Sidewalks.
Back in 1986, Kemper Freeman Jr. took a courageous stand against sidewalks. From the New York Times:
THIS onetime Seattle bedroom community, now the fourth-largest city in the state, has long been known as the city without sidewalks. It is virtually impossible, as a local reporter documented a few years ago, to walk continuously from one part of downtown to another.
In an effort to bring the biped back to Bellevue, the city is requiring the developer of the new $260 million Bellevue Place, the largest project in regional history, to build sidewalks, widen streets and contribute to transportation systems.
Kemper Freeman Jr., the developer, says the demands are ”unfair and unreasonable.” His supporters say the requirements will have a ”chilling effect” on other developers, but city officials say that those who cause the congestion should have to pay for it.
Bellevue has grown like crazy since then, so the sidewalk mandate didn’t seem to stunt development like Freeman said it would. Oh well, it’s just another thing he’s wrong about.
Kemper has been stuck in the dark ages for some time now…glad to see he is consistant.
Actually surprised he was against paving sidewalks – given that he only wants to pave the Puget Sound and opposes light rail.
Given that tower cranes now practically outnumber existing buildings in Bellevue, one can only laugh at Freeman’s obviously self-serving lunacy. Yet, even with sidewalks, the street scene in Bellevue’s city center is strangely antiseptic. What did they do wrong?
the street scene in Bellevue’s city center is strangely antiseptic. What did they do wrong?
I can’t speak to Bellevue as a whole, but if you want a storefront in the Square itself, they have some pretty stringent requirements regarding previous business experience, x number of years of sales at a given volume, etc. etc.
Now that’s good business. Kemper wants to maximize his rents, and the best way to do that is to install businesses that have a proven record of bringing the cash in.
Unfortunately, chain stores don’t make for a fun or funky downtown.
“…city officials say that those who cause the congestion should have to pay for it.”
Wouldn’t that be the people moving into the community?
Kemper Freeman Jr., the developer, says the demands are ‘’unfair and unreasonable.’’ His supporters say the requirements will have a ‘’chilling effect’’ on other developers, but city officials say that those who cause the congestion should have to pay for it.
It’s unfair and unreasonable to have the people that cause and profit from congestion to pay to help mediate that congestion?
Hmm… I’m not sure what planet Mr. Freeman is living on, but I think a few Pierce County council members must live there too.
What hogwash.
@4: Brilliant, Marvin. What better way to develop than give mall developers big tax and land use breaks, creating essentially a commercial monopoly for them, and then taxing the fucking ingrates who have the temerity to move into the neighborhood.
That reminds me of the wingnut vision of some east-siders to pluck down their life savings for their shy 5 acres in eastern King County, live the bucholic life of a country squire, communte 35 miles each way to work on roads paid for by the metropolis, and cry fucking bloody murder that when they retire they can’t subdivide and let somebody build a bunch of crappy townhouses.
Yep. “It’s all about me” with you guys, and your hand is out to the government for help every step of the way.
Downtown Bellevue IS a mall. One big, boring mall.
Yes Broadway Joe: It has Headlice Loocie’s favrit place
Cheesecake Factory!
We agree on something else, Puddy? Jeez, this bipartisanship thing is contagious, ain’t it? But I’d rather hit Chipotle (burritos only slightly smaller than say, Ron Jeremy – try the carnitas!), or if money was no object, dine at the Ruth’s Chris instead of Cheesecake Factory.
There’s been a new Trader Vic’s in Bellevue for over a year. Haven’t checked it out yet because it’s….in Bellevue.