Bellevue Development News - Page 11

BellevueBoy · January 1st, 2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velciane

Also, what is that new white part between the lodge parking garage and the bel square? Looks like a new mall connection, where you dont have to enter through Nordstrom or Macy's.

That's an expansion of the Williams Sonoma store, it was proposed a while back and recently just showed up again on the city's permit bulletins.

CityView Jim · January 2nd, 2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velciane

Also, what is that new white part between the lodge parking garage and the bel square? Looks like a new mall connection, where you dont have to enter through Nordstrom or Macy's.

I think that is actually an expansion they were supposed to have done a couple years ago (post-Lodge, pre-Lincoln). It was just going to expand over the driveway on the second floor to expand Nordies and some shops. Obviously, still a plan.

jiggawhat? · January 2nd, 2007, 12:49 AM

hella cool pics! bellevuye towers and everything is included! AWESOME!

Dancer · January 2nd, 2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAPatriot

Where did you take thsoe photos? I'd like to go there. ;D

Good find pwright1

Id love to check that out as well.

velciane · January 2nd, 2007, 03:08 AM

I also just noticed they have the new sky bridge shown here as well. I wish it was larger so I could see more details.

pwright1 · January 2nd, 2007, 08:09 AM

I was actually in the Kemper offices at Bellevue Square for other reasons and walked in and discovered this awesome room with all of these awesome Bellevue cityscapes. I'll be there again on Tuesday. I felt like a kid in a candy store. It is an awesome room to see. At Bellevue Square go in the room called the Lodge, where the huge fireplace is. Take the elevator to the 5th floor. Go out the double doors into the garage and Kemper is on the right. As soon as you enter Kemper it's the first room on the left. It's open to the public I think.

BellevueBoy · January 2nd, 2007, 08:00 PM

I just wanted to bump these to the current page for all to see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwright1

BellevueBoy · January 3rd, 2007, 09:55 AM

Downtown Bellevue's "little houses are slowly disappearing"
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...homes03e0.html

By Ashley Bach

About two dozen single-family homes remain in downtown Bellevue, such as this one at 109th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 10th Street. They are the remnants of subdivisions built in the early 1950s, around the time the city incorporated.

With high-rises all around him, Roger Haynes, owner of Roger's Auto Salon in downtown Bellevue, details a car out back of his home. "Little houses are slowly disappearing," said Haynes, who has rented homes downtown for 15 years.

The single-family houses that remain in downtown Bellevue, including one near 110th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Second Street, are wedged between much larger and newer developments. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses, including a nail salon, blood bank and Mexican restaurant.

In a 50-year-old house surrounded by high-rises, Roger Haynes has a unique operation. He runs an auto-detailing shop out of a space that also serves as his living room and bedroom. His desk sits next to an 80-inch TV and across from a black couch covered with bed sheets. He services the cars in his back yard.

Haynes is one of only a handful of people still living in single-family homes in Bellevue's downtown core. While thousands of people have moved into the city's sleek new condo towers and upscale apartments, the little wood-frame house on Northeast Third Place is an endangered species, a fragile remnant of a long-gone era.

"Little houses are slowly disappearing," said Haynes, who has rented homes downtown for 15 years. "I wish I could keep this one forever because it's in a good location and it's a good house."

The next houses to go may be a trio just off Northeast Eighth Street, which are slated for demolition to make way for a five-story residential building. One of the homes hosts a puppy store, but the other two are abandoned and dilapidated, with broken windows and inoperable cars parked outside.

The lot with the three homes sold last spring for $4.6 million.

About two dozen single-family homes remain downtown, mostly in the northeast and southeast corners. They are the remnants of subdivisions built during the postwar boom of the early 1950s, right around the time the city incorporated. Most of the homes — built in subdivisions called Ashwood and Evans Addition — have been torn down over the past two decades.

The houses that remain are wedged between much larger and newer developments. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses, including a nail salon, blood bank, Christmas store and Mexican restaurant.

It wasn't that long ago that downtown Bellevue had a significant population living in single-family homes. Their children filled Bellevue Junior High and Ashwood Elementary until both downtown schools closed in the late 1970s. Even after the neighborhood was zoned commercial in 1981, many renters lived in the remaining homes for years.

Bellevue Planning Director Dan Stroh remembers walking around downtown 15 years ago and seeing people out washing their cars.
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Nowadays, public domesticity in the downtown core is a strange sight. When Craig Lewis rolls out a lawnmower, he gets strange looks from the apartment dwellers above. He's an associate at an architecture firm renting an old home on 111th Avenue Northeast, complete with a small backyard.

"There's nothing like smelling cut grass in downtown," he said.

Less than a block away, Arnold Wisbeck and his partner operated their architecture and engineering firm out of an old home for almost 30 years. Wisbeck died a year ago and his daughter, Nina Patera, works in real estate there now, with a kitchen, fireplace and a bathtub that used to be piled high with her father's books.

Patera said she will probably start renting out the place next year. "It's a lot of space for just me."

In 1988, Ron and Linda McCully bought a home on Northeast Second Street and immediately converted it into The Diamond Banque, a pawn and jewelry shop. With high-rises sprouting around the store, some longtime customers have trouble finding the place, the couple says, but otherwise the site has benefits.

"People like the fact that we're not a chain store and you're dealing with the owners in a little cozy home setting," Ron McCully said.

Still, the McCullys may not be around much longer. They and several neighbors agreed last fall to sell their land to make way for a 10-story residential building. The deal fell through, but other offers for the property — a dramatically underdeveloped chunk in the middle of downtown — will surely come.

Most of the old houses are appraised at several hundred thousand dollars but could sell for more given Bellevue's booming downtown real-estate market. A few, like those off Northeast Eighth, are in the heart of downtown and are worth in the millions. Las Margaritas restaurant, operating in a 1943 home on 108th Avenue Northeast, is appraised at $2.8 million.

Some homes may not be worth much to developers because a single lot probably isn't big enough to host a large, mixed-use development with several stories of housing or offices and retail below. Combining multiple homes is much more lucrative, said Steve Schwartz, a principal at Pacific Real Estate Partners in Bellevue.

Brokers and city officials say all single-family homes downtown probably will be gone in 10 or 20 years.

Even so, the commercial district is surrounded by residential communities on three sides, and city officials have a "very strong policy" to not expand the downtown core, Stroh said. The city's vision is a dense, towering center of business and urban living — and more residents than ever. Already 4,500 people live there in apartments or condos, and that will hit 14,000 by 2020, according to city planners.

But in the new neighborhood, old houses with driveways and front porches just won't fit.

"It's sad," said Haynes, one of the last single-family-home residents. "Some of these houses are nice."

I Love Seattle · January 4th, 2007, 08:44 AM

I am looking to purchase a conversion unit in downtown Bellevue. I am new to the Bellevue market and was wondering what people's thoughts are?

There are a few condos listed on MLS in the downtown core right now, but not enough for me to get a feel of the prices. Are the new condo towers sold out? How much did they start at?

The conversion I saw is around $300k for a one bedroom.

Thanks.

guinessbeer55 · January 5th, 2007, 12:31 AM

Ok, does anyone wanna let me know about whats going on with the Saks 5th avenue store that might be arriving in Bellevue??

TheBellevueBoss · January 5th, 2007, 12:49 AM

until an actual lease is executed and signed, any information regading the matter is considered to be speculation....Bellevue is certainly ripe for a saks fifth avenue though....hopefully Bellevue will attract a few more restaurants as well in the downtown core.....

BellevueBoy · January 5th, 2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guinessbeer55

Ok, does anyone wanna let me know about whats going on with the Saks 5th avenue store that might be arriving in Bellevue??

There's been rumors floating around on the forums for the last few months but that's all they are, rumors. Have not heard any official announcements regarding even any speculation about them coming to Bellevue.

Dancer · January 5th, 2007, 10:43 PM

Sorry off-topic but isn’t this thread "Bellevue Development News 2?" I know it doesnt really matter but Im really proud of the fact that Bellevue is doing so well and there is so much to discuss

TheBellevueBoss · January 9th, 2007, 05:26 PM

big changes for the Bravern project, towers 3 and 4 will be changed from office to residential (465 units). This modification adds 130,000+ sf of retail (I wonder who, saks?) and disposes of 689,500 sf of office space. Hines, the formal EOP, and Bentall must be very happy about this.

BellevueBoy · January 9th, 2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBellevueBoss

big changes for the Bravern project, towers 3 and 4 will be changed from office to residential (465 units). This modification adds 130,000+ sf of retail (I wonder who, saks?) and disposes of 689,500 sf of office space. Hines, the formal EOP, and Bentall must be very happy about this.

There was confusion about this over on the SSP forum as well. This is the residential portion of the Bravern that we learned about months ago. I'm guessing that they went ahead with the plans for the Bravern Residences before the application was officially approved by the city. The 130k sf of retail is the Neiman Marcus store.

TheBellevueBoss · January 10th, 2007, 03:37 AM

^
Schnitzer just submitted their application for deisgn review...

TheBellevueBoss · January 10th, 2007, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellevueBoy

There was confusion about this over on the SSP forum as well. This is the residential portion of the Bravern that we learned about months ago. I'm guessing that they went ahead with the plans for the Bravern Residences before the application was officially approved by the city. The 130k sf of retail is the Neiman Marcus store.

130k sqft for Neiman? That is a very large Neiman. Most Home Depots are about 100k sqft....

Dancer · January 10th, 2007, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBellevueBoss

^
Schnitzer just submitted their application for deisgn review...

Which project is theirs?

CityView Jim · January 10th, 2007, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellevueBoy

There was confusion about this over on the SSP forum as well. This is the residential portion of the Bravern that we learned about months ago. I'm guessing that they went ahead with the plans for the Bravern Residences before the application was officially approved by the city. The 130k sf of retail is the Neiman Marcus store.

OK I'm confused (or slow!), so it remains two office and two taller residential with the retail below?

BellevueBoy · January 10th, 2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBellevueBoss

130k sqft for Neiman? That is a very large Neiman. Most Home Depots are about 100k sqft....

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._retail20.html

That article states that the store will be 125k sqft.

Yes, Schnitzer just submitted the application to change it to residential. It is my understanding that since they had already gotten the original application for the third and fourth office towers approved then they are allowed to start the digging process. This application will need to be approved before they proceed with any construction of the residential portion.

So yes, the project remains the same as it's been for the past few months: 2 office towers and 2 condo towers over a retail base.

January 2nd, 2007, 08:09 AM	#206
pwright1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,864 Likes (Received): 61	I was actually in the Kemper offices at Bellevue Square for other reasons and walked in and discovered this awesome room with all of these awesome Bellevue cityscapes. I'll be there again on Tuesday. I felt like a kid in a candy store. It is an awesome room to see. At Bellevue Square go in the room called the Lodge, where the huge fireplace is. Take the elevator to the 5th floor. Go out the double doors into the garage and Kemper is on the right. As soon as you enter Kemper it's the first room on the left. It's open to the public I think. Last edited by pwright1; January 2nd, 2007 at 08:18 AM.

January 4th, 2007, 08:44 AM	#209
I Love Seattle Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Likes (Received): 0	Current Bellevue Condo Market I am looking to purchase a conversion unit in downtown Bellevue. I am new to the Bellevue market and was wondering what people's thoughts are? There are a few condos listed on MLS in the downtown core right now, but not enough for me to get a feel of the prices. Are the new condo towers sold out? How much did they start at? The conversion I saw is around $300k for a one bedroom. Thanks.

January 5th, 2007, 10:43 PM	#213
Dancer Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,013 Likes (Received): 23	Sorry off-topic but isn’t this thread "Bellevue Development News 2?" I know it doesnt really matter but Im really proud of the fact that Bellevue is doing so well and there is so much to discuss __________________ - Flickr - facebook - Urban Photo Set -

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January 2nd, 2007, 12:49 AM	#203
jiggawhat? Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 816 Likes (Received): 5	hella cool pics! bellevuye towers and everything is included! AWESOME!

January 2nd, 2007, 03:08 AM	#205
velciane Seattle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 608 Likes (Received): 12	I also just noticed they have the new sky bridge shown here as well. I wish it was larger so I could see more details.

January 3rd, 2007, 09:55 AM	#208
BellevueBoy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,058 Likes (Received): 0	Downtown Bellevue's "little houses are slowly disappearing" http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...homes03e0.html By Ashley Bach About two dozen single-family homes remain in downtown Bellevue, such as this one at 109th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 10th Street. They are the remnants of subdivisions built in the early 1950s, around the time the city incorporated. With high-rises all around him, Roger Haynes, owner of Roger's Auto Salon in downtown Bellevue, details a car out back of his home. "Little houses are slowly disappearing," said Haynes, who has rented homes downtown for 15 years. The single-family houses that remain in downtown Bellevue, including one near 110th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Second Street, are wedged between much larger and newer developments. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses, including a nail salon, blood bank and Mexican restaurant. In a 50-year-old house surrounded by high-rises, Roger Haynes has a unique operation. He runs an auto-detailing shop out of a space that also serves as his living room and bedroom. His desk sits next to an 80-inch TV and across from a black couch covered with bed sheets. He services the cars in his back yard. Haynes is one of only a handful of people still living in single-family homes in Bellevue's downtown core. While thousands of people have moved into the city's sleek new condo towers and upscale apartments, the little wood-frame house on Northeast Third Place is an endangered species, a fragile remnant of a long-gone era. "Little houses are slowly disappearing," said Haynes, who has rented homes downtown for 15 years. "I wish I could keep this one forever because it's in a good location and it's a good house." The next houses to go may be a trio just off Northeast Eighth Street, which are slated for demolition to make way for a five-story residential building. One of the homes hosts a puppy store, but the other two are abandoned and dilapidated, with broken windows and inoperable cars parked outside. The lot with the three homes sold last spring for $4.6 million. About two dozen single-family homes remain downtown, mostly in the northeast and southeast corners. They are the remnants of subdivisions built during the postwar boom of the early 1950s, right around the time the city incorporated. Most of the homes — built in subdivisions called Ashwood and Evans Addition — have been torn down over the past two decades. The houses that remain are wedged between much larger and newer developments. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses, including a nail salon, blood bank, Christmas store and Mexican restaurant. It wasn't that long ago that downtown Bellevue had a significant population living in single-family homes. Their children filled Bellevue Junior High and Ashwood Elementary until both downtown schools closed in the late 1970s. Even after the neighborhood was zoned commercial in 1981, many renters lived in the remaining homes for years. Bellevue Planning Director Dan Stroh remembers walking around downtown 15 years ago and seeing people out washing their cars. advertising Nowadays, public domesticity in the downtown core is a strange sight. When Craig Lewis rolls out a lawnmower, he gets strange looks from the apartment dwellers above. He's an associate at an architecture firm renting an old home on 111th Avenue Northeast, complete with a small backyard. "There's nothing like smelling cut grass in downtown," he said. Less than a block away, Arnold Wisbeck and his partner operated their architecture and engineering firm out of an old home for almost 30 years. Wisbeck died a year ago and his daughter, Nina Patera, works in real estate there now, with a kitchen, fireplace and a bathtub that used to be piled high with her father's books. Patera said she will probably start renting out the place next year. "It's a lot of space for just me." In 1988, Ron and Linda McCully bought a home on Northeast Second Street and immediately converted it into The Diamond Banque, a pawn and jewelry shop. With high-rises sprouting around the store, some longtime customers have trouble finding the place, the couple says, but otherwise the site has benefits. "People like the fact that we're not a chain store and you're dealing with the owners in a little cozy home setting," Ron McCully said. Still, the McCullys may not be around much longer. They and several neighbors agreed last fall to sell their land to make way for a 10-story residential building. The deal fell through, but other offers for the property — a dramatically underdeveloped chunk in the middle of downtown — will surely come. Most of the old houses are appraised at several hundred thousand dollars but could sell for more given Bellevue's booming downtown real-estate market. A few, like those off Northeast Eighth, are in the heart of downtown and are worth in the millions. Las Margaritas restaurant, operating in a 1943 home on 108th Avenue Northeast, is appraised at $2.8 million. Some homes may not be worth much to developers because a single lot probably isn't big enough to host a large, mixed-use development with several stories of housing or offices and retail below. Combining multiple homes is much more lucrative, said Steve Schwartz, a principal at Pacific Real Estate Partners in Bellevue. Brokers and city officials say all single-family homes downtown probably will be gone in 10 or 20 years. Even so, the commercial district is surrounded by residential communities on three sides, and city officials have a "very strong policy" to not expand the downtown core, Stroh said. The city's vision is a dense, towering center of business and urban living — and more residents than ever. Already 4,500 people live there in apartments or condos, and that will hit 14,000 by 2020, according to city planners. But in the new neighborhood, old houses with driveways and front porches just won't fit. "It's sad," said Haynes, one of the last single-family-home residents. "Some of these houses are nice."

January 5th, 2007, 12:31 AM	#210
guinessbeer55 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 664 Likes (Received): 2	Ok, does anyone wanna let me know about whats going on with the Saks 5th avenue store that might be arriving in Bellevue??

January 5th, 2007, 12:49 AM	#211
TheBellevueBoss Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 881 Likes (Received): 0	until an actual lease is executed and signed, any information regading the matter is considered to be speculation....Bellevue is certainly ripe for a saks fifth avenue though....hopefully Bellevue will attract a few more restaurants as well in the downtown core.....

January 9th, 2007, 05:26 PM	#214
TheBellevueBoss Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 881 Likes (Received): 0	big changes for the Bravern project, towers 3 and 4 will be changed from office to residential (465 units). This modification adds 130,000+ sf of retail (I wonder who, saks?) and disposes of 689,500 sf of office space. Hines, the formal EOP, and Bentall must be very happy about this.

January 10th, 2007, 03:37 AM	#216
TheBellevueBoss Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 881 Likes (Received): 0	^ Schnitzer just submitted their application for deisgn review...