Bellevue’s vision the lead topic at Downtown Association breakfast

Several hundred Bellevue movers and shakers turned up for the Bellevue Downtown Association breakfast on April 26, where they were treated to speeches on how to make Bellevue "the next great city."

April 28, 2016 4:30 am
Bellevue Deputy Mayor John Chelminiak speaks to the Bellevue Downtown Association at its breakfast on Tuesday. He and council member Kevin Wallace have been pilots on a "Grand Connection" project in the city.
Bellevue Deputy Mayor John Chelminiak speaks to the Bellevue Downtown Association at its breakfast on Tuesday. He and council member Kevin Wallace have been pilots on a "Grand Connection" project in the city.

Several hundred Bellevue movers and shakers turned up for the Bellevue Downtown Association breakfast on April 26, where they were treated to speeches on how to make Bellevue “the next great city.”

Proper urban planning is vital to a city’s growth, and grow Bellevue has. From 6,000 residents in 1952 to the 135,000 which now call the city home, density and planning are paramount to keeping the city livable, speakers said.

The founders of Bellevue had a vision of expanding from Lake Washington to lake Sammamish, they said, and now that it has been accomplished, city leaders must continue to embrace diversity and economic development to increase prosperity between lakes.

By partnering with other cities and increasing cultural events in the city, Bellevue City Council hopes to make its mark. The light rail project, Tateuchi Center and Spring District are all part of the near-future vision of the council..