Federal Way to be the next Bellevue? (Seattle, Des Moines: apartment complexes, crime rate)

[RotseCherut]

Federal Way is a scary mess.. Because of its horrible city planning and how disconnected and sprawled out the city is, there is no way the city will be another Bellevue any time soon. Bellevue is a very well planned out city and has a nice centralized downtown and business district that is becoming a bit more cosmopolitan. The mall in Bellevue is gazillion times nicer than the mall in Federal Way.. And, despite what people say, Federal Way seems to attract not the most savory types at its malls and shopping centers.

Federal Way has a long way to go before its Bellevue.. The city really will need to be completely redesigned and have a few more freeways installed.. The road system there is grueling. In all honest, Federal Way is too expansive and should be separated into a few other cities. It literally is like 3 or 4 cities in one, as it has 3 or 4 distinct business districts spread out in the city.

[CityWok]

The thing with Issaquah is that it does *not* want to be the next Bellevue. There was approval for buildings over a certain height (near the downtown shopping areas) and residents were angry! Even approval for new housing developments caused a lot of folks to get upset. How about the new bypass to help ease traffic and support growth? Didn't happen either.

[usernametaken]

Bellevue essentially includes Redmond. Some of the companies in Redmond have half their staff working and/or living in Bellevue buildings. I very much doubt Federal Way can even attract 10 percent of the types of behemoth companies that have global or US headquarters in the Bellevue region, including Microsoft, T-Mobile, HTC, Nintendo, Paccar, Eddie Bauer and Expedia just to name the ones I know off the top of my head!

I like living in the eastern part of Bellevue, but dislike downtown Bellevue most of the time. I hope we do not get one more of those in this region!

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by RotseCherut

Federal Way is a scary mess.. Because of its horrible city planning and how disconnected and sprawled out the city is, there is no way the city will be another Bellevue any time soon. Bellevue is a very well planned out city and has a nice centralized downtown and business district that is becoming a bit more cosmopolitan. The mall in Bellevue is gazillion times nicer than the mall in Federal Way.. And, despite what people say, Federal Way seems to attract not the most savory types at its malls and shopping centers.

Federal Way has a long way to go before its Bellevue.. The city really will need to be completely redesigned and have a few more freeways installed.. The road system there is grueling. In all honest, Federal Way is too expansive and should be separated into a few other cities. It literally is like 3 or 4 cities in one, as it has 3 or 4 distinct business districts spread out in the city.

No, there will be no more freeways "installed". There is no plan with WSDOT to add freeways through this area, and there are very few plans to add freeways ANYWHERE in Western WA, (with the possible exception of expanding 509 from Burien to hit up with I-5, but even that is on severe hold). But, that isn't to mean some of the major arterials can't be modified for greater traffic volumes.

Federal Way can use I-5 to its advantage. Ask for transit lanes, beg for light rail speed up, and use 320th as the main boulervard with 8-10 story apartments/condos. This is doable, IMO.

[Seattle4321]

Originally Posted by CityWok

The thing with Issaquah is that it does *not* want to be the next Bellevue. There was approval for buildings over a certain height (near the downtown shopping areas) and residents were angry! Even approval for new housing developments caused a lot of folks to get upset. How about the new bypass to help ease traffic and support growth? Didn't happen either.

Why didn't the bypass happen? What was it exactly?

[pnwguy2]

What bypass are you referring to? I am lost on this one.

[Inkpoe]

I suspect CityWok is referring to I-605, which was supposed to bypass i5 and 405; they did research looked at the possibility of hooking HWY18 to Snohomish Co. Ultimately found it unfeasible and would save the truck drivers like only 5 mins. (If it ever came to be built, it would most likely enhance Federal Way status as a go-to city.)

[Seattle4321]

I think it would be really good if it got built. It would make it easier to get places and might help traffic a little! It could help the Eastside grow!

[CityWok]

Once upon time

Some years ago, the City of Issaquah proposed a bypass of Olde Town from I-90, Exit 18 to the Issaquah Hobart Road. The city conducted the entire process. But it was unpopular.

The council proceeded anyway with the process. Ultimately, the voters changed the balance of power on the council and the bypass was killed. Today, people still complain heavily about the north-south travel on Front Street and south.

Understanding Issaquah's Traffic : Issaquah 360

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by CityWok

Once upon time



Understanding Issaquah's Traffic : Issaquah 360

Hmm, that is interesting. But if they did create a bypass connecting Hobart-Issaquah Rd to Exit 18, wouldn't that just cut off Poo Poo Point?