It was reported on Wednesday in the The Seattle Times that Auto Row on 116th was given approval by The Bellevue City Council on Monday to increase the height limits up to 75 feet in some cases.
Due to the heavy growth in the Downtown Bellevue core, it is inevitable that the surrounding areas will grow as well, if not become considered, “Downtown” too.
According to the article, the city plans to extend NE 4th St from 116th (see image). Also planned is a 36-acre “retail village” which will sit along 120th Ave, similar to how University Village is laid out. The “village” would go from Best Buy to NE 8th St, bringing apartments or condos and businesses such as drug and grocery stores to local residents.
This revamp of Auto Row could really add a much needed revitalization right outside of the Downtown core, which in turn could create an extension to Downtown.
I wonder what type of stores would be going in here. Also, I’d be great to see some lower priced condos go in here. Maybe some one bedroom units around the 330,000 range.
Hope they plan some pedestrian and transit friendly features. 405 effectively islands the east and west sides of the city which will make it a challenge for this new area to be an extension of ‘downtown’.