The future of Bellevue and the Eastside (Seattle, Redmond: how much, houses)

[Heiwos]

I'd like to see Factoria Mall management copy Crossroads' model. But it looks like they'll continue down the path to failure by making it more upscale.

[pw72]

This "twin cities" concept doesn't make much sense to me. While the population of the eastside may someday exceed Seattle, there just isn't the history, the established neighborhoods, or the name recognition that Seattle has.

Just 30 years ago Bellevue was a medium-sized mall, a bowling alley, a couple of low rise office buildings, and there were 1950's rambler-style homes where today's skyscrapers now stand. The change has been dramatic, but so have a lot of places in the U.S. (Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami/Miami Beach, Wash DC metro, to name a few).

I believe the future of Bellevue will be more density downtown, but also several regional centers where people can live and work in generally the same neighborhoods. The Bel-Red area is being talked about in this regard. Other locations could be Factoria, Eastgate, Issaquah.

[tudorjason]

It sounds as if Bellevue will become just like Arlington. If the different areas of Crossroads, Factoria, and Bel-Red are going to be developed more, the Light Rail may extend to these areas as well. Bellevue would be just like Arlington in that there will be several commuter centers along the Light Rail line. Bellevue could have three different downtown centers.

[eskercurve]

Until Bellevue establishes culture of its own, or many small neighborhoods with distinct feels, like Seattle, then it will never "match" Seattle. The population of the suburbs of Seattle has exceeded that of Seattle proper but man, what a difference in feel! If Bellevue can develop where I can WALK, not drive, to where I want to go, awesome.

[Heiwos]

Having lived in both Seattle and Bellevue, I find the latter to be similarly walkable in parts. I'm not interested in walking to a mom-and-pop bookstore for its tiny selection, or schlepping home groceries. I'm more interested in walking to a Blockbuster, coffee shop, or park, and not having to watch my back so much. Bellevue has lots of trails, if only the sidewalk variety. Issaquah, where I've also lived, might be more walkable than either Bellevue or Seattle, esp. if you're willing to walk a couple miles.

[pwright1]

I don't find anything similar about walking in Bellevue and Seattle. When walking in Seattle I can walk to mom and pop or the chains. Seattle you have choices, and many more choices especially in the restaurant and entertainment department. And for someone to associate Bellevue Square with being upscale is laughable imo.

[Tangy]

As an outsider from Ohio I found it lovely and wondered how anyone could afford to live there if they were not making over $200k a year. I live in a similar area here in Ohio but the home prices are 1/3 of the cost. Fine for many but not all.

[Heiwos]

pwright1, where have you walked in Bellevue?

This past week I walked around both Seattle and Bellevue. There's certainly a greater concentration of stuff in Seattle, which is nice; however, when you factor in the panhandlers and the need to be extra alert, Bellevue comes out looking pretty good in comparison. In Bellevue, if I come across a trail I haven't seen before, I can confidently venture forth, whereas in Seattle it's a safe bet I'll stumble into someone's makeshift encampment, or worse. Many parks around downtown Seattle are useless. E.g. Denny Park.

Of course any Bellevueite can combine the bus to get the best of both worlds. I'm fond of bussing to some cheap good eat in Seattle, walking from there to a favorite coffee shop, then take the bus back to Bellevue, sometimes walking back from a park & ride, through parks & trails. The bus is reading time.

[LongDawson]

The eastside is so much nicer than dingy Seattle, when it comes to the examples described by Heiwos (which are indisputable), that the typical comeback from a Seattle resident is to just shrug and say that Seattle has more, like, well, you know, diversity and stuff. Nevermind the eastside has more diversity too! You should see the demographic in my kids' class. Indian and SE Asian predominantly.

[redrum]

I wouldn't say having a significant Asian population makes Bellevue "diverse", especially considering the "model minority" stereotype. The African American and Latino population in Bellevue is pretty tiny (about 2% and 4% respectively, compared to around 10% and 6% in Seattle).