More housing supply
The project adds 233 apartments to Kent's housing inventory.
The family-sized units are particularly worth noting because more than half of the apartments will have two to four bedrooms.
For more context on the demand side of Kent's rental market, read our analysis of how Kent's job corridors could shape rental demand.
A stronger case for watching walkability
Housing beside transit can shorten the distance between home and transportation.
But the usefulness of that connection still depends on the actual walking environment.
Buyers and renters should look at:
- crossings
- sidewalks
- lighting
- traffic
- distance to daily services
- slope
- bus connections
- the route between a specific property and the station.
A map can show distance. It cannot tell you whether the walk feels practical for your routine.
Will Kent Multicultural Village increase nearby home values?
No reliable conclusion can yet be made that Kent Multicultural Village will automatically raise or lower nearby home values.
A development of this size changes the local housing and activity mix, but property values are influenced by many factors.
Those include:
- mortgage rates
- overall housing supply
- buyer demand
- home condition
- lot and property characteristics
- exact location
- noise
- traffic
- transit accessibility
- surrounding development
- local services
- market conditions.
Two homes the same distance from Kent Des Moines Station could respond differently because their property characteristics and immediate surroundings are different.
That is why we would not advise a homeowner or buyer to price a property based on the assumption that this development will create automatic appreciation.
The better approach is to track actual comparable sales and neighborhood conditions as the project moves toward completion.
What should homebuyers near Kent Des Moines Station watch?
Buyers should evaluate the station area based on how a specific property fits their daily routine, not simply on the phrase "near light rail."
Before making a decision, check:
- How far is the home from Kent Des Moines Station?
- What is the actual walking route?
- Are sidewalks and crossings practical?
- Does the route require crossing a major arterial?
- What transit connections fit your commute?
- How close is the property to current construction?
- What other developments are planned nearby?
- Which services are available today?
- Which services are only proposed?
- How does the property compare with other parts of Kent?
Buyers looking for ownership options elsewhere in the city can also review our guide to townhome and condo living around Downtown Kent.
What should nearby homeowners watch?
Homeowners do not need to treat every development announcement as a signal to sell, hold, or change their estimate of value.
Instead, watch measurable changes.
Useful things to follow include:
- construction progress
- traffic patterns
- pedestrian improvements
- retail and service openings
- transit usage
- future development applications
- comparable home sales
- rental activity
- public investment around the station.
Those indicators will tell us more than speculation about what a 233-unit project "should" do to prices.
What should real estate investors watch?
For investors, the project is useful as evidence of continued public, nonprofit, and housing investment around Kent Des Moines Station, not as proof that every nearby property will perform better.
An investor evaluating another property in the area should still study:
- acquisition price
- current and achievable rents
- operating costs
- property taxes
- insurance
- zoning
- parking
- vacancy
- condition
- financing
- construction impacts
- future competition
- exit strategy.
Transit and development can improve a property's location story.
They do not replace underwriting.
Expert insight: Watch the whole station area, not one building
Kent Multicultural Village deserves attention because it combines housing, community services, retail, and transit access in one location.
But real estate decisions should not be based on one project alone.
The better question is:
How is the full Kent Des Moines station area functioning as the housing opens and other development moves forward?
For buyers, that means testing the actual commute and neighborhood.
For renters, it means following leasing and eligibility information.
For homeowners, it means watching comparable sales and everyday neighborhood changes.
For investors, it means measuring demand and operating performance rather than assuming transit-oriented development guarantees appreciation.
That approach is slower than making a prediction, but it gives people more useful information.
What should local buyers and homeowners watch next?
Between now and the current Summer 2028 opening target, these are the updates most worth following:
- Construction progress
Watch whether the project remains on its current schedule. - Spring 2028 pre-leasing details
Mercy Housing should eventually publish more detailed application and eligibility information. - Retail announcements
Specific tenants can tell residents more about the daily services available at the site. - Pedestrian connections
Watch how walking routes around the development and station function as construction is completed. - King County Metro service
Route changes can affect how useful the station is for trips that are not directly served by Link. - Other Sound Transit TOD property
Additional station-area development could add more housing or services over time. - City of Kent land-use decisions
Midway planning and future permits will help show how quickly the larger station district changes. - Actual housing-market data
Track sales, rents, days on market, inventory, and buyer activity rather than relying on predictions about property values.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kent Multicultural Village?
Kent Multicultural Village is a 233-unit affordable housing development under construction beside Kent Des Moines Station in Kent, Washington. Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families are developing the project.
Where is Kent Multicultural Village?
Mercy Housing lists the project at 23510 Pacific Highway S, Kent, WA 98032, next to Kent Des Moines Station.
How many apartments will Kent Multicultural Village have?
The development will have 233 apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms.
Is Kent Multicultural Village affordable housing?
Yes. Current Mercy Housing information says all units will be affordable to households earning less than 60% of area median income. Other 2026 project materials describe the development as serving households between 30% and 60% AMI.
When will Kent Multicultural Village open?
Mercy Housing currently expects the community to open in Summer 2028.
When can renters apply?
Current project information says pre-leasing is planned for Spring 2028. Detailed application instructions have not yet been published on the current Mercy Housing project page.
Is Kent Des Moines Station already open?
Yes. Sound Transit's Federal Way Link Extension began passenger service on December 6, 2025, including Kent Des Moines Station.
What does TOD mean?
TOD means transit-oriented development. Sound Transit uses the term for housing, businesses, services, and community spaces developed near major transit, with an emphasis on access by transit, walking, and rolling.
Will Kent Multicultural Village raise nearby property values?
There is no reliable basis to assume an automatic increase or decrease. Nearby home values will continue to depend on the individual property, broader market conditions, buyer demand, transit access, surrounding development, and other factors.
Helpful resources
Mercy Housing Northwest
Current project page with the address, unit count, construction status, housing mix, pre-leasing timeline, and opening target.
Kent Multicultural Village project page
Mercy Housing groundbreaking update
Background on the project's housing, services, retail, affordability, and partnership with Open Doors.
Kent Multicultural Village groundbreaking information
Open Doors for Multicultural Families
Background on the project's March 2026 construction start and community partnership.
Open Doors Multicultural Village update
National Equity Fund
Details on the 47 IDD apartments and 135 family-sized units.
Kent Multicultural Village housing breakdown
Sound Transit
Current information on transit-oriented development and Kent Des Moines Station.
Sound Transit transit-oriented development program
Federal Way Link Extension
Official confirmation that Kent Des Moines 1 Line service began December 6, 2025.
Sound Transit Federal Way Link opening information
King County Metro
Current South King County service changes and connections.
King County Metro August 2026 service expansion
City of Kent
Current Kent 2044 planning information, including transit-oriented land-use planning.
Kent 2044 Comprehensive Plan information
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