Eastside Affordable Housing: Council Votes Unanimously to Fund Key Projects
On January 26, 2024, the City Council unanimously approved funding for eight housing projects, totaling nearly 900 affordable housing units across the Eastside. The Regional Coalition for Housing recommended $4 million from the 2023 Housing Trust Fund, with Bellevue contributing $1.4 million and Redmond adding $2.1 million to support two projects.
These projects cater to diverse needs, including supportive housing for homeless seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, as well as affordable senior living and transit-oriented developments for families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some projects will also preserve existing affordable housing.
Additionally, the council allocated $15 million from the Housing Stability Program to fund three Bellevue projects: BRIDGE Housing’s Spring District transit-oriented development, Catholic Housing of Western Washington’s Maurice Elbert House, and the Low Income Housing Institute’s Aventine Apartments. These initiatives aim to provide housing and services for vulnerable populations, including those exiting homelessness and individuals with disabilities.
Final action on these projects is pending, with further details available in the Housing Trust agenda materials and the Housing Stability agenda materials.
Sound Transit shares updates on the opening of the 2 Line
On February 15, 2024, the council received a briefing from Sound Transit’s East Link team on the upcoming launch of the 2 Line service this spring. This phase covers a 6.3-mile stretch along Interstate 90, serving eight stations in Bellevue and Redmond. The service will kick off with grand opening celebrations, including a ribbon-cutting in downtown Bellevue and other stations, featuring programming from community partners. Sound Transit will soon announce the grand opening date and transit details.
Once operational, trains will run every 10 minutes between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. daily, with a travel time of approximately 17 minutes from South Bellevue to Redmond Technology Center. Initially, King County Metro and Sound Transit express buses will maintain their current routes. Future adjustments to the bus network to align with rail service are expected upon the full opening of the 2 Line next year.
Bellevue Council Advances Human Services Strategy
On Feb 15, 2024, the City Council received an update on Bellevue’s Human Services Needs and directed staff to return with a resolution adopting the Human Services Strategic Plan. This comprehensive assessment, conducted every two years, provides insights into community needs and informs funding decisions by the Human Services Commission.
The assessment revealed significant gaps in services, particularly in meeting the cultural and language needs of Bellevue's diverse communities. Additionally, the council reviewed the city's first Human Services Strategic Plan, outlining key objectives for the next six years, which was subsequently adopted.
For further details, the full discussion is available on Bellevue Television's video replay below.
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