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Neighborhood for the Arts in Downtown Bellevue
 Developments
are underway to transform the Ashwood neighborhood in downtown Bellevue
into the cultural center of the city. “It’s a very exciting
time for the arts in downtown Bellevue,” said Mary Pat Byrne,
Arts Specialist with the City of Bellevue. “We are seeing
a cultural corridor develop organically before our eyes.”
The six-block corridor Mary Pat is referring to begins at the corner
of NE 10th and 112th Street where Ashwood Commons, a mixed use residential
building is currently under construction. The project will include
street level retail and cafes, an open plaza and a public art gallery
showcasing the work of local artists.
The cultural corridor continues down 10th to the Bellevue Regional
Library where nearly 3,000 people pass through the doors each day.
The winner of several major architectural awards for design, the
library is a striking building of glass, red sandstone, brick veneer,
and steel. Inside the library, works by several notable Northwest
artists can be viewed including Reynard the Fox, a wall sculpture
by Richard S. Beyer; Check it Out, a cast glass window by Ann Troutner
and Paul Marioni; and Historic Portraits, 12 porcelain panels by
Garth Edwards.
Next door to the library, the planned 1020 Tower Building, a retail
and residential high rise, will border the planned Ashwood Park
Plaza, the gateway into Ashwood Park. Plans are for the tower to
include a 200-seat “black box” theater for small performing
arts groups.
“A black box theater is a simple performance space with a
small seating area,” explained Mary Pat. “There’s
no fly tower for raising and lowering scenery and it’s not
unusual to see the walls and ceiling just painted black. These theaters
are especially attractive to smaller performing arts groups because
they are more versatile, intimate, and affordable.”
Within the plaza, the Parks and Community Services Department hopes
to see sculptures added, perhaps even rotating exhibits, if space
and logistics allow. The plaza project is a public-private collaboration
between the city parks department and the developer of 1020 Tower.
“A few years ago, the developer approached us with the idea
of teaming up to promote and support the arts in Bellevue,”
said Mary Pat. “We have been meeting with community groups
to get their input on the project and are very pleased with the
positive response we’ve received.”
Pam Fehrman, project manager for the City’s Parks and Community
Services department described the plans for the Plaza. “Recognizing
the Plaza’s strategic location in the neighborhood, we want
to create a strong urban corner, maximizing the green landscape
elements with stepped seat-walls, a water feature, and art elements.”
Construction on the 1020 Tower is scheduled to begin in 2006.
The corridor continues east for two blocks to 106th and 10th where
the future Performing Arts Center Eastside, or PACE for short, will
reside. The 2,000 seat theater will be the largest arts facility
on the eastside, and will host a variety of live performances by
local, national and international groups. In addition, the Center
will offer arts education outreach programs for the community. It
is scheduled to
open in 2008.
As the cultural corridor continues to grow, more arts opportunities
will naturally occur. Already there are signs: Ascada Bistro at
110th and 10th on the corridor is offering live music; the Bellevue
Arts Museum has reopened; and Meydenbauer Center is home to the
ballet, opera, civic theater and Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra.
One day, in the not too distant future, downtown Bellevue will be
a true destination neighborhood for the arts in
the Puget Sound region.
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