Council discusses proposed Bellevue Youth Theatre expansion, relocation

The Bellevue City Council on Monday reviewed a proposal recommending expansion of the popular Bellevue Youth Theatre (BYT) to a location adjacent to the Crossroads Community Center.

Council directed staff to return in September to seek approval for an architectural contract to design a new center to serve the theater’s needs. Funds to design the new theater will come from the city’s existing capital budget. Construction is not fully funded at this time.

During its 18-year existence, BYT has grown into one of Parks and Community Services’ most popular programs. The theater conducts nine performances a year and provides summer and school-break day camps and theater classes.

In 2001, under an agreement with the Bellevue School District, BYT was relocated from Crossroads Community Center to a portion of the former Ivanhoe Elementary School. BYT soon outgrew the Ivanhoe facility, and in 2005 plans were developed to renovate the school for its needs.

However, renovation was estimated to cost approximately $2 million, with roughly half the costs needed to address building code upgrades. Escalating construction costs since 2005, together with changes to the building code, combined to increase the estimated cost of expansion at Ivanhoe to nearly $3.5 million.

The high cost, coupled with limited expansion capabilities at Ivanhoe, and the fact that Ivanhoe site is not owned by the city, prompted staff to explore other expansion alternatives.

Becker Architects was selected to complete a site and building feasibility study.

Multiple options and locations were studied at the Ivanhoe site, Crossroads Community Park, and in the Bel-Red Corridor.

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