Call Center Company in Bellevue, WA

Partnerships and Amazon’s housing fund boost future affordable housing production potential in the city

At a groundbreaking event Thursday for the latest affordable housing development in Bellevue, the city joined housing partners as Amazon announced it will dedicate $100 million from its Housing Equity Fund to support and produce even more affordable housing in Bellevue.

City leaders were on hand with development partner BRIDGE Housing to break ground on an affordable housing community located in the Spring District that will add 234 affordable housing units to the city’s housing stock. The development was made possible by several funders, including Amazon and the City of Bellevue, and an agreement between the city and Sound Transit several years ago to offer land near the light rail station for affordable housing.

During the groundbreaking, Amazon representatives announced they would also be dedicating an additional $100 million to support future affordable housing production in Bellevue.

“Addressing housing affordability requires a coalition of leaders, visionaries and dedicated partners who are willing to invest not just in buildings, but in people and the future of our community,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “We are so grateful to have strong partners like Amazon, BRIDGE Housing and many others by our side to pursue the vision of ensuring all the people who make Bellevue extraordinary can continue to be a part of its story.”

“We believe all people should have access to housing and know that private-public partnerships are critical to address that challenge,” said David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer for Amazon. “It’s very important to us—and to me personally—that we give back to the communities where we live and work. We’ll continue to support transit-oriented development, as well as the preservation of affordable housing, in the communities Amazon calls home.”

These efforts and partnerships bolster the city’s commitment to transit-oriented development, planning for growth and making more affordable housing available to community members at a time when housing prices continue to rise. As part of its Affordable Housing Strategy, the city aims to add or preserve 5,700 units of affordable housing in Bellevue over the next 10 years.

Included in the 234 units of housing within the BRIDGE Housing project that will be affordable to community members earning 60% or less of the area median income are 40 units specifically dedicated to serving people with developmental disabilities.

Several regional partners were involved in the Spring District project including the state Department of Commerce, King County and A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH).

More information about the city’s work to increase access to housing in Bellevue is available at Housing Affordability. A recording of the groundbreaking event will be available on the Bellevue Television YouTube channel.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Bellevue|Local Event

Lewis Creek Park Visitor Center, Local Business

Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM

Cinder Mine Trailhead, 15484 Newcastle Golf Club Rd, Newcastle, WA, 98059

More info here

Explore Coal Creek at the Cinder Mine Trailhead to discover Bellevue’s largest park and get lost in the wilderness while still in the city! This area is rich in history and wildlife you’ll learn about while being guided by a Bellevue Park Ranger. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. This hike is rated as moderately difficult (2 miles with 240 ft elevation change).

Preregistration required for each participant. Preregister at Register.BellevueWA.gov. Outdoor only.

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Plus, naming process for new park, update from county and Women’s History Month

The City Council received a progress update on Bellevue’s Safe Parking Pilot Program at Tuesday’s council meeting and unanimously agreed to draft a resolution for a future meeting that would extend the program through 2026.

The program provides parking for up to 20 vehicles that serve as residences, primarily for families with children living in the Bellevue area. In its first year, the program hosted 69 children and 106 adults, spread across 53 families. Thus far, 30 of these families have obtained stable housing.

The program, which began as a pilot in February 2024, is managed by Bellevue-based nonprofit 4 Tomorrow. The Safe Parking program is operated on a city-owned property in the Wilburton area, which includes a secure parking lot with assigned spaces and a building with daytime access to key services and facilities.

While on site, participants receive assistance in finding housing and overcoming any related barriers. The on-site day center provides access to showers, washers and dryers, a working kitchen and several indoor spaces for congregating, studying or resting. The program provides additional services during severe weather to ensure families with children are not forced to sleep in their vehicles on especially cold or hot days.

Further details on the update are available in the meeting materials.

Naming process initiated for new city park at Main Street

In other business, the council voted to initiate a naming process for a new city park at the corner of Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast, on top of the Sound Transit light rail tunnel portal.

In late 2024, Sound Transit transferred ownership of the park to the city. The park naming process will be consistent with the council’s policy for naming park and recreation facilities. This includes conducting community outreach to collect name suggestions from the public. The Parks & Community Services Board will review the names and present a recommendation to the council for its consideration.

More details about the park history and naming process can be found in the meeting materials.

Update from County Councilmember Dunn

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn presented the State of the County, highlighting results from a voter survey that identified public safety, property taxes and homelessness as top concerns.

He provided an overview of key actions taken in 2024 and discussed the county’s proposed budget, including a look at historical budget levels and expenditures to illustrate changes in spending over time. Dunn noted that the budget includes significant cuts and tax increases in response to financial challenges.

More details are available in the meeting materials and the full presentation and discussion is available on video replay through Bellevue Television.

Women’s History Month proclamation

The council also proclaimed March 2025 as Women’s History Month. The proclamation honors and recognizes women’s achievements and contributions, helping to preserve the stories, challenges, and victories of our society and ensure women remain a source of inspiration and wisdom for generations to come.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Bellevue|Local Event

Overlake Medical Center, Neighbor

Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Overlake Medical Center, 1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004

More info here

Why are South Asian populations, even those as young as in their 30s and 40s, at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity than any other ethnic group? This is likely due to a combination of genetics and environment. The good news is that prediabetes can be controlled. Learn how to navigate lifestyle changes around specific challenges of the South Asian diet and social norms within the culture to live your best life.

Speaker: Ashwini Nayak, MD, Overlake Medical Center

Cost: Free. Pre-registration required.

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