390 new apartments to bring big change to Lakewood Towne Center. Here’s what’s happening
Plans to bring hundreds of new apartments to the Lakewood Towne Center area puts into question the future of one of the last Barnes & Noble bookstores in the area.
The announcement was included in a public notice included in a Feb. 21 email roundup of projects by the city.
The proposed Lakewood Towne Center Apartments Master Planned Development, 5731 Main St. SW, calls for construction of a 390-unit apartment complex comprising two, five-story buildings “with associated site amenities and improvements” on 10.37 acres in the Lakewood Towne Center behind Target.
In a statement to The News Tribune in response to questions, Becky Newton, the city’s economic development manager, said via email, “The addition of residential units is a first step in the direction of creating a downtown gathering space to connect housing with shopping, recreation and other amenities.”
Amenities include indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, a pool, club house, gym and more.
According to the proposal posted on the city of Lakewood’s website, “The existing building (Barnes & Noble) on-site will be demolished but is intended to be relocated....”
The developer is Alliance Residential of Seattle. A media representative for the company was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.
Newton in her statement said that the city recognized that “our residents love the Barnes & Noble in Lakewood Towne Center. The store is a regional draw, and a great place for our community to gather.”
She added, “We are working with property owner Kite Realty and Barnes & Noble to see if there are other locations within the Towne Center where the store can relocate. We hope Barnes & Noble will stay in Lakewood.”
An update on the city’s website Thursday noted, “The decision to stay will ultimately be made by Barnes & Noble and the agreement reached with property owner Kite.”
Approximately 600 Barnes & Noble stores remain in the United States, according to the bookseller’s website. The Lakewood site is one of several in the Puget Sound region, including locations in Olympia, Federal Way and the Seattle metro area.
A local representative for Kite Realty forwarded questions about the plans to Kite’s corporate office, which did not immediately respond.
The area is a targeted residential growth center for the city, and, according to Newton, “Part of the space where the project is proposed is currently underutilized as a vacant parking lot.”
“The Lakewood City Council has a vision to develop a public park in and around this part of the city to increase pedestrian connections to shopping and housing,” Newton added. “The addition of residential units is a first step in the direction of creating a downtown gathering space to connect housing with shopping, recreation and other amenities.”
While the project seems to be on track, it won’t be completed any time soon.
As a master-planned development in Lakewood’s Central Business District, the level of required permitting necessitates a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner at a date still to be determined.
The city’s update posted Thursday noted, “The city is not involved with the project, except for its administrative role tied to application review, permitting, and ensuring the project meets all requirements tied to the building code and the city’s zoning.”
A public comment period runs through mid-March. Comments can be mailed to the City of Lakewood, Attn: Andrea Bell, 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. Or email abell@cityoflakewood.us. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on March 19.
