A new affordable housing development near the Kent Des Moines light rail station officially broke ground Wednesday, March 18, 2026, with plans to deliver more than 230 units and services designed to support families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to Sound Transit and project partners.
The Kent Multicultural Village, co developed by Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families, will include 233 affordable housing units, with 20 percent set aside for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The project will also feature an Early Learning Center, a Family Resource Center and ground floor retail space.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, Mar. 18 at Highline College in Des Moines.
“This groundbreaking celebrates more than a building, it marks the creation of a community built by and for people with IDD from diverse cultural backgrounds,” said Ginger Kwan, director of public policy and community development for Open Doors for Multicultural Families.
The development will be located adjacent to the Kent Des Moines Link light rail station as part of Sound Transit’s transit oriented development program. The agency offered the site at a reduced cost through a competitive process to support affordable housing near transit.
Project leaders said the housing will serve residents earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. More than half of the units will include two or more bedrooms, including some four bedroom units, aimed at meeting demand for larger family housing.
“This groundbreaking represents a strong commitment to community centered development that is both affordable and truly inclusive,” said King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain, who also serves on the Sound Transit Board of Directors.
The project is intended to address housing insecurity among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Project partners said about 37,000 people in Washington state in that community face housing challenges.
The development will include 47 units specifically designed to be accessible and inclusive for residents with disabilities, along with on site services and programs through Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors for Multicultural Families.
“At Mercy Housing, we believe everyone deserves a place to call home,” said Ismael Guerrero, president and CEO of Mercy Housing. “This groundbreaking represents new opportunity for the families and individuals who will live here.”
Funding for the project includes contributions from King County, the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Amazon Housing Fund and other public and private partners.
In addition to housing, the project will feature a public plaza near the transit station with space for community events, as well as retail space intended to serve transit riders and nearby neighborhoods.
Photos
Click arrows or swipe images to view slideshow of photos courtesy Sound Transit:
Highline College, Des Moines Washington – March 18th 2026 Stakeholders gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Kent Multicultural Village near the Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. In picture: Mayor Dana Ralph, City of Kent 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 Dignitaries break ground on the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 A view of the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Highline College, Des Moines Washington – March 18th 2026 Stakeholders gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Kent Multicultural Village near the Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. In picture: Senator Tina Orwall, 33rd District 
Highline College, Des Moines Washington – March 18th 2026 Stakeholders gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Kent Multicultural Village near the Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. In picture: Senator Tina Orwall, 33rd District 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 A view of the Kent Multicultural Village construction site from the platform of Kent Des Moines Station. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Highline College, Des Moines Washington – March 18th 2026 Stakeholders gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Kent Multicultural Village near the Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 A view of the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 Dignitaries break ground on the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. In picture: (L to R) Rennie Elliott, Jordan Rash, Heather Burns, Curvie Hawkins, Tim Bates, Marshall Foster 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 A view of the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes. 
Kent Washington – March 18th 2026 Dignitaries break ground on the Kent Multicultural Village construction site with the platform of Kent Des Moines Station in the background. Sound Transit supported this affordable housing project with discounted surplus property; the ~2-acre site was acquired by Mercy for $250,000 – a $6,050,000M discount on the appraised value approved by the Board to facilitate the affordable housing outcomes.
