[James Bond Agent 007]

I wonder what they're gonna do with that vacant lot thingy that's sorta part of the Bellevue City Hall. It's just sitting there, waiting for someone to put something on it . . .

[Jay_Z]

What is that building opposite the entrance of the city hall ... the little glass box at the corner of 110th and NE 6th? Looks like a big glass jail cell out on the corner.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Yeah I've always wondered that too.

It looks like a place to put a new espresso stand. :D

[Last Chance]

I saw that crane last week.
I was hoping they were going to use it to build a big screen to hide Talus from the rest of the world...........

I like Talus. I recognize that many here will not, but it is a beautiful HOA, in a beautiful location. I am much happier to see single family housing developments like this where the lots are smaller and the neighborhoods laid out for pedestrians rather than the way many houses are built outside of master planned communities.

Talus won't become an urban village. But it is still a beautiful place, IMO.

[MrVandelay]

By Ashley Bach
Seattle Times Eastside bureau
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003174238_bellevueboom03e.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/08/03/2003118428.jpg
Downtown Bellevue's real-estate market is on fire. Construction cranes seem to loom over nearly every intersection, as more than 4 million square feet of glitzy new condos, offices and retail stores take shape.

This is the biggest year ever for development in the city, officials say.

• Building permits for about $625 million worth of square footage are expected to be approved this year, shattering the old record of $460 million set in 1999.

• A dozen major projects are under construction; a dozen more are in the permit pipeline.

• About 1,700 apartments or condos are being built, with another 3,000 units in the works.

To the delight of city leaders, the development is not just office space, as in previous booms. A new hotel tower is planned, Overlake Hospital is expanding, upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus are on the way — and about 10,000 people are expected to move downtown in the next 15 years.

"It's just unbelievable, how much is going on and what's coming," said Mike Brennan, the city's deputy director of development services.

Already a major draw for shoppers and corporate headquarters, the epicenter of the Eastside stands to gain even more vitality and visibility.

Including current construction and projects in the pipeline, the amount of downtown office space will jump from 6.9 million square feet to some 9.7 million. Retail space will increase from 3.8 million square feet to 4.7 million, and apartments and condos will swell from 3,500 units to 8,100. About 15,000 parking spots will be added.

The construction is part of a regional and national building boom — Seattle has its share of major projects, too — but Bellevue's relatively modest skyline is being transformed. About 20 high-rises are under construction or planned, and they'll take their place alongside the city's tallest building, Lincoln Square's 42-story south tower, which opened last fall.

Not that growth is easy. City leaders say they're finding it hard to hire enough building inspectors to keep up with the demand, and some residents don't appreciate the rumble of dump trucks and trackhoes.

Leaders in the neighborhoods next to downtown say they love being able to walk to a show or a nice dinner — and the nightlife options are growing each month. But they also worry about cut-through traffic, light pollution and crime that may come with the new development.

"We want the city to honor their promise to preserve the neighborhoods ... from increased urbanization," said Renay Bennett, president of the Bellecrest Neighborhood Association.

Much of the available land in other suburbs is gone, Brennan said, and downtown Bellevue and Seattle are some of the last places for large, intense development in the Puget Sound region.

Bellevue city leaders laid out their vision 25 years ago with a "wedding-cake" design that would bunch the tallest buildings in the downtown core, with medium-size buildings on the outskirts.

After the state Growth Management Act was passed in 1990, the city decided to funnel most of its new residents into a downtown that still had plenty of room left to grow.

Now the sidewalks on Bellevue Way are filled with people day and night, and the buildings are rising.

"It's a very exciting time in the city's history," Mayor Grant Degginger said.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/08/03/2003173853.gif

[bgwah]

High-rises for Sammamish?

http://ci.sammamish.wa.us/News.aspx?ID=483

Interesting.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
So what's this bgwah, did you finally get PDF's to work on your computer?

[BellevueGuy]

Anyone know what's going on with the lot between Main St. and NE 2nd. and Bellevue Way and 106th Ave.?

Has there been any proposal to build that lot up?

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Dunno about that one.

But on another note about the new hotel they're building next to the Eastgate park and ride, I noticed yesterday they tore down some Sequoia trees that, at first, it looked like they were gonna save. Jerks. :mad: They also took town a pretty big fir tree that I thought they were gonna save, too. :(

[Fulham]

Anyone know what's going on with the lot between Main St. and NE 2nd. and Bellevue Way and 106th Ave.?

Has there been any proposal to build that lot up?

Nothing :) Casa D's is SAFE. At least according to the owners. :banana:

[James Bond Agent 007]

Oh yeah, another tidbit of small development news . . .

Next to the new hotel being built in Issaquah, today I noticed they were clearing a lot for a new office building. There's been a sign up on that lot announcing the office for quite a while. Looks like they've started it now. I was actually kinda surprised they were starting as soon as they have. Not that I'm complaining.

For anyone who doesn't know where this is, it's right near the Ford and Chevy dealers, just off I-90.

[northface]

oh cool! i was wondering when they were starting that. There was an article in the issaquah press the other week about that lot...because there used to be a statue there of 3 old me sitting down and they had to move it! that area needed to be redeveloped anyways. Also, its so strange to see 2 tall cranes up on the mountain in the talus devlopment...it seems like such a different place.

[Rondo1]

Hey speaking of construction in Issaquah, what is that big 4-5 story building behind the Ford Auto and Burger King? Anyone know? I was driving by tonight and noticed it. Hadn't noticed it before and I had driven by there a few times. duh.

[northface]

that the hilton hotel they are building.

[Rondo1]

that the hilton hotel they are building.

duh. I should have read that last entry and PAID ATTENTION. Still amazed how many times I've come off that exit and didn't notice that thing rising up like that. :koko:

[James Bond Agent 007]

Now if they could only get rid of all those stupid mini-storage places in that general area and put up some apartments, offices and other useful stuff, they might actually make that part of Issaquah halfway interesting.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Vacant Bellevue office space vanishing, rents rising
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - 9:48 AM PDT Wednesday

Bellevue's office vacancy rate dropped from 14.8 percent last year to 7.3 percent this year; the largest drop in the country for similar-sized markets, according to a Grubb & Ellis Co. survey.

And rents in Bellevue have gone up the most in the country as a result, according to the survey of 39 secondary office markets conducted by Grubb & Ellis' Seattle office.

In the past year, Bellevue's Class A office rent (top-of-the-line office space) increased 11.6 percent and rent for Class B space jumped 24.8 percent, according to Grubb & Ellis.

Bellevue's average asking rate for Class A space is now $29 per square foot, higher than Seattle's Class A rate, which is about $28 a square foot.

"With the explosion of construction in its downtown, Bellevue has become a hot market for major tenants and a place where employees have all of the amenities of an urban area," said Craig Hill, senior vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis Seattle, in a statement.

A few years ago, right after the dot-com bust, Bellevue's office vacancy rate was more than 27 percent.

[Jay_Z]

Skybridge design and location approved

The Bellevue City Council on Tuesday approved a location and design for a new skybridge that will connect Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place.

The 177-foot, steel-and-glass bridge will extend across Northeast Eighth Street, connecting the second floors of both developments.

The bridge will be about 13 feet wide and appear similar to the bridge installed last fall between Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square.

The council must still approve a right-of-way permit and legal agreement before construction can start on the bridge. The council is scheduled to consider the permit and agreement Sept. 18.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Check it, add two more cranes to the DT bellevue total.
One at hines tower 333, and one at that group health thing by the hospital.
that brings the tally to 12 if im not mistaken.

AND, well add another to bellevue towers, and two more with the bravern.
AND, driving by the 1020 site, i noticed even more contruction equpiment and shacks on the hanover site as well as a large "hanover" sign on the fence. Id say clearing will happen in about a week.

[PDXPaul]

Jesus, 12 cranes. Fantastic.

If you look on the sound transit website under projects, there's a specific link for Bellevue Link, it's not grouped in with the 'next round' projects. Kind of implying it'll happen even if the RTID tax increase is voted down, which is very possible.

Oh well, airport-UW-DT Bellevue isn't bad as a bare minimum. It'd probably carry around 150k a day and handle the most congested corridors. That being said, federal way-alderwood-redmond is much much better.

[mhays]

Check it, add two more cranes to the DT bellevue total.
One at hines tower 333, and one at that group health thing by the hospital.
that brings the tally to 12 if im not mistaken.

AND, well add another to bellevue towers, and two more with the bravern.
AND, driving by the 1020 site, i noticed even more contruction equpiment and shacks on the hanover site as well as a large "hanover" sign on the fence. Id say clearing will happen in about a week.

Hanover has two sites including 1020 and Vue Hanover. Are you sure this wasn't simply the office for the other site?

[northface]

wat about a crane going up at the bellevue city center II?

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
CCII is nowhere near far-enough along to put up a crane. They're still digging the hole.

[horatio_the_hermit]

oh, it may have been hanoverr offices for the 1020 site, my bad. I forgot it was the same developer.

[Skian]

What a busy weekend in Bellevue.

-Tower 333 had it's crane installed.
-Bellevue Towers got a 2nd crane.
-Ashwood Commons II recieved a construction trailer and started clearing the lot.

[SeattleHusky82]

Stumbled across this page while googling for something, there's some new renderings that I've never seen before although I'm not too sure about the accuracy of some of them.

http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/PCD/MajorProjectsUpdate_3qtr_06.pdf#search=%22bre%20belcarra%22

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Good find!

It says that the expansion of Bellevue Place is targeted for the 2nd quarter of next year. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

That rendering of Ashwood II looks kinda interesting, too.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Oh yeah - I just noticed they have a rendering for the proposal next to that yellow senior apartments tower (where their parking lot is). I first noticed the white sign on that property a few months ago and have been wondering what it looked like.

[bgwah]

Stumbled across this page while googling for something, there's some new renderings that I've never seen before although I'm not too sure about the accuracy of some of them.

http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/PCD/MajorProjectsUpdate_3qtr_06.pdf#search=%22bre%20belcarra%22


Cool link.. That is the first picture we've seen of the Pacific Regents building...

Still...Belcarra is a disappointment.

[SeattleHusky82]

Cool link.. That is the first picture we've seen of the Pacific Regents building...

Still...Belcarra is a disappointment.

Speaking of Belcarra, I'm really wondering what is going on with this project. A few months ago, it seemed like the Cadillac dealership that currently uses the site was removing all the cars from that lot. I just drove by there today and the lot is now full of cars again. To be honest, I wouldn't really be too disapointed if this project gets canned if it means that it will later be replaced by a proposal for a high rise (like it was originally planned).

[mhays]

They were in a trade journal with a new call for subbids recently.

[horatio_the_hermit]

damn, i was going to post that link.
I found it this morning while shtting around in accounting class.

[destroybananas]

Has anyone noticed that they've started construction on City Center II in Bellevue?

[horatio_the_hermit]

it was noted over a month ago.
im pretty sure theres a thread on it.
And its sort of been renamed city center plaza.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Has anyone noticed that they've started construction on City Center II in Bellevue?
Yeah, where the hell have you been? :???: We've got a whole thread on this! :whip:

[MrVandelay]

Update on the Belletini

http://www.mytravellinks.com/Skyscrapercity/Post6/DSC04258a.jpg

[benzz]

For those interested, there's a site plan for Avalon Meydenbauer at the Milliken Developments webstie: http://www.millikendevelopments.com/pdf/avalon_meydenbauer_site_plan.pdf

[horatio_the_hermit]

ashwood commons two is getting dug pretty fast. Theyre down about 3-4 levels now.

[WolverineFan]

Here's a view of the city from Somerset.....

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/RandyLucas425/BellevueView.jpg

[bgwah]

Nice picture.

[horatio_the_hermit]

every day of my life.

[velciane]

I agree, Great picture! Thanks for posting.

[SeattleHusky82]

I found this site for the Ventana on Main project in dt Bellevue. It's a lowrise apartment project on the south end of downtown where the recently closed Jasmine Thai restaurant currently sits.

http://www.hmirealestate.com/projects/ventana_main.html

http://www.hmirealestate.com/pics/ventana_renduring.jpg

[Skian]

Is it me? or did they make an mistake in the install of window panels on the Eddie Bauer Tauer's South side today?

I saw it out of the corner of my eye while I was driving earlier......

[mhays]

If a mistake was made, I think it was they, not you. Just kidding.

Can you explain what it looked like?

[Skian]

A vertical color panel was installed one space to the east from the rest of the pattern.

[horatio_the_hermit]

way to go.

[Lostwave]

Crane Collapse:
View from Civica Commons

http://media.twango.com/m1/large/0019/52ad0f6bba6749dfa7432ad73527f8d7.jpg

http://media.twango.com/m1/large/0019/50aba178dfc24463899b5d787d838d02.jpg

http://media.twango.com/m1/large/0019/dcfdf088aed64a63b2294f404bff81fe.jpg

[B Concourse]

Interesting pictures - I got a chance to take a look at the damage from a couple of interesting sites.

I was in the fifth floor of the Civica North tower when they removed the boom part of the downed tower crane. It was amazing how they were able to lift it up and swung it around with the two cranes.

I also stopped in at the top of the Key Bank building to take a look down in the pit. Looked like it failed somewhere below the top section of the garage.

Will be interested to see what actually caused the failure.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Expansion of Bellevue Hyatt will start in June.

http://www.djc.com/stories/images/20061127/BellPlace_web.jpg

Kemper Development Co. says it will start construction in June on a $100 million 20-story twin to its Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

http://www.djc.com/

[James Bond Agent 007]

I guess that means the Wendy's will be spared for now. :D

[MrVandelay]

I guess that means the Wendy's will be spared for now. :D

Wouldn't wendy's be spared anyway? If you look closely at the rendering, it looks like the building on the corner does not get any new construction, and looks slightly like the wendys building. I hope it stays, I like wendys :)

[SeaChi]

Wasn't the Performing Arts Center Eastside supposed to be built on that corner? Have they moved it to the corner where Wendy's is?

[Skian]

The new hotel tower & ballrooms will be mid-block (just to the north & the west of the wintergarden's window wall. PACE will be directly east of this addition and Wendy's will stay (for now).

[Capitol Hill]

When Bellevue Place was first announced many moons ago, was the plan for the two hotel towers and a second office tower as well? Or am I just imagining a different history that doesn't exist?

[horatio_the_hermit]

does anyone actually subscribe to the djc. Id like to read the full article.

[bgwah]

When Bellevue Place was first announced many moons ago, was the plan for the two hotel towers and a second office tower as well? Or am I just imagining a different history that doesn't exist?

I'm pretty sure it has always been a hotel tower and only a hotel tower.

[velciane]

Bellevue Place Expansion Phase 1 - New 19 story addition to the Hyatt Hotel to include 351 rooms, a conference area, and underground parking
(This is currently a parking lot) NE 10th Street {no cross street}

Bellevue Place Expansion Phase 2 - Future Residential Tower with retail at the base. No current design or schedule.
(Wendy's Building and parking lot and building to the south) 10th and 104th Ave

Bellevue Place Expansion Phase 3 - Construction of a new 20 story office building.
(currently parking north of Washington Mutual Tower) 106th Street {no cross street}

PACE - 1,800 seat performing arts theatre
(currently small office building and parking lot)10th and 106th Ave.

[Capitol Hill]

Thanks Velciane

bgwah, I'm talking about in the late '80's when the project was first announced. For some reason, I just remember 2 office towers and 2 hotel towers, with the wintergarten in the middle, but as I said, might have been my imagination or strong sense of symmetry.

[velciane]

Thanks Velciane

bgwah, I'm talking about in the late '80's when the project was first announced. For some reason, I just remember 2 office towers and 2 hotel towers, with the wintergarten in the middle, but as I said, might have been my imagination or strong sense of symmetry.


Yeah your right, I wish I had a better map to show you. You can think of the block as a big grid:

(future condos at wendy's)
Wendys | Future Hotel | Future PACE
HYATT | Wintergarden | future office tower
BPlace | BofA Tower | WAMU Bank

[SeattleHusky82]

Yeah your right, I wish I had a better map to show you. You can think of the block as a big grid:

(future condos at wendy's)
Wendys | Future Hotel | Future PACE
HYATT | Wintergarden | future office tower
BPlace | BofA Tower | WAMU Bank

I've never heard of the condos on the Wendy's site, where did you read about this?

[MrVandelay]

Hyatt addition to open in 2009
By Amy Martinez
Seattle Times business reporter
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2003457797_hyatt02.html

A long talked about expansion of the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Bellevue has a start date.

Kemper Development plans to break ground on a 20-story addition to the hotel next spring at Northeast 10th Street and Bellevue Way. Completion is set for April 2009.

The second tower will have 351 rooms, bringing the hotel's total to 733, and will feature one of the biggest ballrooms in the Puget Sound area, at 18,000 square feet.

An expansion of the Hyatt Regency, which opened in 1989, has been discussed for several years but Kemper Development put it on hold to pursue its Lincoln Square project instead, said Chairman and CEO Kemper Freeman. Lincoln Square opened late last year with retail shops and a Westin hotel.

"We felt it wouldn't be smart to focus on both projects at once," Freeman said. "So we're back now where we were two years ago."

Kemper Development has submitted a design-review application with the city. The expansion is expected to cost about $90 million, Freeman said.

An expanded Hyatt could benefit from a healthy hotel market overall.

Eastside hotels averaged 70.5 percent occupancy through the first nine months of this year, up slightly from 69.9 percent for the same period last year, and daily room rates averaged $127.28, an increase of $10.19, according to Wolfgang Rood Hospitality Consulting of Bellevue.

Hotel operators say they see more encouragement in the average amount they bring for each available room, a key indicator of hotel performance, which is up 9.6 percent, Wolfgang Rood said.

The hotel industry predicts that number to grow 3 to 4 percent a year, said Chris Burdett, a commercial real-estate broker at Colliers International who specializes in the hotel market.

New condominium and office buildings planned for Bellevue over the next few years raise the potential pool of customers for hotels such as the Hyatt. An office building under construction at Lincoln Square will have Microsoft and Eddie Bauer as its tenants, likely bringing more business travelers to downtown Bellevue.

"Business travelers like to stay in close proximity," Wolfgang Rood said. "Someone visiting Microsoft on the Eastside probably would prefer to stay in Bellevue."

[MrVandelay]

Here is a current update on a few Microsoft Redmond main campus expansion projects.

Bldg 99 is currently being dug, and these two structures just off 148th (seen in photos) are coming along very nicely.

http://www.mytravellinks.com/skyscrapercity/post6/DSC04280a.jpg

http://www.mytravellinks.com/skyscrapercity/post6/DSC04283a.jpg

[bgwah]

Microsoft should build a skycraper. :(

[MrVandelay]

Microsoft should build a skycraper. :(

For what its worth, Microsoft is leasing the majority of the new Eddie Bauer Tower (Bellevue). :)

[SeattleHusky82]

I found some renderings of a new apartment project at the SW corner of NE 4th and 112th Ave in Downtown Bellevue. This will be across the street from the new City Hall.

http://www.amaa.com/portfolio/html/detail/pop-detail.php?key=142

http://www.amaa.com/_uploads/photo/project/142_lg3_NW-112th-Ave_03.jpg

http://www.amaa.com/_uploads/photo/project/142_lg2_NW-112th-Ave_02.jpg

[MrVandelay]

^^^ Thanks for posting. I'm not too sure what I think just yet of its looks, but I am happy to see new projects downtown. I was actually thinking of that intersection a few days ago as i sat at the light on my way home, wondering if a new project would ever surface next to the new city hall. I was thinking it would be more of a business project for somereason than residences.

[SeattleHusky82]

^^^ Thanks for posting. I'm not too sure what I think just yet of its looks, but I am happy to see new projects downtown. I was actually thinking of that intersection a few days ago as i sat at the light on my way home, wondering if a new project would ever surface next to the new city hall. I was thinking it would be more of a business project for somereason than residences.

There was a office proposal by Hines for this site before the dot com boom but they pulled the plug on that project when Bellevue's office market crashed.

[horatio_the_hermit]

As I recall, that Development is currently being called Mastro Mixed-Use.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Here's are all the buildings that lost their individual threads to PDX garbage threads.

1020 TOWER
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0088.jpg

HANOVER TOWER
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0096.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0097.jpg

ASHWOOD COMMONS II
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0099.jpg

Ive got quite a few more of all the other projects but i must now be on my way to partake in social interaction.

[WonderlandPark]

^^^WTF is a PDX "Garbage Thread?"

[mhays]

That's not the term I'd use. It would be fair to point out that Portland creates a new thread for seemingly everything, including many topics that could easily be grouped, while Bellevue and Seattle group them.

Excellent pictures of Bellevue projects.

[Dougall5505]

yah it was about time we got one thread for all the infill projects

[WonderlandPark]

yah it was about time we got one thread for all the infill projects

That I can agree with, stuff should be consolidated.

[Rondo1]

Is there a reason why we dont have sub-groups for Seattle/Bellevue, Portland Area, Vancouver BC, etc.? I for one am only interested in Seattle Bellevue and would love to see a sub-forum where ONLY this area is included. Not bashing anyone, would just like to come here and see just this area if at all possible.

[mhays]

I don't see the point in that. I like to have fewer groups.

It's also good to have a thread for each district (DT Bellevue, U-District, etc.), even if a few larger projects each have their own separate threads (multi-tower projects, other megaprojects).

[horatio_the_hermit]

Downtown Bellevue's "little houses are slowly disappearing"

By Ashley Bach
Seattle Times Eastside bureau


In a 50-year-old house surrounded by high-rises, Roger Haynes has a unique operation. He runs an auto-detailing shop out of a space that also serves as his living room and bedroom. His desk sits next to an 80-inch TV and across from a black couch covered with bed sheets. He services the cars in his back yard.

Haynes is one of only a handful of people still living in single-family homes in Bellevue's downtown core. While thousands of people have moved into the city's sleek new condo towers and upscale apartments, the little wood-frame house on Northeast Third Place is an endangered species, a fragile remnant of a long-gone era.

"Little houses are slowly disappearing," said Haynes, who has rented homes downtown for 15 years. "I wish I could keep this one forever because it's in a good location and it's a good house."

The next houses to go may be a trio just off Northeast Eighth Street, which are slated for demolition to make way for a five-story residential building. One of the homes hosts a puppy store, but the other two are abandoned and dilapidated, with broken windows and inoperable cars parked outside.

The lot with the three homes sold last spring for $4.6 million.

About two dozen single-family homes remain downtown, mostly in the northeast and southeast corners. They are the remnants of subdivisions built during the postwar boom of the early 1950s, right around the time the city incorporated. Most of the homes — built in subdivisions called Ashwood and Evans Addition — have been torn down over the past two decades.

The houses that remain are wedged between much larger and newer developments. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses, including a nail salon, blood bank, Christmas store and Mexican restaurant.

It wasn't that long ago that downtown Bellevue had a significant population living in single-family homes. Their children filled Bellevue Junior High and Ashwood Elementary until both downtown schools closed in the late 1970s. Even after the neighborhood was zoned commercial in 1981, many renters lived in the remaining homes for years.

Bellevue Planning Director Dan Stroh remembers walking around downtown 15 years ago and seeing people out washing their cars.

Nowadays, public domesticity in the downtown core is a strange sight. When Craig Lewis rolls out a lawnmower, he gets strange looks from the apartment dwellers above. He's an associate at an architecture firm renting an old home on 111th Avenue Northeast, complete with a small backyard.

"There's nothing like smelling cut grass in downtown," he said.

Less than a block away, Arnold Wisbeck and his partner operated their architecture and engineering firm out of an old home for almost 30 years. Wisbeck died a year ago and his daughter, Nina Patera, works in real estate there now, with a kitchen, fireplace and a bathtub that used to be piled high with her father's books.

Patera said she will probably start renting out the place next year. "It's a lot of space for just me."

In 1988, Ron and Linda McCully bought a home on Northeast Second Street and immediately converted it into The Diamond Banque, a pawn and jewelry shop. With high-rises sprouting around the store, some longtime customers have trouble finding the place, the couple says, but otherwise the site has benefits.

"People like the fact that we're not a chain store and you're dealing with the owners in a little cozy home setting," Ron McCully said.

Still, the McCullys may not be around much longer. They and several neighbors agreed last fall to sell their land to make way for a 10-story residential building. The deal fell through, but other offers for the property — a dramatically underdeveloped chunk in the middle of downtown — will surely come.

Most of the old houses are appraised at several hundred thousand dollars but could sell for more given Bellevue's booming downtown real-estate market. A few, like those off Northeast Eighth, are in the heart of downtown and are worth in the millions. Las Margaritas restaurant, operating in a 1943 home on 108th Avenue Northeast, is appraised at $2.8 million.

Some homes may not be worth much to developers because a single lot probably isn't big enough to host a large, mixed-use development with several stories of housing or offices and retail below. Combining multiple homes is much more lucrative, said Steve Schwartz, a principal at Pacific Real Estate Partners in Bellevue.

Brokers and city officials say all single-family homes downtown probably will be gone in 10 or 20 years.

Even so, the commercial district is surrounded by residential communities on three sides, and city officials have a "very strong policy" to not expand the downtown core, Stroh said. The city's vision is a dense, towering center of business and urban living — and more residents than ever. Already 4,500 people live there in apartments or condos, and that will hit 14,000 by 2020, according to city planners.

But in the new neighborhood, old houses with driveways and front porches just won't fit.

"It's sad," said Haynes, one of the last single-family-home residents. "Some of these houses are nice."

[MrVandelay]

^^^^^^^^^^ I saw that in Seattletimes today. I'm not too sure what to think of that article. I was wondering if the journalist was trying to stir up some 'activist' group thing to stop the new projects and preserve the little houses. maybe give them some news to report.

[Skian]

Maybe they did it to show they know WHERE Bellevue is.........
Now that the KCJ is folding!

[mhays]

I was hoping they'd say "and this little house will be torn down next week for the start of the ___ project." Those houses are out of place and they're all dumpy.

[Fulham]

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
Crossroads II
Location: 805 156th Ave NE
Neighborhood: Crossroads
File Number: 06-122863-LD
Description: Application for Design Review to construct a two-story approximately 27,856 square foot office building with underground parking.
Approvals Required: Design Review, Concurrency Determination, and ancillary permits and approvals.
SEPA: Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) is expected. Refer to page one General Information Regarding Use of Optional DNS Process.
Minimum Comment Period Ends: January 18, 2007, 5 p.m. Refer to page one for information on how to comment on a project.
Date of Application: September 13, 2006
Completeness Date: December 19, 2006


NOTICE OF APPLICATION
The Bravern Phase II
Location: 606 110th Ave NE
Neighborhood: West Bellevue
File Number: 06-136451-LD
Description: Application for Design Review to change The Bravern Towers 3 and 4, # 06-136022-LD from office to residential use. The new proposal will eliminate 689,488 GFA of office, add approximately 465 dwelling units and increase retail to approximately 133,469 square feet. The design of the Major Public Open Space is also being revised.
Approvals Required: Design Review, Concurrency Determination, and ancillary permits and approvals.
SEPA: Optional DNS and Proposed Notice of Adoption of the 2006-2017 Transportation Facilities Plan Final Environment6al Impact Statement (TFP EIS) issued November 30, 2006; and incorporation by reference the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for the Bravern and Meydenbauer Center Expansion Project issued on November 17, 2005 and the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) on January 05, 2006.
Minimum Comment Period Ends: January 18, 2007, 5 p.m. Refer to page one for information on how to comment on a project.
Date of Application: December 13, 2006
Completeness Date: December 19, 2006

RENOTICE OF APPLICATION
Bellevue Place Hyatt Expansion
Location: 10500 NE 8th St.
Neighborhood: Northwest Bellevue
File Number: 06-123807-LD
Description: Application for Design Review approval to expand the existing Bellevue Place Hyatt Hotel. The hotel expansion (approximately 340,000 gross square feet) will be a 19-story tower with 351 hotel rooms, an exhibition hall, 1 ballroom, meeting rooms, offices and retail. There will be five levels of underground parking with 516 parking stalls. The project includes demolition of the Wallace and Wheeler building (24,679 gross square feet) and installation of 31 surface parking stalls adjacent to Wendy’s restaurant. Site improvements also include landscaping and site utilities.
Reason for Renotice: To clarify SEPA information
Approvals Required: Design Review, Concurrency Determination, and ancillary permits and approvals.
SEPA: Optional DNS and Notice of Proposed Adoption of: The 2006-2017 Transportation Facilities Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (TFP EIS) issued November 30, 2006; and incorporation by reference of the Bellevue Place final EIS issued June 10,1986.
Minimum Comment Period: January 18, 2007, 5 p.m. Refer to page one for information on how to comment on a project.
Date of Application: October 3, 2006
Completeness Date: October 13, 2006

[bgwah]

^ Braven change is interesting. I wonder if there will be a height change, as well.

[northface]

i thought the bravern residential part was all residential anyways....thats why they have the website "the bravern residence" ?

[mhays]

I wouldn't worry about it. Bellevue has a relatively quick process. This sounds like an administrative matter that will be figured out before construction reaches residential levels.

[MrVandelay]

i thought the bravern residential part was all residential anyways....thats why they have the website "the bravern residence" ?

Yeah, I thought so as well...
http://www.bravernresidences.com/gallery/images/1.jpg

[bgwah]

Yeah, I thought so as well...
http://www.bravernresidences.com/gallery/images/1.jpg

Well now I'm confused, too.

I thought it just meant that instead of two residential towers and two office towers, they wanted to build four residential towers?

[SeattleHusky82]

Well now I'm confused, too.

I thought it just meant that instead of two residential towers and two office towers, they wanted to build four residential towers?

Nope, you are wrong. It was originally going to be four office towers but they changed the 3rd and 4th towers to residential. Hence the application says "The Bravern towers 3 and 4 from office to residential use."

[MrVandelay]

Nope, you are wrong. It was originally going to be four office towers but they changed the 3rd and 4th towers to residential. Hence the application says "The Bravern towers 3 and 4 from office to residential use."

hmmmm, it was pointed out earlier, their website has always said "Bravern Residential" much earlier than the Dec 2006 submission for change, I believe that is what is causing the confusion....

So in a nut shell, everything we see in the rendering currently is as is, and nothing is changing from that?

[James Bond Agent 007]

Maybe they "unofficially" changed the 2nd two towers from office to residential and advertised it as thus before they "officially" changed them to residential with the City of Bellevue permit.

[northface]

thats what im thinking^

[James Bond Agent 007]

Hey I was in downtown Bellevue today looking around and I thought of something that's a "maybe this will really happen" idea . . .

The Cadillac dealership should move to where Micheal's Toyota on Auto Row used to be, and then they should re-develop the Cadillac site into something interesting. It's a pretty big site, too.

If something like this happens, you heard it here first. :cool:

[mhays]

The parking lot just north of Washington Square, which I think is part of the Cadillac dealership, is slated for a 300-unit woodframe.

[SeattleHusky82]

Hey I was in downtown Bellevue today looking around and I thought of something that's a "maybe this will really happen" idea . . .

The Cadillac dealership should move to where Micheal's Toyota on Auto Row used to be, and then they should re-develop the Cadillac site into something interesting. It's a pretty big site, too.

If something like this happens, you heard it here first. :cool:

Yeah I've thought about that too especially since PACE, the Bellevue Place Expansion, Washington Square, and the new BRE apartment project are all going up across the street and kitty corner from this site. It'd probably take at least 4-5 years before anything materializes though, there's just so much under construction and in the pipeline right now. Hopefully I get proven wrong though.

[horatio_the_hermit]

BRE is going to be on the cadillac dealership parking lot East of 106th. The other part of the dealership, across 106th, is much uglier and will sadly be around longer as nothing is proposed for that lot.
I think that the BRE building looks pretty sharp. Though its a midrise, Mithun made it stand out from the crowd. noice.

[horatio_the_hermit]

I was on 405 last night and saw a new crane up just south of downtown. Just west of the freeway around SE 2nd.
Anyone know what its for?

[velciane]

I am curious about it as well, posted some pictures of it in another thread.

[pablo]

BRE is going to be on the cadillac dealership parking lot East of 106th. The other part of the dealership, across 106th, is much uglier and will sadly be around longer as nothing is proposed for that lot.
I think that the BRE building looks pretty sharp. Though its a midrise, Mithun made it stand out from the crowd. noice.

Do you guys have a link to any pictures of the BRE project? When's this supposed to be start and complete?

[horatio_the_hermit]

http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/PCD/MajorProjectsUpdate_4qtr_06.pdf


The BRE project is #17.

Thats all there really is on it. Weve known about it for quite some time.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Thanks for the info horatio.

I suppose a mid-rise is better than a dealership parking lot, but it would be nice to see another highrise there. :D

But what I was *really* thinking of was replacing the *entire* Cadillac dealership with some new development, and moving it to the old Micheal's Toyota spot. The lot where the main part of the dealership is on is a pretty big lot, and they could probably fit a couple towers on there if they wanted to.

Incidentally, has anyone noticed that on the Cadillac dealership sign, it still says "Cadillac-Oldsmobile"? :D

[MrVandelay]

Another Belcarra link

http://www.aecon.com/files/PDF/Buildings/Under_Construction/Belcarra_Apartments.pdf