Wow, how Bellevue has changed in 40 years. I’ve been living in Bellevue since 1975. I have seen many changes over these past 40 years, some good some bad. In 1975, there was no traffic congestion on I-405. In 1975, the tallest building in Bellevue was the Paccar Building on Northeast Eighth Street. Toys ‘R’ Us is still in its same place since 1975.
The Northwest corner of Bellevue Way and Northeast Eighth has not changed in 40 years (other than stores). Gone are the John Danz Theater, the bowling alley next door, the original Puget Sound Energy location. The original police station that moved with the library.
And at last one of my first impressions of Bellevue as a 10-year-old. — the Wilburton Tunnel. In 1975, the Wilburton Tunnel was alit with over six different colors inside the tunnel: blue, green, red, orange, yellow and white bulbs. Then in 1977 during the energy crisis, they took out the colored bulbs and took out every other light and replaced them with a white bulb. It was never the same ever since.
Now the Eastside Rail Corridor is making new changes since the one tourist train stopped running and was cut off by the tunnel’s demolition. I was glad to ride that train before it ceased operation. I saw places I couldn’t see before on the freeway.
I only have to thank Kemper Freeman and his son Kemper Freeman, Jr. for doing so much to increase the business of land in Bellevue over the past 40 years. It’s a new town all right, and now I’m an alien to it.
Business and new developments are booming, changing the landscape and the city I grew up in. Arby’s and Firestone replaced by Safeway and apartments, KFC and the old 76 Station replaced by new storefronts and apartments.
There is a problem here. We’re growing too big for our bridges. We’ve over-exceeded person per square mile. Look at our commutes. We cannot keep building infrastructure and housing that exceed our per capita per person. But that is what we have done, thanks to the Kemper family. Stop the growth — we don’t have room for all these people. Why do you think the Washington State Department of Transportation made toll lanes on I-405? Is anyone in Olympia aware we’re already over capacity? Won’t anyone say thank you to the Kemper family and not let them build anymore? They’ve done more then enough.
Your investigation has just begun, because there are a lot of numbers you’ve got to crunch regarding person per capita in the miles of the city limits. Then encounter out-of-city employees and visitors staying at our many hotels.
As for Sound Transit link rail, Kemper Freeman should have purchased that in 1995 for the Bellevue link. Now our city has too many buildings with too many people in too many cars. Stop the building! Were already 10 years behind our own progress when it comes to infrastructure to deal with traffic congestion.
Jim Higgins
Bellevue
