BELLEVUE | Projects and Updates!

[northface]

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BELLEVUE PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION
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http://svcdn.simpleviewinc.com/v3/cache/default/62CD9C610037FDE5FEED967444058AD8.jpg


News about projects on the Eastside outside of downtown Bellevue should go in this thread HERE (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=576471).


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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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SoMa Tower

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6749/somabellevue.jpg


Bellevue Marriot

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/8128/rj75.jpg


Alley 111

http://seattlecondosandlofts.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vida_bellevue.jpg


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PROPOSED
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Tateuchi Center 4-6 stories

http://www.tateuchicenter.org/images/photos/TCrender.jpg


10833 NE 8th

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c316/ACN425/3.jpg


Lincoln Square II (preliminary name)

http://www.lincolnsquareexpansion.com/gallery_images/10-29-LSE-swa2-alt2-031413-940.jpg


Bank of America (Site) Tower

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/183/tmkx.jpg


Summit Building C 15 stories

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/Summit.jpg


Rockefeller Development

https://d3pxppq3195xue.cloudfront.net/media/images/13/08/09/photo4_966x668.jpg


The Bellevue (Bellevue Square Expansion)

http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/9686/gg63.jpg


Trammel Crow Bellevue Tower

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4381/3syk.jpg

[Chad]

Looks GREAT already!!!

[Lecom]

Lincoln Tower looks massive, and light glass makes it even better looking, nice combo

[colemonkee]

I was in Redmond yesterday for business and drove by downtown Bellevue on the 405, and was surprised how thin it looked from the freeway. Most of the views I've seen of it are on the broad side, which makes it look massive, but it actually has a thinner side, not unlike 1 King West in Toronto. Still a great looking building, though.

[northface]

yeah, it is very thin....its not a complete box...more of a rectangle. Going on I-90 floating bridge....u pokes out of the skyline quite a bit, but looks very thin. I wonder how thin that "pencil" tower is gonna be...I cant wait till we hear plans about the 2 new 40 story towers they are planning. That will be awesome!

[destroybananas]

I love the ashwood commons because it's not youre typical square design.

[PDXPaul]

Bellevue will fill in nicely in the coming years. Give it some time, but I think it's one of the best suburban downtowns in this country given it's population base.

[northface]

anyone have more up-to-date ashwood commons photos? or lincolns square photos? if so, please post!

[James Bond Agent 007]

Might as well keep this thread up-to-date as well . . .

Meydenbauer Place
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/huy_duong/bld/Portalus.jpg

Another view of Meydenbauer Place
http://www.callison.com/images/slideshow/Meydenbauer_1B.jpg

New performing arts center
http://www.pac-eastside.org/images/building/HHPA_Corner.jpg
http://www.pac-eastside.org/images/building/HHPA_10th.jpg
http://www.pac-eastside.org/images/building/HHPA_106th.jpg
http://www.pac-eastside.org/images/building/HHPA_Auditorium.jpg

Hmmm, what else am I forgetting?

[horatio_the_hermit]

The topped-out One Lincoln Tower Looks terrific with glass installed up to floor 40. Ashwood commons is looking decent with glass and its Vancouver facade installed up to floor 10 and concrete up to 18.

I will have new pics by the end of the week.

Some questions.

1. Has the Eddie Bauer Tower construction resumed yet.
2. Has the Technology Tower construction resumed yet.
3. Has construction on the second Ashwood commons started yet.
4. Who is the developer for the Euro tower.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
1. The Eddie Bauer Tower will start construction in January I think.
2. The Technology Tower hasn't resumed construction. I think they're gonna totally redo the project design, too.

Dunno about the other 2.

[colemonkee]

Meydenbauer Place looks nice. What's the status on that one? Is it approved or under construction?

[comoneymaker]

dang Lincoln Tower got tall since i last saw an update. looking nice!

[horatio_the_hermit]

meydenbauer hasnt even been approved yet.

actually, in bellevue, the period of time between approval and construction is abnormally long in most instances so dont get your hopes up too soon.

[horatio_the_hermit]

just read that wasatch superblock has begun major demolition on the north side of the block and construction will start in about a month and a half.

Cheers to bellevue.

[SeattleHusky82]

Updated list:

Under Construction
One Lincoln Tower (hotel/condo - 42 floors)
Ashwood Commons (apartments - 23 floors)
Washington Square (2 condo towers - 22 floors each)
Courtyard Marriott
Main Place
City Hall

Approved/Proposed
Eddie Bauer Tower (office - 27 floors)
Summit Building C (office - 15 floors)
Tech tower (office - 19 floors)
European Tower (condos - 18 floors)
1020 Tower (condos - 22 floors)
The Phoenix (condos - 22 floors)
City Center II (office - 34 floors)
Four Bellevue Center (office - 26 floors)
Portalus (multiple towers, office/hotel/condo - ?? floors)
Hyatt expansion (hotel - 15 floors)
Bellevue towers (2 condo towers - 40 floors each)
Avalon at the square (apartments - 5 floors)
BRE Development (apartments - 6 floors)
SRM development (apartments - ? floors)
NE 8th street apartments (directly east of courtyard marriott) (apartments - 5 floors)

All of the projects currently under construction minus washington square are set to be complete by the end of this year or early next year so we're gonna see a whole new wave of projects break ground next year.

[mhays]

How do the completions of today's projects cause the starts of tomorrow's projects?

[horatio_the_hermit]

I beleive that is the only complete list of bellevue projects i have ever seen. I applaud you.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Does anyone know what the updated status on the Tech tower is. Last I heard, they were completely redoing the plans.

[huskybda]

NE 8th Street aparments called the Gateway Project by Alliance Realty Partners!




Updated list:

Under Construction
One Lincoln Tower (hotel/condo - 42 floors)
Ashwood Commons (apartments - 23 floors)
Washington Square (2 condo towers - 22 floors each)
Courtyard Marriott
Main Place
City Hall

Approved/Proposed
Eddie Bauer Tower (office - 27 floors)
Summit Building C (office - 15 floors)
Tech tower (office - 19 floors)
European Tower (condos - 18 floors)
1020 Tower (condos - 22 floors)
The Phoenix (condos - 22 floors)
City Center II (office - 34 floors)
Four Bellevue Center (office - 26 floors)
Portalus (multiple towers, office/hotel/condo - ?? floors)
Hyatt expansion (hotel - 15 floors)
Bellevue towers (2 condo towers - 40 floors each)
Avalon at the square (apartments - 5 floors)
BRE Development (apartments - 6 floors)
SRM development (apartments - ? floors)
NE 8th street apartments (directly east of courtyard marriott) (apartments - 5 floors)

All of the projects currently under construction minus washington square are set to be complete by the end of this year or early next year so we're gonna see a whole new wave of projects break ground next year.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Im still waiting for this whole new wav of construction projects. I know its going to happen but i tire of the lack of new info.

[magik bus]

whoa every thing looks real nice, i haven't been to bellevue since i moved to san diego, i cant wait to go back!:D

[James Bond Agent 007]

This is a rendering of the project that will be built where the Puget Sound Energy building is.

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/e10/e10184fb09d0a774e8c15aefb60240a6.jpg

[James Bond Agent 007]

The one in the first Meydenbauer Place pic about is about to start construction:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002567445_bellevue18.html

Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

Tenants or not, Bellevue office tower a go
By Tom Boyer
Seattle Times business reporter

Schnitzer Northwest, one of a half-dozen developers vying to build downtown Bellevue's next office tower, says it will start construction next summer on an 875,000-square-foot complex, even though it doesn't have leasing commitments from tenants yet.

The Bellevue-based company kicked off marketing last night for its new project, the Bravern, with a presentation to real-estate brokers.

Earlier this year, Schnitzer sold its last project, the Civica Office Commons, for a record price for the region of $462 a square foot.

The Bravern's design contains the same kind of elegant common space that attracted tenants to the Civica, outdoor plazas and 130,000 square feet for shops and restaurants. Each of two proposed office towers would have its own Civica-style "great room" with fireplace and cozy meeting areas.

Normally, Puget Sound area developers try to get pre-leasing commitments for one-third to one-half of the space in an office project before they start construction.

Building office space on spec has rarely been done here, but now might be the time. Bellevue's downtown office-vacancy rate has plummeted from 30 percent in 2002 to under 10 percent, and real-estate brokers say the growing economy could support two or three more office projects in the current construction cycle.

One of those is the office portion of Kemper Freeman's Lincoln Square. Kemper Development said the project was a go after signing retailer Eddie Bauer as lead tenant.

Four developers are considered the contenders to build the next project after Lincoln Square: Schnitzer; Chicago-based Equity Office; Bentall Capital USA; and a partnership of Houston-based Hines and Washington Capital Management.

Utah-based Wasatch Development plans an office tower as part of its Washington Square project, but not until it gets its first phase of condos and townhouses under way.

Schnitzer has enough financial strength to commit to building now, said Dan Ivanoff, managing investment partner.

"The guys that are less capitalized have to wait for the demand to get really frothy," he said. "We don't have to wait for the demand to get really frothy."

The marketing kickoff is aimed at drumming up tenant interest as well as scaring off competing projects.

Oscar Oliveira, a vice president with Colliers International, said the Bravern's anticipated completion date, fall 2008, could be an obstacle to signing tenants now because companies tend to worry about new space 18 to 24 months before leases expire.

The other downtown Bellevue office proposals haven't begun intensive marketing yet, but they are smaller and can probably be completed more quickly, Oliveira said.

Tom Bohman, Eastside director for Cushman & Wakefield, said he is interested in whether Schnitzer is really ready to go without preleasing a chunk of the space.

"I don't have any doubt in my mind that they are going to build — it's really just a question of timing," he said. "Of all the developers out there, they have been the most aggressive about pulling the trigger."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2005/10/17/2002567343.gif

Smaller rendering - this one is slightly different than the one above, and I think this is the more recent rendering of the two:
http://www.djc.com/stories/images/20051018/bravern_schnitzer.JPG

[horatio_the_hermit]

I love the Bellevue towers.

Portalus or the Bravern as they are now calling it is nice but is there any announcement of construction commencement or is this just BS.

Also, whats the source for that pic of the Bellevue towers?

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Go to the NW section and there's a thread about the two shiny proposed Bellevue towers here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=89398

Dunno how certain a start date for them is, but it sounds pretty solid. Maybe.

The website for The Braven (aka Meydenbauer project) is up and has some renderings:
http://www.thebravern.com/commons/renderings.html

Sample:
http://www.thebravern.com/renderings/rendering-northwest-lg.jpg

[horatio_the_hermit]

The Lincoln Square grand opening is Nov 1. My birthday. See the NW section for a thread on this alone. As of today, the crane is halfway down and it looks like they have started to plop on the westin sign.

[crow]

the bellevue towers project is pretty solid. GBD is working on them, and i understand that they are coming in for design review submission on October 27th. 500 plus units, and both towers max at 450ft.

[horatio_the_hermit]

when will this height limit be dropped. Maybe i should go to city hall for regular session and ask.

[crow]

rumor has it the city is open to greater heights, but the process with the downtown association was long and difficult to get to 450, so who knows - let us know if you hear anything new.

[bgwah]

The Ashwood Commons building is pretty far along now.

[crow]

any images to be seen?

[horatio_the_hermit]

http://www.collinswoerman.com/images/Rentals_MainImage.jpg

From what ive seen, I think its within two floors of topping out. Ill try to get construction pics of bellevue by Nov 10th. Also with that will be some interior pics of One lincoln tower.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Somebody has to say it . . .

When I've walked past Ashwood Commons, sorry to say, but it's ugly. The bright green thingys between the windows just don't work. It looks like some cheap early-50's thingy.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Yeah, i sort of agree. It's not an eyesore but its not a good looking facade. It is nice overall architecture though. I think the developers wanted to build something other than seafoam blue or grey. This just didnt work out as planned.

Im hoping itll look better with time.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Better pics of the 2-tower deal shown before by crow:

http://i30.imagethrust.com/i/45932/loaerialebv.jpg

http://i26.imagethrust.com/i/45933/loaerialnebv.jpg

http://i21.imagethrust.com/i/45934/lonebv.jpg

[horatio_the_hermit]

MulvannyG2, the architect for these will have a nice little portfolio on NE 4th. These beauties across the street from their other bellevue project, the Hines Technolgy Tower. That is, if the latter gets built.

[crow]

MulvannyG2, the architect for these will have a nice little portfolio on NE 4th. These beauties across the street from their other bellevue project, the Hines Technolgy Tower. That is, if the latter gets built.

actually GBD is the design architect and is doing the joint venture with MG2. Mulvanny is doing the podium design, while GBD does the tower design. i think there is some incorrect info floating around out there.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Well its a decent looking podium. Of course the towers will get all the credit but i do like that part of the podium to the east that sort of juts out over the sidewalk.

[horatio_the_hermit]

When it comes to ashwood commons. It looks like those green sheets on the siding may just be temporary. It kind of looks like paper stuck to glass thats a greenish tint. Without those the building will be much better.

[crow]

I think the podium looks really cool, and it is actually the piece that most people will engage with. i think the scale is better than the LC base for example?

[horatio_the_hermit]

Oh definately. As much as i love One lincoln tower, i have to say that the podium kind of sucks. Its way to imposing.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Am I to assume now that 7 NE 8th office tower/ Speiker Tower has no hope of being brought back to life.

When will a rendering of the Phoenix be released?

[horatio_the_hermit]

Lookey Lookey what i found on the bellevue weekly permit bulletin.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

Hines Bellevue Office Tower

Ext. # 2206

Location: 333 108th Ave NE

Neighborhood: West Bellevue

File Number: 05-128036-LD

Description: Application for Design Review approval to construct an 18-story office building (approximately 348,800 square feet) on a 1.34 acre site with retail at the ground level and 8 levels of below-grade parking for 940 vehicles. The proposal includes associated utilities, site landscaping and a mid-block connection.

Approvals Required: Design Review approval, Concurrency Determination, Threshold 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: November 28, 2005, 5 p.m.

Date of Application: October 11, 2005

Completeness Date: October 27, 2005

Applicant Contact: David Schneider, LMN Architects,

206-682-3460

Planner: Carol Saari, 425-452-2731

Planner Email: csaari@ci.bellevue.wa.us




IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY TOWER COMING BACK TO LIFE!!!!!!

[Last Chance]

I thought the Tech Tower was going to be 19 floors. Looks like the scrapped the entire plan from before it was halted.

[horatio_the_hermit]

originally 20. Then they re-did the project rather similarly to the original plan but made it 18.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Another rendering of the Bellevue 2 towers thingy:

http://www.bwnw.com/Images/Projects/BT.jpg

[jeppy]

those buildings are awesome looking....

[northface]

More downtown Bellevue builders gambling on spec development
2006-01-08
by Clayton Park
Journal Business Editor

Spec development, as in constructing an office building without pre-lease commitments on the gamble that it will attract tenants upon completion, is the new buzzword among real estate developers in downtown Bellevue.

Developers of at least four different office tower projects proposed for the city's central business district are scrambling to be next in line after Lincoln Square developer Kemper Freeman Jr. to begin construction.

Freeman, who won a major pre-lease commitment this summer from Eddie Bauer, intends to start construction of a new 28-story office tower at Lincoln Square early this year.

Eddie Bauer plans to move its headquarters from Redmond into a 200,000-square-foot office space at the new Eddie Bauer Building at Lincoln Square in the summer of 2007.

Chicago-based Equity Office Properties last month announced plans to break ground next summer for its long-proposed 26-story City Center Plaza tower -- with or without pre-lease commitments from tenants.

Anticipating tenant demand

It's a gambit that can cost a developer dearly if the expected tenant demand for office space turns out to be less than anticipated by the time the building is completed.

In past office development cycles, some developers have wound up losing their buildings to foreclosure. In at least one case, a prominent Seattle developer lost his home when the local office market went bust in the late 1980s.

Patrick Callahan, the senior vice president for Equity who oversees the company's operations in the Pacific Northwest, said the 559,000-square-foot City Center Plaza building is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2008.

The new office tower will be built next to the Bellevue Transit Center, just east of Equity's 27-story City Center Bellevue building, which was built in 1987 and is slated to be renamed City Center West.

``We're very confident in downtown Bellevue and the Eastside overall,'' Callahan said. ``Certainly Bellevue can support significant development.''

Equity is downtown Bellevue's biggest office landlord, already owning eight buildings in the central business district with a total of 2.5 million square feet of office space -- roughly 40 percent of the market.

Last spec project successful

``The demand (for office space) we're seeing from our customers is very healthy,'' said Callahan, who noted that his company was successful with its last spec project in downtown Bellevue: the KeyCenter building, which opened in 2000, and is now close to 100 percent leased, he said.

Since Equity's announcement in December, three other developers have told the Journal they, too, now are prepared to begin construction next year of the following proposed office tower projects -- if necessary, without pre-lease commitments:

* The Bravern, a mixed-use complex just north of Meydenbauer Center that will include two office buildings -- 24 and 15 stories tall, each with retail space on the lower levels -- and a separate two-story retail building.

The project would offer 497,000 square feet of office space and 248,000 square feet of retail space.

The developer, Bellevue-based Schnitzer Northwest, could begin construction as early as March 1, project manager Tom Woodworth said. The project could be completed as soon as fall 2007.

When Schnitzer initially announced its plans for The Bravern in October, the developer said it intended to start construction next summer, with completion expected in fall 2008.

Woodworth confirmed earlier this month that his company is prepared to begin construction without pre-lease commitments, but added, ``I'm not sure we'll ever have to make that decision. We expect to be substantially leased by the time we commence construction. ... We're talking with major office users.''

* A third and final new office tower is planned at The Summit, an office complex on the southeast corner of Northeast Fourth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast.

The complex already includes the 13-story Puget Sound Energy Building, which opened in 2002, and an 11-story building that was finished in July.

The proposed 15-story, 311,000-square-foot Summit 108 Building (the project's working title) would replace the much smaller six-story Summit Ridge building, which was built in 1971.

Canadian developer Bentall Capital is prepared to begin construction of the new Summit 108 Building as early as this coming June, said Gary Carpenter, the executive vice president who heads Bentall's U.S. operations.

The new building could be ready for occupancy as soon as March 2008, he said.

``At the present time, we believe we will be going spec'' with the project, Carpenter said.

``Any additional office building other than your own is a concern,'' as a developer, Carpenter said. ``Fortunately, the (Bellevue office) market has the strength to absorb it.'' even if it must compete for tenants with several other new buildings, he said.

* The Hines Bellevue Office Tower, an 18-story, 400,000-square-foot office building that is set to start construction in June 2006.

The building, which will include 14,500 square feet of street-level retail space, could be completed as soon as October 2007, said Rob Hollister, a vice president with Houston-based Hines, who oversees the real estate development company's operations in the Pacific Northwest.

Hollister said his project has an advantage over the office building projects proposed by Equity, Schnitzer and Bentall, because the Hines Bellevue Office Tower will be built on the site of the partially started Tech Tower building, which was abandoned in 2001.

``Our hole's already done,'' Hollister said, referring to the unfinished parking garage that will now become part of the new Hines Bellevue Office Tower.

``We do not have a specific pre-leasing requirement'' in order to commence construction, Hollister said. ``We have the ability to go spec, but I don't think we'll need to.

``We'll be the next to market after Kemper,'' Hollister added confidently, referring to Freeman's Eddie Bauer Building, which will have 540,000 square feet of office space and will become part of a complex that also includes a three-level retail mall, a movie theater, condominiums, a Westin hotel, and a five-level underground parking garage.

Only two or three winners?

Several longtime Eastside office market observers have said the coming office development boom in downtown Bellevue will likely turn into a race that will produce only two, maybe three winners -- including the Eddie Bauer Building, which all agree will be most likely the first to open.

But Tom Bohman, an Eastside office broker with Cushman & Wakefield, who previously subscribed to the three-winner race scenario, said he now thinks the possibility exists that the office market could be strong enough to fill all five new office projects.

The reason for his change of mind, Bohman said, is a difference in office market conditions, compared with the last building boom, which occurred in the late 1990s.

With no new office buildings set to be ready for occupancy on the Eastside until at least the summer of 2007, available office space in downtown Bellevue will likely become even more difficult to find as the local economy continues to improve.

Colliers International, a commercial real estate brokerage, recently reported that the office vacancy rate in downtown Bellevue fell to 8.76 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 10.05 percent the previous quarter and nearly 30 percent in 2003.

Office vacancy rate down

The overall office vacancy rate for the Eastside now stands at 9.12 percent, down from 10.97 percent in the third quarter, according to Colliers.

Oscar Oliveira, an Eastside office broker with Colliers, said it's definitely plausible that the looming office development race in downtown Bellevue could result in as many as five winners, but warned that there might be some dark horse contenders entering the fray before all is said and done.

In any event, Bohman said, ``It's going to be an exciting time'' in downtown Bellevue this year. ``You'll see a lot of action.''

[horatio_the_hermit]

The pse building is finally fenced off. Looks like that ugly ass building will be down or in the process before February. Bellevues about to get a lot taller.

[horatio_the_hermit]

And boom. Demolition has begun.

[CTroyMathis]

The Bravern
Brian A. Lee
http://westernrebusiness.com/articles/FEB06/cover1.html

http://westernrebusiness.com/articles/FEB06/images/TheBravern-arrival-court.jpg
Schnitzer Northwest will break ground
this summer on $400 million The Bravern
in Bellevue, Washington. The development
will feature two cutting-edge office towers
connected by 130,000 square feet of
signature retail and prime dining locations.

The Bravern, a $400 million mixed-use development, will break ground in Bellevue, Washington, this summer. Developer Schnitzer Northwest is mixing together market knowledge and extensive research with charming and functional office and retail designs to create what is being called the gateway to Bellevue.

Located at the interchange of Interstate 405 and NE 8th St., The Bravern will feature two Class A office buildings connected by an elaborate retail village. Innovative and comfortable office space will make it a place people want to work at while upscale retail and destination dining configured stylishly around an open-air plaza will attract consumers from day to night.

“The additional office space will enable Bellevue to become home to more businesses that are seeking an urban, work/live environment on the east side of Seattle,” says Tom Woodworth, senior investment director for Schnitzer Northwest, which was founded in 1997. “Not only will the project bring office and retail space, it will bring a distinction and personality to downtown Bellevue.”

The Bravern Office Commons will comprise a 13-floor building and a 23-floor building, totaling 745,000 square feet of modern space with a hospitality-inspired décor. Both structures will have their own “Great Room,” fireplace, meeting rooms, valet and concierge. A subterranean garage will accommodate 1,860 cars. And, of course, the estimated daytime population of 3,700 won't have to go far to find a bite to eat or run a shopping errand.

The Shops at The Bravern will consist of 130,000 square feet of signature retail — “unique shops that deviate from the mall atmosphere,” says Woodworth — and quality restaurant locations, including upscale brands and boutiques not yet found in Bellevue. The retail village will be accentuated with individualized storefronts and extensive landscaping. Visitors may take advantage of valet parking at The Bravern's grand arrival court; a 70-space surface parking lot is also available, making parking easy for shoppers and diners.

“Every detail of The Bravern was conceived and tested with customer input to determine what the consumer is looking for in an office and retail setting,” says Woodworth. “The Bravern presents a level of service that caters to the unmet needs of the east side audience.”

Schnitzer has a successful office model to go by — the 305,000-square-foot Class A Civica Office Commons, the company's other major Bellevue development that was sold in 2005. Seattle-based Callison Architecture Inc. provided the design work for The Bravern, which will open in fall 2008.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Bellevue is kicking everyones ass. In washington. With the exception of Seattle. But really. Who expects bellevue to outdo seattle.

[Seattle Dude]

Just found this site, looks like a great place to share info on all the new stuff going on.

Here are some more renderings of new projects in Bellevue that I have been gathering in case anyone is interested. Some of them are not that great, but they are the only ones I have been able to find:

4 Bellevue Center
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/4BellevueCenter.jpg


City Center Plaza
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/CityCenterPlaza.jpg


Tech Tower (is this still called the "Tech Tower"?)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/HinesBellevueTower.jpg


The Summit
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/Summit.jpg


Washington Square
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/Washingtonsquare.jpg


This project I actually haven't been able to get much info on:
Avalon on the Square
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/Avalononthesquare.jpg

Does anyone have any good info on this? I looks like it will be a cool project in a great location. About the only thing I can find out is that it will be about 350 apartments and there will be a Safeway below.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Well, that last project, the avalon safeway, is under construction now.
I was just about to do a full listin of all upcoming projects so pardon me if i borrow a few pics.

[Seattle Dude]

Yeah, I heard that it started, but I haven't been to downtown Bellevue for a while to check it out.

[horatio_the_hermit]

EDIT by James Bond Agent 007. This post has been transferred to northface's first post on the first page.

[Seattle Dude]

Is the Hanover BRE tower going to be condos?

[simms3_redux]

Seems like the focus of urban dense construction has shifted from Seattle to Bellevue.

[JiminyCricket II]

^It hasn't so much 'shifted' than 'spread', Seattle's developments are more urban oriented than Bellevue's.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Yeah. Hanover bre is going to have 202 condo units.

[mhays]

Seems like the focus of urban dense construction has shifted from Seattle to Bellevue.

I think "spread" is a good word.

Downtown Seattle still has much more construction underway than Downtown Bellevue -- not only 14 buildings of 10-42 stories but many that aren't high-rises, though depending on how you define the boundaries of each district you could say the volume is similar per acre.

[horatio_the_hermit]

keep in mind downtown bellevues population is only 3,200 where seattles has to be way bigger. With that we can assume that dt bellevue has more construction per capita.

[mhays]

Of course. Also, if you built one house next to a desolate farmhouse somewhere, that would be a 100% increase.

I always laugh at "percentage increase" comparisons. Like a business announcing that it grew 500% in one year -- do they mean sales went from $10 to $60?

Though I'm just going on a tangent. Bellevue's construction is causing a bigger transformation if that's your point.

[kazpmk]

I noticed the Bellevue twin towers are listed as UC in the few posts above. Are oth towers being built at the same time???. What's going on at the site??? Site clearing, demo or excavation?????

[mhays]

Both are underway now. Excavation started last week. There's even a picture on the boards somewhere.

[Last Chance]

Thanks for the updated list Horatio!

[Research1]

The topped-out One Lincoln Tower Looks terrific with glass installed up to floor 40. Ashwood commons is looking decent with glass and its Vancouver facade installed up to floor 10 and concrete up to 18.

I will have new pics by the end of the week.

Some questions.

1. Has the Eddie Bauer Tower construction resumed yet.
2. Has the Technology Tower construction resumed yet.
3. Has construction on the second Ashwood commons started yet.
4. Who is the developer for the Euro tower.
The developer of the Europen Tower is GIS International.

http://www.europeantower.com/

[Research1]

Yeah. Hanover bre is going to have 202 condo units.
I am informed that the Hanover project will be apartments and not condos

[horatio_the_hermit]

Really. I dont know for a fact. Are you sure you arent confusing it with the 1020 tower across the street. Developed by hanover. It seems like a waste to build two apartment buildings with no condos.

[Last Chance]

Really. I dont know for a fact. Are you sure you arent confusing it with the 1020 tower across the street. Developed by hanover. It seems like a waste to build two apartment buildings with no condos.

I think some new rental residential units are in order. They can't all be condos.

An article in last week's DJC said that Eastside rents went up 6-8% from 12/04 to 12/05, and that rents will increase another 4-10% during 2006. The article also says that this will bring rents back to where they were in 2000-2001 when the market peaked last.

Plus all the condo conversions have reduced the supply of apartments, and downtown Bellevue is now a desirable, higher-end market to live in.

[horatio_the_hermit]

check it guys... i basically have the sweetest idea EVER!!! We hold a contest where 5 teams of 3 dressed in safari gear, starting from bellevue park, race to hunt down kemper freeman. The first team who snaps a picture with him wins.

the funny part is he has no idea this is going on...


so whos in?????

[stockjock98004]

I've heard there is height limit south of Main Street of something like 4 or 5 stories. Anybody know for sure? Also, any height limit west of Bellevue Way?

[horatio_the_hermit]

i know you can build at leat 11 storeys west of bellevue way. South of main i couldnt tell you.

[James Bond Agent 007]

OK, I've been wanting to do this for a while. I took horatio's post on this page above and transferred the contents to northface's first post on the first page. Horatio did a good job of providing an overview of all the projects in that post, so I thought it would be a good idea to make it the opening post in the thread.

Sorry if people's egos get bruised. :D

[horatio_the_hermit]

definately not. But then, i am the king of bellevue.

[Seattle Dude]

Does any one know what project this is for? http://www.vipbellevue.com/

I saw it in a newspaper ad along with a rendering I didn't recognize. Sounds like it will be a pretty cool project.

[horatio_the_hermit]

yeah, its been a mystery over in the northwest forums. It sprang up on us about two weks ago. Were assuming its phase II of the bravern or Kempers plan for the old safeway site. They arent really releasing to much info, but any time a 30 story building is announced, one cant help but be excited.

Oh, and Microsofts NA sales headquarters are moving to where? BELLEVUE. Downtown to be precise. Into the remaining space at the Eddie Bauer Building at lincoln square. Currently U/C

[James Bond Agent 007]

Here's some pics of the model of Washington Square, when it gets fully built out. The two dark-colored ones are the ones that are currently under construction.

Pics courtesy of needsalife.

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/05-07-06_1510.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/05-07-06_1508.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/05-07-06_1521.jpg

[northface]

^they look rather plane...i bet its just beginning stage models.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Ummm . . . yes.

And its plain, not plane. :P

[mhays]

It's pretty remarkable what's happening in Bellevue. Just a suburban downtown. But those two blue ones are just two of seven or eight high-rises underway now in the 400-acre downtown. The u-c number might be around 10 by mid or late summer, not including numerous woodframe projects. That includes three more buildings in the 400-450' range that are already started.

Bellevue is still about half "traditional suburbia" and half truly urban. The current wave is going to turn the tide.

Beyond that, if the groundbreakings keep going according to plan and things don't get overbuilt, it starts to look like a real downtown. Without some "downtown" functions of course, but in terms of scale and density.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Added a new rendering of City Center II to the opening post.

Here it is:

http://www.equityoffice.com/images/200605235100722CityCenterPlaza352.jpg

[James Bond Agent 007]

I made some significant changes to the opening post, to update it.

I also got rid of a couple of the smaller projects. Their renderings also didn't link anymore, and they're just kinda small to mention anyway. :D

[James Bond Agent 007]

BTW does anyone know anything about the Hanover BRE Tower? It's currently in the "In the future" catagory but since the site is already fenced off I'm wondering if maybe it's closer in the future than we think????

[horatio_the_hermit]

Im pretty sure they made a press release about 3 months ago saying they planned to start construction on hanover bre in July. Id say we should move it to starting soon.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Done!

[James Bond Agent 007]

Hines 333 Tower has commenced re-construction so I edited the first post to reflect that.

[James Bond Agent 007]

BTW, somebody once said that the furniture store where the proposal below is eventually supposed to be built is just a "temporary" store.

Well I went in there yesterday and it doesn't look like a temporary store to me. I think it might be a veeeeeeery long time until this thing is gonna be built. And no doubt the design will change.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Seattlefreeskier/Bellevue%20Development/4BellevueCenter.jpg

[MiamiSpartan]

I had no idea that Belleview was getting so built up. Neimans just announced plans to go into the Bravern this past week, and I frankly didn't know that much about the area. Truly impressive.

[phillyskyline]

These projects all look high-end! Whats with all the twins?

[horatio_the_hermit]

well theres only one "twin" project but i do see your beef. Every project in bellevue is coming with two or more similar looking towers. I cant explain it. Possibly another downfall of the superblock layout.
And yes, ive had a problem with all the high end development from the start. Sure i want bellevue to be the nicest dt in washington but it has to actually be urban. It needs to attract people of all age groups from upper AND middle income groups. Im not saying we need tenaments but a main street midrise with a 7-11 in the base wouldnt kill us.

[horatio_the_hermit]

let us move the CCBII from starting soon to under construction.
Also, shouldnt the residential phase of the bravern also go into the U/c category. According to some articles, they said they were going to begin construction immediately after hearing the neiman marcus news.

[mhays]

There are two three pairs underway, and two siblings underway: Bellevue Towers, Washington Square, and Bravern are twins (though Bravern includes a runt). Also City Center II and Eddie Bauer Tauer are siblings of completed towers. When Bre Hanover starts you could say that's a twin of 1020. Of course some of these developments have more towers planned, so there will be some sizeable families eventually.

Bellevue is pretty much like Hong Kong. Why build one tower when you can built multiples. Yeah, that's it...just like Hong Kong in every way. Well, not really, Bellevue has more trees.

[mhays]

let us move the CCBII from starting soon to under construction.
Also, shouldnt the residential phase of the bravern also go into the U/c category. According to some articles, they said they were going to begin construction immediately after hearing the neiman marcus news.

I suggest you wait until they actually start. I suspect they'll want to design them and get permits anyway.

[horatio_the_hermit]

well, thay broke ground on CCBII yesterday.
As far as the bravern is concerned, I love jumping the gun. Especially where buildings are concerned.

[James Bond Agent 007]

let us move the CCBII from starting soon to under construction.
Done!


Also, shouldnt the residential phase of the bravern also go into the U/c category. According to some articles, they said they were going to begin construction immediately after hearing the neiman marcus news.
No, that part still isn't u/c yet, I go by there everyday. The old building (the Rayburn, or something like that) is still there and there are still tenants in it. I don't think they'll start that part for another few months or more.

[NEWNANGuy]

some truly great projects. i love Bellevue and it's growing skyline...great place. i need to actually go there sometime instead of just loving it over the internet lol

[horatio_the_hermit]

Damnation. Kick those tenants out a crack some concrete.

[James Bond Agent 007]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/news/local/links/bellevueboom03e.gif

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003174238_bellevueboom03e.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/08/03/2003118428.jpg

Friday, August 4, 2006
Biggest construction year yet reshaping Bellevue
By Ashley Bach

Seattle Times Eastside bureau

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.