The Bellevue City Council Monday authorized staff to move forward with the purchase of the Lincoln Center property for future public uses.

Acquisition of the 4.3-acre site at 555 116th Ave. N.E. will allow the city to eventually improve high-occupancy vehicle and pedestrian mobility east from downtown, by extending Northeast Sixth Street across Interstate 405 to 120th Avenue Northeast.

Bellevue officials consider the major street project, approved by the council on June 2, a critical component of the city’s long-term strategic plan to improve mobility in and out of Bellevue’s rapidly growing downtown area. Council members are expected to discuss capital funding for the project during budget deliberations this fall.

City officials also said the property could be used for other public purposes, including the potential relocation of the Bellevue District Court from its current Surrey Downs location. That would make the Surrey Downs site available for park development.

The city is working with the Surrey Downs community to develop a park master plan for the property. That plan is scheduled for council review in September.

The city moved to purchase the Lincoln Center property after learning the present owner, Kent Central LLC, had plans to sell or redevelop it.

Under terms of the agreement, the city will pay $17.5 million for the property. Two, two-story office buildings totaling about 70,000 square feet are presently on the site. Existing tenants will be allowed to continue leasing space.