As housing costs continue to climb across downtown Bellevue, a new concept is drawing attention for its unconventional approach: converting underutilized parking stalls into compact micro-apartments.
Early plans from the AFD Group outline 75-square-foot units built within standard parking spaces, featuring fold-out kitchens, retractable beds, and wall systems that shift throughout the day to create separate “rooms.” Instead of traditional windows, residents would have access to customizable virtual reality views, with premium upgrades available for waterfront sunsets, mountain scenery, or corner-unit skyline perspectives.
The proposal is expected to begin as a pilot program in city-owned parking facilities, including areas near Bellevue City Hall, Bellevue Downtown Park, and other municipal lots throughout the downtown core. If successful, the program could expand into privately owned and commercial parking structures in partnership with local property owners.
To maximize space, the concept includes vertical storage systems that lift residents’ belongings into overhead compartments during the day, lowering them back down at night. In select garages, planners are also exploring rotating unit placement to improve light exposure depending on stall location.
Shared amenities would take a mobile approach, with rotating pods cycling through garages on a set schedule. These include bathrooms, fitness stations, coffee bars, and a bookable “quiet pod” designed for work calls.
“We’re looking at how to make better use of space that already exists in the city,” said a spokesperson for AFD Group. “Parking infrastructure is already located in some of the most desirable parts of Bellevue. This approach allows us to rethink how that space can serve residents in a more flexible and efficient way.”
For those looking to upgrade, renters could lease two adjacent stalls to create a larger suite, while a limited number of three-stall configurations would be marketed as “premium residences,” complete with expanded layouts and upgraded virtual view options. Lease rates are expected to start at $999.
While still in early stages, the concept is being positioned as a flexible, scalable solution to housing demand, reimagining everyday infrastructure in ways that challenge traditional ideas of what a home can be.
