December 3, 2020

Vacant corner sells for over $2M, with Trent planning 110 SeaTac units

Rendering by Clark Barnes [enlarge]

The new apartments, replacing the old fire station, will be directly across the street from the new station.

The old Fire Station 45 was demolished three years ago on the city-owned corner at 2929 S. 200th St. The city of SeaTac then decided last year, after an unsuccessful prior request for proposals, to sell the property to Trent Development — which had made an unsolicited bid for the site.

Now the property has traded for $2.2 million, according to King County records. The deal was worth about $94 per square foot. The buyer was SeaTac Star Development LLC, associated with the Shah brothers, who run the apparel company Shah Safari (and others), and also invest in property.

Trent Mummery confirmed that his firm is partnering with the Shahs. The deal is part of its Opportunity Zone Advisors arm, with partner Patrick Ashman. The same parties are also partnering on a 360-unit Opportunity Zone project in Tacoma.

The SeaTac corner, at 30th Avenue South, has 23,516 square feet. It's just east of state Route 99 (Pacific Highway South), and it's about a five-minute walk west of Angle Lake Light Rail Station. The property — along with most of the city — is also in a federally tax favored Opportunity Zone.

The early plan by architect Clark Barnes calls for a seven-story building with 110 units. It would have two underground parking levels with 75 stalls. No retail is indicated at this time. Mummery hopes to break ground next year, with the foundation and shoring done by the third quarter.

Trent has other Opportunity Zone apartment projects planned in Bellingham, Everett and near Yesler Terrace. The latter, on the former Seattle Curtain property, will have seven stories and 274 units — also designed by Clark Barnes.

Meanwhile, the city opened its new Fire Station 45, designed by TCA, in 2016. It's directly east of the old location, on the corner at 3011 S. 200th St.