Kent Brownfields Program

Working Together for a Cleaner, Healthier Kent

Brownfields are vacant or underutilized properties where redevelopment is complicated by potential environmental concerns. With cleanup and reinvestment, these sites can be transformed into safe, thriving places that add value to the community and boost the local economy.

Through its Brownfields Program, the City of Kent is working to identify these properties, assess environmental risks, and create plans for their cleanup and reuse. Our goals are to protect public health, bring new energy and life to neighborhoods, and open the door to new opportunities for economic growth.

Building on a Legacy of Success

In 2012, Kent was awarded a Brownfields Assessment Grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that allowed the City to assess approximately 24 acres of land. One of the most significant sites was the Maralco property, a former smelter that had been vacant since 1986 following bankruptcy. The site carried nearly $3 million in liens from the Washington State Department of Ecology, King County, the City of Kent, and private lenders—making redevelopment especially challenging.

Through the EPA grant, the City conducted environmental assessments, convened stakeholders, developed cleanup plans, and was able to pursue additional funding. These efforts ultimately led to the removal of the lien, the sale of the property, and its transition into cleanup and redevelopment. Today, Bridge Development is transforming the site into a modern cold storage facility, turning a long-vacant property into a valuable community asset.

Image Source: home.securityproperties.com/midtown64

Combining EPA grant funding with private investment, the City also assessed the 10-acre Cancer Care site, where chlorinated pesticides were discovered in the soil. On a neighboring property, the City carried out extensive investigations into groundwater petroleum impacts within the right-of-way. This led to the cleanup and remediation that paved the way for new development—resulting in the Midtown 64 project, which delivered 350 market rate housing units to the community.

A Clean Path Forward

With support from a new FY24 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant Kent will continue its efforts to identify and restore brownfield properties within the city. Working closely with the community and environmental specialists, the City of Kent will create a current inventory of brownfields, prioritize and assess sites for potential contamination, and plan for their cleanup.

Community outreach will be an important part of the process. Residents and business owners near a site will be able to learn about site conditions and help shape future redevelopment. Together, these efforts will transform underused properties into safe, productive spaces—building a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant Kent.

Follow this page for the latest information as the project moves forward.