There’s a certain excitement and anticipation in seeing the construction of a home. Amid exposed bones of a building or unfinished walls, you start to visualize the potential of a space and a story emerges that will create a life within a dwelling. The next thing you know, you’re going through furniture choices in your mind and you’re already moved in before the door is even hung on the entryway — that’s a bit of the feeling one gets when given a special sneak peek of the soon-to-be-completed west building of Metro 112 apartments, as well as the finished east building where people are already following Metro’s invitation to “dwell well.”
Situated across the street from the dramatic architecture of the Bellevue City Hall, Metro 112 is literally within the city’s heart. A mere hop onto NE 4th Street’s access to I-405, it’s a commuter-perfect location, and for those working right in Downtown Bellevue, it’s close enough to all the main buildings to be able to get around by foot or bicycle.
Among the company of Downtown Bellevue’s all-rental residences, Metro 112 offers a professional-friendly community at an affordable leasing price range ($870 – $2,625). Its focus on customer service and a hands-on approach by its on-site property management team, Simpson Housing, gives Metro 112 the distinction of its residents feeling like they are looked after. This feeling of personal attention is reflected by its east building apartments having a projected 72% occupation amount by the end of April. The apartments are spread across east and west towers that are connected, with a total of 299 units. The east building apartments are completed and the west tower units are nearly done, anticipating the residents being able to move in by mid-May, and none too soon, as there is already a waiting list 40 people long for those spaces. The apartment floor plans include studios (524 – 546 sq. ft.), 1 bedroom/1 bath with den options (777 – 813 sq. ft., 929 – 955 sq. ft. w/ den), and 2 bedroom/2 bath units (1286 sq. ft.). Within the almost complete west building are the residential community spaces like the private clubroom, a fitness center, and a rooftop terrace, expected to open May 14th. Being given the sneak preview of the construction area, the wide open central courtyard could be seen taking shape with the fire pit and the meditation fountain. Another rare peek included a look at one of the west building apartments, with its cool concrete floors and industrial-exposed ceilings, reflecting the urban living style of Metro 112’s west tower.
Once fully completed this summer, Metro 112 will be an instant neighborhood, making it very appealing as a community. With 20,000 square feet of retail space available, there is room for 7 – 9 different stores or restaurants. They already encourage their renters to feel more like residents with a sense of ownership by being one of the few buildings with a completely smoke-free environment, and they welcome pet owners, without size restrictions on dogs.
The sense of proprietorship Metro 112 encourages among its residents has a lot to do with the property management’s permanent on-site presence. As prospective renters become residents, they are welcomed into the community with little comforts of home like playing cards, neighborhood guides, and even a Metro 112-branded bottle of wine. As part of Metro 112’s outreach program, keep an eye out around Bellevue restaurants for their orange and grey coasters, offering a free gift for interested renters if they bring in one of the coasters and take a look at the apartment homes.
Metro 112
317 112th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(866) 528-5890
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The East building is already 72% occupied? Am I reading this correctly? This would be quite an accomplishment if true…
I am worried about the health of DT Bellevue-shops and retaurants closing, and so many apartments..what will be the impact of a city of renters?
They really need to fill that empty retail space they have. Right now, it’s just an eyesore.
I don’t really understand your comment Cindy. Would you rather all of the projects be empty condos or there be no new projects at all? New residents in the DT core, regardless of if they’re renters of owners, can only help the city’s retail….?
I’m glad to see the building filling up, personally it’s too close to 405 for me….
Grey…i agree with you about Cindy. Trying to distinguish renters as anything less than an owner is not the right thinking when it comes to ones ability to stimulate the economy. The businesses in the area determine the clientèle of restaurants and retail shops, not whether or not the customer is renting an apartment or bought one.
Either way, all things constant, Bellevue is doing good.
Sorry folks, I stand by my comments. I think so many apartments will have an impact on Bellevue.
Renter just do not have the same level of attachment to a place as do owners.
Generally speaking, they are more transient, and in general tend to more adult/less children (although that holds for condos as well)
I understand this is a pro-Bellevue site (and I live in DT Bellevue), but be honest, have you not noticed all the shops and restaurants that have closed down?
Restaurants and shops are closing down because they don’t have enough business. Perhaps if the condos and apartments downtown would fill up, more businesses could survive – as general economics would indicate. But then again, maybe those transient renters are staying away so they don’t have to put up with pretentious attitudes, not unlike your own.
cindy with prices being so high renting is the only option for many people to be able to live in DT Bellevue. The more people living here the better!
There are renters in my condo building who have been here 15 years!
I have been living at Metro 112 for a month-and-a-half now, and I’ve really enjoyed it. The smoke-free environment is utterly lovely, the walls/windows are super-insulated, so I never hear my neighbors, and I can only hear only a whisper of traffic noise from 405, which I rather like. It’s clean, the staff has been very responsive, nice, and friendly. I had such a bad experience with my last apartment, that I feel really lucky to have found this place. Oh, also, the appliances are really nice, really efficient, and my electricity bill from this place has been very, very low (in contrast to my other apartment). So far, I have absolutely no complaints, and I love being in my apartment.
The Metro 112 does look nice. I’ve been browsing around for good retail spots available & there are way too many unoccupied ones around downtown Bellevue, in particularly, retail spaces located at these apartment complexes are really hard to fill up such as Washington Square, Belcarra, Ashton, Ten20 Tower, Avalon Meydenbauer, Library Apartments are just a few that can’t find retail occupants to fill these up fast.
Cindy
Its unfortunate that the image you have of renters is that they are more transient. My wife and I live in DT Bellevue and love it. We can afford rent here however owning a condo at the size we are comfortable with isn’t possible in this wonderful city. Perhaps if we moved to Kent we could but thats not desirable for us. I do however find it sad that you would make such comments in a public forum. It’s folks like you who give Bellevue the image problem some would say is present today.
PS. I treat my rented apartment as if I owned it.
Mike
Its a very beautifull building. Our company provided granite slab tops in all units. I wish you’d taken better picture of the leasing Kitchen tops. We just finished them the day after you took that picture! Please re-take 🙂
Much apprecaited!
Cindy,
Please don’t judge people who rent. There are a multitude of reasons why people rent instead of purchasing and to classify renters as “transient” is naive. You never know when you might be in that situation yourself (your husband could lose his job, divorce you, etc).
Renting doesn’t change your personal preferences. If you enjoy a clean environment as a homeowner, you will continue to keep your home clean as a renter.
In the current market, it could be argued that renters are stimulating the economy more than homeowners who are stressed about being underwater and are paying more for the same standard of living each month. A 1BR condo owner in DT Bellevue is probably paying around $2000/month (mortgage, taxes, HOA). Whereas a 1BR renter is probably paying $1200/month. Is it likely that the renter is spending more money on dining out, clothing/retail, and entertainment in this city?
Cindy you have a very narrow point of view and unfortunately one that is wrong. Have you not seen how much some of these places rent for? Rents at Ten20 are in the mid $2000’s for a 2 bed/2 bath and higher. I know because I rent one!! Not sure how you see a family (or single person) who can afford that monthly “rent” to be “transient”. At those prices people are expecting top quality and they are also treating their homes the same as you do – if not better. Your empty shops are that way because to buy here doesn’t make sense right now in the current craziness of condo purchasing, but renting is perfect for many and for now its the renters who are going to fill these stores – because the condo buyers sure as heck aint doin’ it.
Like everyone here I completely disagree with Cindy here.
Cindy, in your perfect world, everyone wants to buy condo in DT Bellevue, all the restaurants are fantastic and filled, and your condo value just keeps rocketing like 2004 – 2007.
In the real world, it’s a choice of either a city of renters, or a city of empty haunted condo towers (which just happen to further drag down your condo’s value too).
As a condo owner myself, I am happy that more and more people choose to live in DT Bellevue. More residents leads to more restaurants, more shops, more variety & vibrancy, and potentially more future condo owners (which help us in the long term).