BELLEVUE DOWNTOWN INBOX

HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE?
LET US KNOW.

Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) staff welcomes questions and comments about Downtown Bellevue, BDA events, transpor-tation and livability issues. Email inbox@bellevuedowntown.org, and include your name and city or neighborhood and if you agree to your question and name being published.

Here are two recent questions—reprinted anonymously in this case—and our responses. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Movies in the Park?

Q. A Bellevue resident writes: I would love to see an outdoor summer movie series in the Downtown Park. Except for the 4th of July, there seem to be few organized events in the park. I would think the residents would love this kind of activity. Is a movie series possible?

A. An outdoor movie series is worth exploring, but we have to acknowledge two major challenges specific to the Downtown Park, and almost any new community event. Sponsor support should help underwrite the event to make it free. Next, we would need special event and amplified sound permits from the City of Bellevue, which would require a transportation and parking plan for visitors, plus support from nearby businesses and residents.

With the right timing and a solid parking and transportation plan, the large green expanse of Downtown Park could be a premier venue for live entertainment and major community events: the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th is a great example.
Mid-block crossings

Q. A Downtown Bellevue employee asks: I’ve read about more mid-block crossings getting added to downtown to help get around on foot. When and where will they go in?

A. The 2003 Downtown Implementation Plan called for mid-block crossings to ease passage across downtown in places other than the NE 6th Pedestrian Corridor.

The City’s planning and transportation departments have evaluated more than two dozen potential sites for enhanced crossings and recently recommended four locations for a $1.3 million pilot rollout with construction beginning in 2009.

Locations are:

• NE 10th at 109th Avenue NE: across NE 10th in front of the King County Library (signalized)
• 102nd Ave NE near NE 9th Street: across 102nd Avenue in front of QFC (non-signalized)
• 108th Ave NE near NE 2nd Place: across 108th Avenue NE in front of Civica Office Commons (non-signalized)
• Across 108th Avenue NE at NE 11th Street (non-signalized)