Proposed Renderings Revealed: Lincoln Square II

Shown here are proposed images are of what Lincoln Square II, office tower and condominium tower, could look like. Also included in these images are what the retail shops (Shops on 5th) will look like from the outside at street level on Bellevue Way and NE 4th St.

If you pass the Safeway site on Bellevue Way, in the Avalon Meydenbauer building, you'll see a proposed project sign referencing the Lincoln Square II project. The business tower (the image with the orange on it) is currently listed as a 31-story office tower with over 500,000 sq ft. The condo tower, which will be right behind the Bellevue Arts Museum, is planned at 42 stories, 200 condos, and will have a hotel with 120 rooms at the base. The retail area will feature almost 400,000 sq ft of high end retail.

This project will be developed by Kemper Development Co. and could start as early as this summer.

Luxury Renting

Not ready to commit to buying a place in Downtown Bellevue, but still want luxury living? You will find no place nicer to rent in Bellevue, and most likely all of the Eastside, than at 4004 One Lincoln Tower.

This fully furnished 3,000 sq. ft. penthouse condo is 40 floors up and has beautiful views in all directions. In addition to the 2 bedroom home, some of the features include two walk-in closets, a built in espresso machine, a work out room, four parking spots, and custom designed furniture.

All this can be yours for the price of $14,000 per month or $168,000 a year.

A priceless or overpriced property?

Vertigo, Bellevue's First Nightclub Opens

After much anticipation Vertigo Lounge and Grill is now open to customers.

At the base of 989 Elements Building at, 989 112th Ave NE opens Downtown Bellevue's first true nightclub!

The venue offers a first class restaurant, bar, and lounge. Vertigo’s lounge promises to occasionally offer live music. Owner Bill Khanna has made sure Vertigo is musically equipped, including a grand piano right off the bar, a customized DJ booth, and a vibrant sound system.

Vertigo is like nothing Downtown Bellevue has seen to date. The interior design is elaborate and attractive, yet still simple and fun. No more crossing the bridge necessary, Vertigo has brought Belltown to Bellevue.

Downtown Bellevue’s nightlife has been begging for a venue such as Vertigo for some time now. Vertigo being a restaurant by day, and a club by night will offer comfort foods such as steak, lamb, pasta and more. This classy adult playground will indeed become a hot spot in Downtown Bellevue for some time to come.

Vertigo Lounge & Grill Address
989 112th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-467-6767

El Gaucho to open at City Center Plaza

El Gaucho, one of the Pacific Northwest's great steakhouses is reported by the Puget Sound Business Journal to be coming to Downtown Bellevue. The chain currently has locations in Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland.

The Bellevue location will occupy space in the City Center Plaza building when complete.

El Gaucho was originally speculated (and thought of as a done deal) to occupy space in the Washington Square complex.

Nordstrom Kicks Off Bellevue Fashion Week!

In true Bellevue style, Hometown favorite Nordstrom kicked off the 2007 Bellevue Fashion Week Friday in stunning form with its Fashion Show!

With a sold out crowd around 400 people for the Fall Fashion Runway Show, Fashion AXIS was packed for the second annual event.

Once inside Fashion AXIS, the sparkling showroom was filled with drinks, appetizers, and most importantly boutique shopping, with fashions that would be found within the fashion show. As anticipation of the show gained, folks (and when I say folks, I mean mostly women, the ratio was 10 to 1) gathered at the staircase in excitement at the opportunity to have seating close to the show.

The fashion show was the center of the night and did not disappoint. Strutting their stuff were the models in their fashion forward fall styles. The fashions modeled for the fall season included Diane von Furstenberg, Juicy Couture, BCBG Max Azria, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and more. Some of the popular fashions this year over many of the fashion lines were long leather gloves, leg warmers, grey white and black, and colored nylons with a skirt or dress.

100% of the ticket proceeds for the night are donated to the Detlef Schrempf foundation. The foundation has been helping children now for 12 years and running. Although Detlef himself was not there, his wife and Vice President of the foundation Mari Schrempf was there to represent for him.

Bellevue Fashion Week 2007 kicked off what will be a phenomenal week of fashion in Downtown Bellevue. Over 80 events will follow within the nine-day event.

Sketches Emerge for Future Kemper Development Co. Bellevue Way Projects

The first images and sketches are emerging for the future plans of Kemper Development Co.'s projects on Bellevue Way.

As many know, the current Safeway location and complex will become major construction projects in the coming months.

Across the street are two levels of Bellevue Square parking that accommodate JC Penny's as well as Macy's, or as some might still refer to as The Bon Marché . This parking structure will soon be torn down and accompany the many other construction projects in the area, what will eventually be called, "The Bellevue".

Both developments are Kemper Development Co. projects. It is anticipated that the Safeway side will include a business tower, and a split hotel and condo tower. Where the parking structure is currently standing will become high end boutique shopping. Some of the rendered (and mos likely made up) store fronts in the sketch are companies such as Burberry, Gucci, and Tiffany Co.

You will notice from the images that there is a glass sky bridge that will be connecting the two projects. Also rumored is to be underground parking at both projects that will connect underground.

When Avalon Meydenbauer is complete (the future home of Safeway) I'm sure you will see Kemper Development company waste no time demolishing the existing site, and prepare for the new projects.

Bellevue Fashion Week 2007 Kicks off Friday

The 2nd annual 2007 Bellevue Fashion Week begins Friday at The Bellevue Collection.

First event up will be the Nordstrom Fall Runway Show at Fashion AXIS. The Nordstrom fashion show will feature world-renowned designers such as Juicy Couture and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Tickets are available to the general public for $50. Attendees should expect to enjoy boutique shopping, including items from the fashion show itself. A wine and hors d'oeuvre reception will take place preceding the runway show.

The Nordstrom Fashion Runway Show will kick off Bellevue's Fashion Week 2007, but is just the start of the many events that will be hosted in Downtown Bellevue. Included is a full list of all the Premier Events, which will take place at The Bellevue Collection.

Bellevue Fashion Week Premier Events

• Sept 15th Flirt with Style 11am - 2pm @ Bellevue Square Center Court
  
• Sept 15th Posh Party 6pm @ Fashion AXIS $50
• Sept 15th VIP Shopping Night 8:30pm @ Bellevue Square Center Court $25
• Sept 16th Blue Wili's Fall Fashion Show 3pm @ Fashion AXIS
• Sept 18th luluemon athletica Manifesto Masquerade 7-9pm @ Fashion AXIS $20-25
• Sept 19th Shoot In Style 6pm @ The Parlor Billiards & Spirits $20
• Sept 19th Classic Style Show 7pm @ Fashion Fashion AXIS $35
• Sept 20th Voletta Couture's "Enamored" Fashion Show 6pm @ Fashion AXIS $35-75
• Sept 21st The Collective 7pm @ AXIS $35
• Sept 22nd David Lawrence Fall Fashion Spectacular 7pm @ Fashion AXIS $25-30
  

For a complete list, including in store events, check out the Fashion Week Events.

With over 80 events spanning a bit over a week, it is proof how prominent Bellevue Fashion Week is becoming in only its second year. Downtown Bellevue has aspirations of becoming included in the same sentence as shopping districts such as 5th Ave in New York, Michigan Ave in Chicago, Rodeo Drive in L.A. along with others.

Events such as Bellevue Fashion Week coupled with openings of high fashion retail stores in Bellevue begin to create an argument for the area to be considered as a top-shopping destination on the West coast.

*Fashion AXIS is located at Lincoln Square

RAG Now Open in Bellevue Place

Three hair stylists working together at Obadiah Salon a year ago sat down and shared a dream to open a high-end fashion forward clothing store. A year later Apryl McCarthy, Serenity Wallen, and Gabe Walton have achieved their dream.

They opened RAG, a much-needed men's clothing and high-end fashion boutique at Bellevue Place at the beginning of August. Bellevue Place is also where Obadiah Salon is located. Downtown Bellevue is now beginning to receive a reputation for being a well-respected shopping mecca, and RAG fits into this profile to a tee.

RAG is targeting male customers in their 20's - 60's. They are going for that customer who doesn't want to be like everyone else, "He wants to stand out in the boardroom." said Apryl. You will stand out in the boardroom wearing RAG's unique, sophisticated and elegant clothing.

Anything from T-Shirts, jeans, and suits are all featured in the store. A personal favorite was the high-end umbrella's they offer. This seems like a natural in Bellevue. Imagine being dressed up in your best suit with a chinsy $1.99 umbrella walking down Bellevue Way. Something doesn't seem right about that picture.

Get your wallet ready...the clothes aren't cheap. But you get what you pay for. The clothes, and service are of the utmost quality. And the best part is that you can just about bet that nobody else will be walking around Eastside with the same outfit, the clothes are imported from the east coast.

Go and check it out, the store is very inviting. The owners are very hands on and seem to genuinely be having a fun time with the store.

Bellevue Towers to Release South Tower Inventory in September

With around 80% of the North Tower now sold in pre-sales at Bellevue Towers condominium project, some might be awaiting the release of the South Tower units to go on sale.

Well, wait no longer. September 21st represents the release of the these units. For those of you who waited too long, or couldn't find exactly the right unit in the North Tower, now is your opportunity to jump on this early. Bellevue Towers will not release all the North Towers inventory at once (like the South Tower), but in phases to avoid flooding the market with available units.

The South Tower will include the "5th Floor" and its amenities which include an outdoor fireplace, two screening rooms, a dining room with terrace and kitchen, a reading room, fitness center and spa, weight studio, cardio studio, whirlpool, cold-dip, sauna, steam room and terrace. All Bellevue Towers residences regardless of which tower they have purchased into will have access to these amenities.

The South Tower of Bellevue Towers will represent the tallest building in all of Downtown Bellevue with 43 floors. The North Tower comes in a close tie for second at 42 floors.

Washington Square Drive By

A trip to Washington Square brought to my attention a "Washington Square Car". The car is a Cadillac DTS, with decals on the sides and back of the car with Washington Square logos.

The second I saw this, I immediately chuckled. Folks, this is Downtown Bellevue not New York City. This is not a ritzy city, but a ultra high luxury city. Last time I checked, people have a fairly easy time getting around downtown area, and don't need chauffeurs (yet). The car I'm sure is intended to shuttle around prospective guests, and give tours of the city.

If Bellevue were a car, it would surely not be a Cadillac. Bellevue aligns more with the likes of a Lexus. Bellevue is smart and sophisticated, and a Cadillac is simple and ordinary. Clientèle interested in living in a vibrant, up and coming, technology driven region in condos such as Washington Square aren't impressed being driven around in a town car, especially a Cadillac.

Washington Square Town Car Photos

Lexus of Bellevue Grand Opening Party

Lexus of Bellevue's new facility officially opened their doors Thursday evening with their grand opening party. The new Lexus dealership, which lies at Main Street and 116th Ave, threw a party in true Lexus fashion. The 275,000-square-foot dealership was morphed into a top-notch catered function.

The event was expected to host 4,000 people, which the venue held with grace. The party played host to many amenities including live music, El Gaucho and Sea Star catered food, cocktails, and an exciting raffle. The raffle, which included many exciting gifts such as shopping sprees, art, and dinner packages, was surely outdone by the Lexus ES350 (sticker priced at $44,000) that was raffled off at the end of the night. The money raised from the party's raffle will benefit the Overlake Service League.

This "who's who" Bellevue event with guests such as former Bellevue Mayor, and ex Mariners stars, spanned almost five hours and was topped off with a fireworks display. Applause to O'Brien (owner) and his team for putting on a truly spectacular Bellevue event that surely will not be forgotten.

Open Vacancy in Bellevue Place, Now Occupied

Opening later in August RAG, a much needed men's high fashion clothing shop will open in Bellevue Place. The store will occupy retail space in the Hyatt's luxurious lobby on the first floor.

The amenities expected inside include a shoeshine chair, pool table, and a big screen television.

The boutique will hold a private event on August 11th, and open for business shortly after.

RAG will carry high fashion items ranging from jeans to suits. The Bellevue Collection is filled with various boutiques for women specializing in fashionable clothing. This new unique boutique should help fill the gap for men shopping in Bellevue.

Metro 112 High-Rise Apartments

According to the City of Bellevue the project known as "Metro 112" is scheduled to break ground the 3rd quarter of 2007. The project will include 300 apartment units, 25,000 sq ft of commercial space, and 450 parking spaces.

Metro 112 is located just across the way from the new Bellevue City Hall, which is conveniently located within steps of the business district in Downtown Bellevue. With many apartment complexes now turning into condo conversions it is leaving renters with limited options. The Avalon Meydenbauer Apartments on Bellevue Way are quickly coming to a finish. Metro 112 is far from complete, but when finished will give Bellevue residents seeking rental properties another option in downtown luxury living.

Photos courtesy of Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects

Lexus of Bellevue Awaits Grand Opening

With Lexus of Bellevue's August 2nd grand opening quickly approaching the Seattle Times has written an article featuring the country's second largest Lexus dealership. The location which used to play host to the Bellevue City Hall, resembles anything but a typical car dealership. Amenities you'll see while visiting the 275,000-square-foot dealership include a grand piano, flat-screen TVs, a deli, an escalator, artificial putting greens, and more.

In 2003 Mercer Island resident, and Lexus of Bellevue owner Michael O'Brien purchased the 11-acre property from the city for $24 million. The dealership cost in the tens of millions to tear down the City Hall buildings and construct the new structure.

The sales department has opened their doors to customers this week at the new location, and is awaiting the service department's arrival to reunite in one location. The service department currently occupies a location on 132nd Ave NE.

Image courtesy of Seattle Times

Bowling Alley to be Added to Lincoln Square! *UPDATE*

According to reports by the Puget Sound Business Journal, Lucky Strike Bowling Alley will open a 23,900 square foot location in the upscale Lincoln Square development later this year.

Lucky Strike Lanes is an upscale bowling alley, which has 13 locations throughout the United States. The first store and roots of Lucky Strike Lanes originates in Hollywood, CA.

Lincoln Square opened in November 2005 with the intentions of bringing entertainment focused establishments to Downtown Bellevue. Current retail such as The Parlor Billiards & Spirits, Lincoln Square Cinemas, McCormick & Schmick's, Trader Vic's, Maggiano's Little Italy, Manzana Rotisserie Grill, will be nicely accompanied by an activity based retail establishment such as Lucky Strike Lanes.

While nothing has been officially announced, Lucky Strike is most likely to occupy either the first floor location next to The Container Store, which has been used for temporary local events such as the Bellevue Fashion Show, or the unoccupied location on the second floor near the escalators.

You will now be able to shop, eat, go to the movies, obtain lodging, and now bowl all while in the presence of the Bellevue Collection!
-----------------------------------------------
UPDATE
The Seattle Times today has run an article with more details from Kemper Development, and Lucky Strike regarding the downtown bowling alley.

The Seattle Times verifies that the alley will be located on the second floor as it had earlier been speculated. Lucky strike will limit entrance to the facility to persons of 21 years and older after 9pm.

1992 marks the exit of the last bowling alley in downtown Bellevue. It has now been converted into what is now Barnes and Noble bookstore on 106th Ave.

Pictures Courtasy of Lucky Strike Lanes

1200 Bellevue Way, Town Homes Downtown

With 1200 Bellevue Way nearing completion, The Seattle Times has featured an article praising the distinct town homes, in a downtown area now known for rising condo towers.

1200 Bellevue Way is a project which will home 49 housing units. The red-brick residences with no neighbors above or below offer an alternative style of living in downtown. They are spacious and luxurious offering anywhere from 1,575-2,200 square feet. These unique homes offer a sense of privacy and ownership. It is like owning a house in the middle of downtown.

1200 Bellevue Way units start at $735,000 and top off around a $1,000,000.

Update on Bellevue's "Facelift"

The Seattle P-I ran an article on Monday providing additional details about how Kemper Freeman, Bellevue's most influential businessman will go about providing upgrades to his current properties and upcoming projects. The most noticeable upgrades will be a major interior and exterior renovation of Bellevue Square, 351 additional rooms to Bellevue's Hyatt Regency hotel, and building an extension to Bellevue Square to accommodate upscale fashion boutique shops.

The article states that Freeman declined to disclose tenants names for the future boutique shops, but envisions that Bellevue will be on par with luxury shopping locations similar to Fifth Avenue in New York, Newbury Street in Boston or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with these additions.

Renovations for Bellevue Square begin in August. The lighting, flooring, seating, and major entrances are reported to have an urban garden theme. The construction will not affect shoppers during the regular mall hours. Work will take place between the hours of 9:30pm - 9:30am. During Bellevue Square's busy holiday season, construction will take a hiatus from November and begin again after the new year in January.

Hyatt Expansion Project Begins

The Bellevue Hyatt Regency on Bellevue Way, which is a part of the Bellevue Place, will expand its offerings featuring more luxury rooms, retail, and parking. The previous buildings, where construction will take place have been bulldozed, and the area is now fenced off and cleared for the Hyatt to expand their hotel presence. The project which will be designed and executed by Sclater Partners Architects and GLY Construction when complete will offer:

• 20 Story Tower
• 351 New Rooms
• 18,000 Sq. Ft. Ballroom
• 1,000 Sq. Ft. of additional retail
• 500 Parking spaces

The Hyatt has since gone through upgrades and interior renovations keeping it on par with the newly built Westin. The Westin and Hyatt are the two hotels that occupy space within The Bellevue Collection. The project is scheduled to be complete and opened by Spring 2009.

House in Bellevue makes it on Luxist

Luxist a popular blog, which posts all types of luxury commodities. Today it has featured a luxury home in Bellevue, WA! The estate is spectacular. It is located on 1.38 acres, and the home allows 6,407 Sq Ft inside. Some specs are as follows, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and three fireplaces. And don't worry, for all those hot Bellevue Summer days, it comes equipped with its very own pool. With the pool comes a pool house with a studio, exercise room, and spa. Probably the most impressive part of this house is the mostly glass exterior, making the gorgeous view accessible.
Price Tag $6 Million
More pictures here