The city of Bellevue, once vastly overshadowed by neighboring Seattle, has developed into one of the most bustling city centers on the west coast, boasting an impressive record of economic and community growth over the last 30 years with a strong plan for continued success.
The creation, management, and expansion of The Bellevue Collection, located in the heart of the city, features over 250 total shops and restaurants, office, residential, hotels and entertainment centers that serve the community at-large. The cornerstone of the city hub is Bellevue Square, which supports not only some of the larger brand name stores such as Nordstrom, but also local and diverse boutiques. City leaders’ vision for a downtown Bellevue hub expanded with the addition of Lincoln Square in the early-2000’s which then doubled in size in 2017. Lincoln Square is an adjoining mixed-use complex to Bellevue Square and Bellevue Place, that is connected through a series of skybridges which take shoppers to additional stores. Together, these three developments make-up the current Bellevue Collection. The Bellevue Collection has had a strong impact upon the city’s economy, bringing thousands of jobs, encompassing entry-level positions to corporate executives.
In addition to its economic boost to the populace, The Bellevue Collection is instrumental to uniting the Bellevue community in a series of yearly events. Various celebrations for the arts, such as the Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair and Fashion Week, serve to highlight some of the region’s most creative minds and their talents. Holidays are also enthusiastically celebrated at The Collection with the unparalleled holiday event, Snowflake Lane. These large events in addition to the Lunar New Year Celebration draw guests from across the state of Washington and surrounding states. These events demonstrate the city’s commitment to showcasing diversity, culture and unifying the community behind a shared appreciation for the arts.
Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Bellevue Collection leadership has taken a safety-first approach to re-opening that offers a return to normalcy while upholding state COVID guidelines. This high level of care and dedication to members of the community helps to keep customers safe as the fight against the virus continues. On top of supporting the state’s mandatory mask policy and – six feet of social distancing between visitors, Kemper Development Company has brought on a certified hygienist to consult on daily cleaning practices, best practices on the use of new and innovative technology as well as swab testing and reopening protocols. Few in the industry have deployed the extensive measures that Kemper Development Company and The Bellevue Collection have during this challenging time.
Plans for future development continue to be pushed to the forefront. A multi-million dollar contribution was generously made for the construction of a novel performing arts center that will be featured as an addition to The Bellevue Collection. The new cultural addition to the city, the Performing Arts Center Eastside will provide a place where people of all ages can gather to enjoy a wide variety of arts, further enhancing the soul of the city.
The Kemper Development Company vision for The Bellevue Collection is a lofty one and is well on its way to achieving some exciting goals. Through the collective properties and an intuitive pulse on the market it serves, The Bellevue Collection has emerged with a welcoming atmosphere that values diversity, the community, arts and culture, and is primed to grow exponentially. The metropolitan area has enjoyed much success these past decades, due in no small part to creative efforts behind The Bellevue Collection.