The public will be asked to weigh in on four redevelopment alternatives being considered by the city of Bellevue for three properties within a half-mile radius of the future East Main Street light rail station later this month, the goal being a walkable, high-density gateway to Bellevue from Interstate 405.
One of only a few station areas in Bellevue slated for transit-oriented development to coincide with Sound Transit’s East Link light rail extension, a vision for changes around the East Main station is being formed by a citizens advisory committee, which has been meeting since September. The transit-oriented development area is located south of Main Street on the east side of 112th Avenue Southeast.
The three properties targeted for redevelopment opportunities along 112th Avenue are the Bellevue Club, Hilton Bellevue and Red Lion Hotel, recently acquired by Wig Properties.
VIA Architecture urban planner Dan Bertolet on March 24 updated the East Main station CAC on four options for redevelopment of those properties — currently restrictive under an office and limited business zoning designation. The first option — keeping the area zoned OLB — would result in little, if any redevelopment, Bertolet said, due to major parking requirements for offices that would limit new
construction. It also would prevent high-density development and walkable public spaces.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, a “high bookend” option would maximize density, the drawback being the potential for buildings more than 200 feet in height close to a single-family neighborhood, Bertolet said.
A hybrid option would have a more narrow focus on where tower buildings could be located and the intensity for such construction, while a midrise option would limit new buildings to going no higher than the height of the Hilton. While that eliminates concerns about shadows cast by high towers and privacy for neighbors below, fewer buildings would make it harder to accomplish the type of high-density development desired, Bertolet said.
An open house to gauge the public’s reaction to the four redevelopment options is tentatively slated for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 at city hall, Room 1E-120.
RED LION HOTEL
Wig Properties owner Mon Wig told the CAC his company’s general course of action is to acquire a property, demolish what’s on-site and develop something new and dynamic, however, the Bellevue Red Lion is an income-generating exception and will remain in operation for the time being. Wig said he envisions creating “a unique landmark that’s iconic in nature” on the 6.1-acre property, should the CAC recommend — and the city council accept — land use changes in the East Main TOD area.
“If we cannot redevelop it, we will just keep it,” Wig said. “You can be sure that we’ll do it right when we do it.”
Wig Properties partner Leshya Wig said since the Red Lion site is most likely to be redeveloped first out of the three properties being assessed, whatever comes in must blend with the light rail station and include commercial uses that can survive outside of the central business district downtown.
“It may be some time that it will have to be set apart from the others,” she said.
Leshya Wig said her company wants land use changes that allow building heights of at least 200 feet and a floor-area ratio of five, which would make more space for public amenities, such as plazas and wider sidewalks, as well as allow “more iconic” buildings to be constructed. Not all buildings would be 200 feet in height on the Red Lion site, added Arthur Chang of Freiheit and Ho Architects, who is working with Wig Properties. Some CAC members were confused by Wig’s request for unrestricted use of the site, which Mon Wig clarified would be for mixed-use development that could include office, medical, retail, residential, educational, daycare and hospitality.
