Big development planned along East Link, Bel-Red corridor

A new project proposed for the Bel-Red neighborhood would capitalize on its future function as a transportation corridor, occupying a total of about 8.2 acres of office, residential and retail space.

A new project proposed for the Bel-Red neighborhood would capitalize on its future location as a light rail corridor to contain office space, neighborhood retail space, residential units, underground parking, parks and open space.

If permitted, Burnstead Construction’s Pine Forest Properties, Inc. would contain six buildings and provide 2,172 parking stalls once done and would be just south of the East Link alignment when it opens in 2023. The development could hold up to 670 new residents and 2,221 workers.

The space just north of Lake Bellevue and a car dealership, and is currently used by a warehouse and three office buildings. City documents indicate that buildings would range from nine to 12 stories.

Development is anticipated to occur over two phases. Approximately 1.16 million square feet will be constructed along with approximately 2,200 parking stalls. This total includes approximately 712,000 gross square feet of commercial, 420,000 gross square feet of residential, 25,000 gross square feet of neighborhood retail and approximately one acre of park and other open spaces.

The Bel-Red corridor from 120th Avenue Northeast to Northeast 26th Street has been staked out for re-development. East Link and the main Microsoft campus have made the area a desirable space. Goodman Real Estate (GRE), a Seattle firm, has plans for four multi-family buildings at the former site of Angelo’s Nursery between Bel-Red Road and 156th Avenue Northeast. A mixed-use development is planned on the former Group Health hospital site in Redmond, just north of Bel-Red Road.

A public meeting on the Pine Forest project is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, Conference Room 1E-108. More information is available from Elizabeth Stead in the city’s planning department at 425-452-2725 or estead@bellevuewa.gov.