Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square Expansions

I had the opportunity to attend a meeting Wednesday evening at "The Studio", the Lincoln Square expansion showroom located on the 2nd level of Lincoln Square. This is an amazing technological tour of what Bellevue looks like now along with the permitted buildings, both mixed use and residential, either under construction or schedued to start construction in the coming months. Kemper Freeman spoke about the positive impact reatail "done right" can have on a downtown and that great retail attracts great commercial, hospitality and residential and improves property values.  The plans for the Lincoln Square expansion (on the old Safeway site) and the Bellevue Square expansion (at the corner of NE 4th and Bellevue Way NE) were detailed –  one item of particular interest was that there will be 12 new restaurants, all which are spoken for, and there were 30+ restauranteurs interested in those dozen spaces.  Amazing how the demand for space in downtown Bellevue has increased in recent years.  Speaks to the desirability of the area and the demand for prime retail and office space.  Both projects will include office, hotel, retail and apartment space.  Lincoln Square should be complete and ready for occupancy within 2 1/2 years.  Exciting changes and growth coming to the central business district.