The biggest batch of permits yet were issued this month for the new student housing complex Province at Kent under construction on South Lincoln Street.

Kent's Community Development Department gave the OK for construction to start on 19 buildings on the complex, including the main residential buildings, a recreation center and a maintenance building.

The city signed off on building plans for residential buildings "A" through "R," which will add 596 new beds to the community at 609 S. Lincoln St. The construction cost on the residential buildings alone, excluding the rec center and maintenance building, is $10.4 million, according to the developer, Edwards Communities Development Corp.

The recreation center alone is expected to cost $550,000.

Edwards Communities paid more than $26,000 in building permit fees, which added to Kent's 565 percent building permit fee increase this year.