Downtown Bellevue

Bellevue Skyline, November 2011
Skyline from Downtown Park

Downtown Bellevue is the central business district of Bellevue, Washington. It comprises 400 acres bounded by I-405 to the east, NE 12th Street to the north, 100th Ave NE to the west, and Main Street to the south.[1] It is currently the second largest city center in Washington with over 45,000 employees and 10,000 residents.[2]

Transportation

Downtown Bellevue is the main Eastside hub for both the local transit authority, King County Metro, and Sound Transit, the regional transit system. The Bellevue Transit Center, which serves both Metro and Sound Transit buses, is located in the heart of Downtown Bellevue and is connected to Interstate 405 by NE 6th St. with direct-access Texas-T HOV ramps. The Bellevue Transit Center will also be a stop along the East Link Light Rail Line which will open in 2021.[3] Local buses run through Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, and the University District; regional buses go to Bothell, Lynnwood, Everett, Seattle, Renton, Kent, Auburn and Federal Way, among other cities.

Bellevue Way is the main North-South arterial through downtown. NE 8th St. and NE 4th St. are the main East-West arterials through Downtown. As of June 2010, the 10th St. overpass is done, creating a third bridge over the freeway. They are currently working on the SR 520 Braided, which will ease the connections between downtown and I-405 and SR520.[4]

Shopping

Anchored by The Bellevue Collection and The Shops at the Bravern, downtown Bellevue is a regional shopping destination.[5] The Bellevue Collection is a trio of mixed-use complexes of shops, offices, hotels, and condos. Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place feature over 200 shops and restaurants, three department stores, and a 16-screen cinema.[6]

Opened in 2009, the Bravern is a high-end complex of shops, apartments, and offices located on the eastern edge of downtown adjacent to I-405. It features the only Neiman Marcus in the Northwest.[7]

Parks

Downtown Park and Rose Garden is a 20 acre park located in southwest downtown Bellevue. It features a half-mile promenade flanked by shade trees along with a stepped canal, rose gardens, grassy fields, and a playground for children. Major holidays and activities are celebrated here, including the annual Symetra Family 4th of July, Summer Movie Nights, and the Magic Season Ice Arena.[8]

Economy

Downtown Bellevue is the headquarters for Paccar, Expedia, Eddie Bauer, Drugstore.com, Infospace, Symetra Financial and Puget Sound Energy. Although headquartered in the nearby suburb of Redmond, Microsoft is downtown Bellevue's largest employer with over 5,000 workers.[9]

Buildings

Main article: List of Tallest Buildings in Bellevue


Panorama of Bellevue, WA.

References

  1. ↑ Downtown Bellevue - About
  2. ↑ "Bellevue Downtown Association About Us".
  3. ↑ "Sound Transit East Link".
  4. ↑ http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE8thtoSR520/
  5. ↑ The Seattle Times - Bravern tenant roster isn't full, but developers pleased after 1 year
  6. ↑ Bellevue Collection projects
  7. ↑ The Seattle Times - Neiman Marcus attracted to Bellevue's Rich Demographics
  8. ↑ City of Bellevue Parks
  9. ↑ The Seattle Times - Microsoft to lease Bellevue's City Center Plaza

External links

Coordinates: 47°36′55″N 122°11′53″W / 47.61528°N 122.19806°W / 47.61528; -122.19806

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