Today, Meeker Street is a central commercial corridor in the City of Kent filled with residences, businesses, schools, and parks. Embracing the wide appeal of the area, the City began pursuing the “Meet Me on Meeker” campaign in 2016 to transform the corridor into a neighborhood thriving with lifestyle and retail activity.
One of the first steps toward achieving that goal was utilizing space occupied by a 9-hole golf course. The City-owned course’s location just off SR 516 and proximity to the Green River Trail gave it potential. “There was a tremendous opportunity to revitalize that area and create a true sense of neighborhood,” said SMS President Charles Strazzara, “But there were some questions about how best to do that.”
The main challenge was determining what style of community to design. The team quickly settled on a hybrid approach. Two podium buildings along Meeker frame the main community entrance and contain apartments above 12,000 SF of ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Wrapping around the site are 21 urban village, walk-up buildings—designed so every unit is a corner unit. The different building types complement one another, providing a variety of layouts and allowing for a more diverse resident profile. “When we first came out of the box with this, real estate industry professionals were confused,” said Strazzara, “But in order to create a true neighborhood feel, you want to attract the widest range of demographic possible. It was all intentional.”
Ethos offers pedestrian access between Meeker Street (foreground) and the Green River Trail (background)
The design team also had to consider public access to the Green River Trail. “We take our communal responsibility as architects seriously, and trail access was important to the City of Kent,” said Project Architect Tony Fan. “We created a plaza between the two podium buildings with a public thoroughfare between Meeker and the trail.” The courtyard plaza links shops and restaurants with the trail, providing plenty of space to be enjoyed by residents and visiting community members alike. The large open space and buffer also improves vision, thereby enhancing community safety.
With an excellent location and tremendous walkability, Ethos is now fully constructed. Residents in the 492 units enjoy a variety of amenities including fitness centers, game rooms, and rooftop decks at the podium and clubhouse buildings. There are outdoor bocce ball courts, firepits, a pool, and a playground. Ethos was so popular that units were immediately rented upon the completion of each building. It serves as a flourishing mixed-use community that anchors the west end of Meeker and welcomes visitors to the City of Kent.
“As architects, we are passionate about what we do,” said Fan, “Projects like Ethos are why we come to work.”