This map shows the location of the two BelRed development sites, marked in pink at right. Bridge Housing will develop the site marked Kelly’s, formerly Kelly’s Auto Body, and Su Development will develop the site to the north.

File graphic courtesy of city of Bellevue

The city of Bellevue has selected Bridge Housing and Su Development to build multifamily housing complexes with affordable housing and amenities for artists on two city-owned properties in the BelRed Arts District, which is home to more than 100 creative businesses and cultural organizations, the city announced in a news post.

Both developments are next to the BelRed light rail station and will advance city goals related to housing and economic development, in alignment with Bellevue’s Affordable Housing Strategy, the city said.

“This marks a significant opportunity for the city of Bellevue, in both housing development and support of the arts and cultural ecosystem,” Bianca Siegl, director of the city’s Office of Housing, said in the post. “We look forward to continuing to expand housing opportunities for all to support thriving people and communities.”

The city previously solicited teams to design and construct housing, retail and community-oriented spaces on the two sites on 130th Avenue Northeast. San Francisco-based nonprofit affordable-housing developer Bridge Housing will develop the site at 1500 130th Ave. NE, and Bellevue-based Su Development will develop the site at 1700 130th Ave. NE. 

The city is negotiating final agreements with both developers.

Bridge Housing will transform the now vacant 1.15-acre parcel in the 1500 block of 130th into an affordable-housing community with integrated arts and cultural space. The project will deliver at least 172 affordable homes, including family-size units for households at or below 80% of area median income. The project will include features to accommodate artists who want to create artwork within their living space, dedicated arts and cultural facilities to support the BelRed creative economy, public open space and gathering areas, and connection to the light rail station.

Su Development, in partnership with the city and Sound Transit, will replace a park-and-ride lot with a 302-stall parking garage and market-rate and affordable housing. The complex will include a ground-floor arts and culture hub featuring programs led by the BelRed Arts District Alliance, plus small retail spaces for artists and creative entrepreneurs, and a public arts plaza promoting the BelRed Arts District.

Bridge Housing is involved in another affordable-housing project nearby to bring 234 units to the city through a transit-oriented development next to Sound Transit’s Spring District light rail station in Bellevue. Sound Transit provided the property for the project. Bridge also has an Eastside project in Kirkland.

BelRed is among focused growth areas for housing in Bellevue in coming years. Bellevue is planning for 35,000 more housing units in the city by 2044, according to a Comprehensive Plan update the city council approved in October, with the plan also focusing growth in the downtown and Wilburton areas.