Apartment buildings are popping up in Kent on the former Riverbend par 3 golf course as part of the Marquee on Meeker mixed-use project.

Crews are busy constructing phase I of the project to include a six-story building, 14 three-story buildings, the clubhouse and public access through the site to the Green River Trail. Phase I is slated to be completed in early 2020 with Phase II to follow, according halrealestate.com, one of the project’s partners. The first phase will feature 288 apartments and 6,000 square feet of retail space.

When complete, Marquee on Meeker, 2030 W. Meeker St., will have 492 apartments with 21 three-story residential buildings and two six-story mixed-use buildings that will feature 12,000 square feet of retail space that developers hope will attract restaurants and other businesses. Auburn-based Landmark Development Group and HAL Real Estate broke ground in May on the project.

The City Council approved the sale of the former city-owned property for $10.5 million. The council voted to sell the par 3 course to eliminate the Riverbend Golf Complex fund’s debt of about $4 million and to spend about $6 million to improve the 18-hole course across the street from the former par 3 course. The golf complex has averaged losses of about $300,000 per year, according to city documents.

Developers are targeting people in their 20s and 30s to rent their high-end, urban-style apartments. The first units are expected to be ready in the spring to rent and more units will be ready to occupy as buildings are fininshed throughout 2019.

The luxury apartment complex will include lounges, decks, fitness centers and a large clubhouse including a modern kitchen, pool, spa, outdoor fireplace and barbecue areas.

Pedestrian access, mixed-use amenities and attractive design in both infrastructure and landscape is the model for 21st century planning – and that’s exactly what’s happening on Kent’s Meeker Street, according to the city’s website.

“Meeker Street is a gateway to and an extension of Kent’s downtown,” city senior planner Jason Garnham said in an email. “New design standards were recently adopted for the street that will improve safety for drivers and pedestrians, create a distinct sense of place for residents, visitors and businesses, and invite visitors to stroll, linger, live and shop along the corridor.”

Drivers along Meeker Street near Marquee on Meeker will notice that the design changes include a raised sidewalk.

“The raised crosswalk is being constructed with other street design features to signal to drivers that they are entering the gateway to this corridor and they are encouraged to slow down and explore what Meeker Street has to offer,” Garnham said.

City officials also plan to lower the speed limit along West Meeker Street near the mixed-use project from 40 mph to 30 mph. Slower advisory speeds are posted for construction, but the lower legal speed limit is expected to be posted in the spring.

The project will feature a 200-foot open space buffer between the buildings and the Green River Trail to help preserve a park-like quality and as many of the large trees as possible