The Seattle Times reported today the big plans that the City of Bellevue’s steering committee have suggested for the Bel-Red Corridor.
The Bel-Red Corridor is full of run down shopping and industrial complexes. It hardly fits in with the exponentially growing areas of Downtown Bellevue. Because there is so much land in this 900-acre corridor it could potentially be the last time for a long while that the City of Bellevue gets an opportunity to create major change in a large area so close to the heart of Downtown Bellevue.
Some of the highlighted and potential upgrades to the area would include high-rise buildings, a recreational sports complex, and an arts district. Many of the ideas such as recreational sports complex which would include ballfields, an aquatic center, an indoor sports facility would support the many people that will be living Downtown in the coming years.
The plans aren’t final, the council likely won’t sign off on a plan until next spring or summer.
Sounds like alot of this will be driven by ST2 getting approved this fall. Although I would love to see Bel Red Corridor developed, I would rather see lightrail loop from I 90 through Bellevue and onto the new 520 bridge and connect to the University link.
At any rate, it’s good stuff. Especially when we start seeing developer plans, like Wright Runstad.
I agree about light rail being more efficient over 520, but it will take FOREVER to get that project done, so we will have to take I90.
I would love to see a stop in DT Bellevue, on to UW, then right on into downtown. It would be pretty quick with only 3 stops.
What’s with all the stops for LR in the Bel Red plan? Are they really going to have 3 or 4 stops in Bel Red? That’s nuts!
Sound Transit must feel that shuffling around Microsoft employees is a priority. Lately, MS seems to be spreading out in other areas outside of Overlake (Issaquah Highlands, Advanta, EB Tower, Bravern and now Seattle) so the Overlake route should be less of a priority. Also, is MS going to be a big employer in ten years? Will telecommuting become more preferred over old fashioned physical commuting?
I have serious reservations about Sound Transits routing here. They should be more concerned about looping major population centers…
Transit works in Europe because driving is so expensive. We won’t have high ridership until gas is 8-9 bucks a gallon, just like, well Europe. Conveniently I think gas will be that expensive by the time this project is done.