People know the City of Bellevue as a very beautiful city with access to Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, a downtown retail core full of vibrant shopping, restaurants and business opportunities. Named one of the best cities to live and launch a business by Forbes Magazine in 2016, Bellevue is a thriving community known for its good schools.
However, the City of Bellevue has some hot topics of focus at the forefront of the community; 15 to be exact. These projects include taking on; affordable housing, the transformation of the BelRed corridor, a diversity advantage, the East Main transit-oriented district, East Link Light Rail, electrical reliability, environmental stewardship, homelessness, improvements for walking and biking, levy projects, Meydenbauer Bay Park, shoreline protection, being a smart city, the Wilburton-Grand connection and trees and the city.
To sustain Bellevue’s livability and economic vitality, the city has developed an affordable housing strategy. Learn more about the affordable housing strategy
Facilitating the transformation of the BelRed area from underutilized light industrial area to residential neighborhoods and green spaces clustered around East Link light rail stations.
Learn more about the BelRed Transformation
An effort to ensure the city provides equitable services to a population that has seen dramatic shifts in age, race and place of birth. Digest the diversity advantage
The city is working to integrate the East Link light rail station with the surrounding neighborhoods and develop a transit-oriented district. With help from a resident advisory group, the city developed a plan approved by the City Council in August 2016 for the area around Sound Transit’s station, which is now under construction at the intersection of Main Street and 112th Avenue. Learn more about the East Main Transit-Oriented District
Representing the interests of Bellevue residents and businesses as Sound Transit’s East Link light rail line comes through our city. This in particular was a controversial issue, as commuters were longing for this option, yet the residents living near the area where they started construction were dead set against it. Find out more about the East Link Light Rail
As the city population grows, planning for electrical facilities to meet the demand, while protecting residents’ interests is paramount. Learn more and also check out Energize the Eastside at Electrical Facilities Planning
Since 2006, the city has worked to protect the environment in Bellevue through policies and programs that facilitate conservation and minimize pollution. Get involved and learn more Environmental Stewardship Strategic Plan
With the number of unsheltered people on the Eastside growing steadily, as is happening throughout the region, the city is engaged in multiple efforts to address homelessness, including facilitating a men’s shelter site. Learn more about homelessness in Bellevue
Efforts to make Bellevue easier and safer for people walking and riding bicycles, including adding sidewalks, bike lanes and trails are in the works. See these action-oriented efforts
In November 2016, Bellevue voters approved levies to fund construction of a new fire station, improvement of existing fire stations as well as neighborhood transportation improvements. See these funds being put to work
Some of the best attributes of the City is it’s shorelines, by expanding a waterfront park to feature a choice stretch of shoreline downtown, a viewing terrace, play area and pedestrian pier are exactly what keeps Bellevue on top and a choice place to live and visit Meydenbauer Bay Park
Updating the city regulations that protect Bellevue’s miles of shoreline, which include the Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish waterfronts are in place to expand on Bellevue’s preservation goals regarding it’s Shoreline Management Plan
Using technology to deliver better, more efficient services, developing a dashboard, advanced water meters and expansion of intelligent transportation systems lists Bellevue as a Smart City
Establishing a vision for a non-motorized corridor through downtown that will create new opportunities for connectivity and community identity. This is one of my all time favorite projects the City of Bellevue envisions for the future The Wilburton-Grand Connection
Efforts by the city to preserve and maintain the tree canopy in this “city in a park” are ongoing as that is just so much of Bellevue’s charm of the trees and our city
Bellevue is truly forward thinking, environmentally conscious while being a technology based city, with culture, arts, music and so much more. Come visit soon or even make Bellevue your next home.