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Eastside

New Zoning of East Main Site in Bellevue May Create 1,500 Homes Near Light...

Last week, Bellevue City Council approved a Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) to allow for increased building density on a 60-acre site to the...
An aerial photo of the Houghton community council area

Time to Immediately Sunset Houghton and East Bellevue Community Councils

As a Kirkland resident, I was shocked to learn just this spring that one neighborhood in my city has outsized influence over the entire...
A drawing shows a translucent car driving on a highway with a light rail station on the right side of the road.

Freeway Ramp at Overlake Village Station Repeats Past Mistakes

Just over a month ago, our region celebrated the opening of three new light rail stations. The day was perhaps the most joyous celebration...
Parkgoes sit on the ampitheater at Bellevue's Downtown park with skyscrapers in the background.

Bellevue Faces a Crossroads: Embrace Progressivism or Conservative Entrenchment

Three Bellevue City Council seats are up for election this year and voters face a stark choice. Electing progressive challengers Ruth Lipscomb and Dexter...
The rendering shows a light rail station connected to a park near roads.

Improving Bellevue’s Grand Connection: Part 3 – Downtown Link Light Rail to I-405 Lid...

This article is the final in a three-part series that takes a close look at Bellevue's Grand Connection, a significant planning effort to make...
A photo of amphitheater style seating in a park with people sitting in the grass and tall modern buildings in the backdrop.

Improving Bellevue’s Grand Connection: Part 2 – Downtown Park to Bellevue Transit Center

This article is the second in a series that takes a deep dive into Bellevue's Grand Connection, an ambitious project to improve the pedestrian...
A photo of people sitting a small beach on a sunny day with evergreen trees in the background.

Improving Bellevue’s Grand Connection: Part 1 – Lake Washington and Main Street

Note: This article was edited on 10/31/21 to add recommendations for improving accessibility on Main Street. Downtown Bellevue is undergoing one of the fastest...

Fast Growing Issaquah Plans for More Density – and Sprawl

With their Central Issaquah Plan, zoning updates, and planned communities, in recent years the City of Issaquah has experienced a steady increase in new...