Sylva on Main in Downtown Bellevue.
John Su’s original “Soma” — not the towers — is a 74-home mid-rise on the south side of Old Main, with townhomes, two-bedroom penthouses and the geothermal wells that made news when it opened in 2011.
Sylva on Main is a 74-home mid-rise at 10701 Main St, on the south side of Main Street between 106th and 108th at the quieter east end of Old Bellevue — one step across the Main Street line that marks the south edge of the downtown core, with Voodoo Doughnut next door and Bellevue Square a walk north. Thrive Communities manages it. For a building this size the plan mix is wide: studios, one- and two-bedrooms in classic and newly renovated finishes, plus two-bedroom townhomes and exclusive two-bedroom penthouses, all with in-home washer-dryers and floor-to-ceiling windows. Shared space is a clubhouse with a full kitchen, a media lounge, a fitness center with free weights and a courtyard with a fire pit, over a secured garage with EV charging. The official site puts the Walk Score at 96.
DBN first wrote about the building in February 2011, when it was called Soma: developer John Su’s six-story, 80-unit project at 10701 Main was nearing completion, billed on its website as Bellevue’s first geothermal apartment building under the slogan “Little footprint. Big impact.” After two years in which downtown residential construction had all but stopped, DBN called it the first sign that developers were betting on downtown again. It opened that year with 74 homes, according to the county assessor, and the geothermal wells for water heating are still in the structural engineer’s project record. John Su went on to build Soma Towers two blocks north — a separate and much larger complex — and this one now leases as Sylva on Main.
It suits renters who want Old Main’s restaurants and the East Main light-rail stop on foot in a small building rather than a tower; see how it compares in our guide to every downtown Bellevue apartment building.
Homes & Amenities at Sylva on Main
A small building with an unusual plan mix — studios through townhomes and penthouses — and a clubhouse-and-courtyard amenity set, from the current leasing site.
Studios, One- and Two-Bedrooms
Classic and newly renovated homes, every one with an in-home washer and dryer and floor-to-ceiling windows; walk-in closets and air conditioning in select plans.
Two-Bedroom Townhomes & Penthouses
Two-story townhomes on the upper floors and exclusive two-bedroom penthouses; the structural engineer’s record describes a tilted-glass clerestory penthouse design.
Clubhouse, Media Lounge & Fire Pit
A clubhouse with a full kitchen, a media lounge and a courtyard with a fire pit and lounge seating, plus a fitness center with free weights.
Geothermal Mid-Rise
Two mirrored wings joined over a concrete plaza, with geothermal wells for water heating — billed at opening as Bellevue’s first geothermal apartment building.
Sylva on Main Through the Years on DBN
DBN has reported on downtown Bellevue since 2005. This is Sylva on Main’s story as we covered it, as it happened.
New Bellevue Apartment Complex ‘Soma’ Nearing Completion
Developer John Su’s concrete-and-glass Soma at 10701 Main, planned at six stories and 80 units and billed as Bellevue’s first geothermal apartment building, was due to open that spring — the first sign of life after a two-year stall in downtown residential.
Browse all Sylva on Main coverage in the DBN archive.
Getting Around & Living Here
You are just over the downtown line here, on the south side of Main: Old Bellevue out the front door, East Main Station a straight walk east.
Getting There & Parking
- Drive: Residents park in the secured, controlled-access garage under the building — three below-grade levels with about 90 stalls, per the structural engineer — with EV charging listed on the official site; assignment and terms come from the leasing office. No guest parking is published.
- Light rail: 2 Line to Bellevue Downtown Station, though East Main Station, one stop south, is closer — from there walk west along Main Street to the 10700 block — see our light rail guide
- On foot: The building fronts Main Street between 106th and 108th. Old Bellevue’s restaurants run west along Main; the AC Hotel and Soma Towers are two blocks north on 106th, and Bellevue Square is a longer walk north up Bellevue Way.
What It’s Like
This is the low-key end of Main Street: the busiest storefront blocks cluster west toward Bellevue Way, and this stretch is smaller buildings, a doughnut shop and newer mid-rise apartments rather than a shopping strip. With 74 homes, it is one of the smaller rental buildings near downtown, and floor-to-ceiling glass on every home keeps it bright. It suits people commuting on the 2 Line from East Main, downsizers who want a townhome or penthouse layout without a tower, and anyone who wants Old Main close but not outside the window.
What’s Nearby
You are at the east end of Old Main, so the neighbors are close: try Voodoo Doughnut next door at 10713 Main for the weekend box, La Mar a block west at Main and 106th for Peruvian seafood, or AC Hotel Bellevue two blocks north for visiting family.
Good to Know
As of September 2026: pet-friendly (the leasing office has the specifics); tours in person or by live video; managed by Thrive Communities; homes come in classic and newly renovated finishes, so ask which you are seeing. The name trips people up — this building opened as “Soma” and some directories still list it that way, but it is not Soma Towers at 288 106th Ave NE, and it is not the never-built Ventana on Main plan for 10713 Main. It sits just south of Main Street, outside the strict downtown core. No income-restricted homes are listed on the official site; DBN does not print rents.
Sylva on Main FAQ
Where is Sylva on Main in Bellevue?
At 10701 Main St, on the south side of Main Street between 106th and 108th Avenues at the east end of Old Bellevue — just across the Main Street line that marks the south edge of the downtown core. Voodoo Doughnut is next door, and the AC Hotel and Soma Towers are two blocks north.
Is Sylva on Main the same building as Soma Towers?
No. Sylva on Main opened in 2011 as “Soma,” a small Main Street mid-rise by developer John Su, and has since been renamed. Soma Towers is a separate, much larger two-tower complex that Su Development built later at 288 106th Ave NE, two blocks north, opening in 2014 and 2016. The shared name is why map apps and old listings mix them up.
How many apartments are in Sylva on Main, and when was it built?
74 homes, per both the King County Assessor and the project’s structural engineer, completed in 2011 according to the Assessor; DBN’s pre-opening story in February 2011 reported a plan for 80. The homes sit over a concrete plaza podium with three levels of parking below.
What amenities does Sylva on Main have?
As of September 2026 the official site lists a clubhouse with a full kitchen, a courtyard with a fire pit and lounge seating, a fitness center with free weights, a media lounge, controlled access, EV charging, rentable storage and secured garage parking. Every home has an in-home washer and dryer and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Does Sylva on Main allow pets, and how do you tour?
It is a pet-friendly community; the leasing office has the specific policies. Tours can be taken in person with a leasing professional or as a live video tour, booked through liveatsylva.com or by calling (425) 484-8299.