The future of Bellevue and the Eastside (Seattle, Redmond: real estate, apartments)

[dxenopoulos]

Bellevue has transformed a lot since I moved here when I was a little kid. The downtown is a real destination and city center now, not just a mall. People are living, working and playing in Bellevue, and for a long time people just lived here. Evidently Factoria, Crossroads and Bel-Red can all expect development in the next few years, which means its spreading beyond downtown. And I wonder what the light rail will do for the city.

Do you see a limit to Bellevue's growth? Does Bellevue need to develop a culture, or does it already have one? Bellevue is incredibly diverse and people who don't live or spend time here still hold onto old stereotypes about Bellevue. Do you ever picture a "Twin Cities" sort of deal with Seattle and the Eastside or is that unlikely?

Also, does anyone have any examples of other cities in the United States that are like Bellevue? I haven't seen many places like Bellevue before.

[seattlenextyear]

Bellevue=Arlington, VA.

[guylocke]

If Bellevue continues to grow at a faster rate than Seattle I think a twin cities scenario would not only be possible but also likely. Some may argue we're already there!

Bellevue is also getting the light rail? The same one Seattle is? Will the rail cross the lake?

[guylocke]

Aside from originating in wealth and diversity, I see few similarities between Bellevue and Arlington, especially Arlingtons lack of a "city."

[Ira500]

Bellevue is also getting the light rail? The same one Seattle is? Will the rail cross the lake?
Yup. Voters approved it, and it will cross the lake I believe on a structure adjacent to I-90. I don't think it'll actually start running until 2014 or so.

[allforcats]

For the record, Bellevue actually originated as farms -- wonderful vegetable farms and fruit farms. Diversity of people? Yes. But originally not a lot of "wealth" -- just normal farm folk.

[guylocke]

And before that I imagine it was settled by native Americans and before that Dino's. . You know what I mean, Bellevue boomed originally from the wealth of Seattle, as Arlington has from DC - of course now they are their own engines.

Awesome on the light rail! What a great thing. Too bad it's not high speed magnets. . Ah well!

[Cascadeguy]

Originally Posted by guylocke

Bellevue is also getting the light rail? The same one Seattle is? Will the rail cross the lake?

Link light rail will go from Seattle across Lake Washington to downtown Bellevue and all the way to Overlake. It will be known as East Link and will have 9 stations. Planning for an extension to downtown Redmond is likely.

University link is currently being built. This line will have a subway station under Capitol Hill and one adjacent to Husky Stadium. This line will connect with Central Link which opens July 3rd.

North Link will connect with University link to the Northgate Transit Center and then continue on from Nothgate all the way up to Lynnwood.

South Link will connect up with Central Link via Seatac Airport and go near Federal way. Star Lake if I'm not mistaken.

Later this year, the eastside and region will start to benefit from 100,000 hours of express buses that will be phased in over the next few years. Express service will increase by 30 percent in the I-405 corridor.

Sounder Commuter rail will increase capacity and service as well. More round trips and longer passenger cars per train.

Below is a pic from Sound Transit of what East Link will look like when crossing Lake Washington.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by guylocke

Aside from originating in wealth and diversity, I see few similarities between Bellevue and Arlington, especially Arlington's lack of a "city."

Really? Both of these cities are:

1. Full of people either commuting into a major city every day, or "reverse commuting" to Redmond/Dulles.

2. Separated from a main city from a body of water and traffic filled bridges

3.
Downtown Bellevue: Whole Foods, Container Store, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Ann Taylor, Macys, Rock Bottom Brewery, etc.

Arlington Courthouse/Ballston mall area: Whole Foods, Container Store, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Ann Taylor, Macys, Rock Bottom Brewery, etc.

4. Population of Arlington: 206,800.
Population of Bellevue: 121,000.
Which one isn't a "city" again?

5. Both areas with a high percentage of occupants in condos and apartments in the downtown area.

6. Full of damn yuppies.

7. Incredibly high real estate prices

8. Bad traffic

9. More fiscally,socially and politically conservative than the city that its near

Sure, the analogy would be stronger if Tysons mall was substituted for Ballston Mall. But Downtown Bellevue is little more than a high class mall, a bunch of high rise condos, and a hellish parking garage. I wouldn't really call that a "city" any more than Arlingon's string of commuter centers along the metro line.

To take the analogy further, Kirkland is an awful lot like Alexandria: On the waterfront, tons of little eateries and boutiques, impossible parking, etc.

And yes, Arlington, like Bellevue, used to be all farmland. By the way, afc, I can't wait for the blueberries to come into season.

[LongDawson]

Bellevue and the Eastside will always have less riff-raff, better roads, and better public schools, in my opinion.