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Bellevue 2044 - Housing

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Housing is a key issue facing the city and the issue raised most often by community members. Over half of all respondents to the Bellevue 2044 Questionnaire rated the city’s progress towards providing a range of housing options that are affordable for people to rent or own as “below average” or “very poor.”

Planning for a range of housing types at different affordability levels is a key focus of the Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan. As a city we need to consider what type of housing is needed, where to put more housing, and how much housing we need to plan for to meet our goals. Some of those goals include:

  • Planning for a range of housing types and densities that allow us to maximize recent investments in transit
  • Prioritizing affordable housing for very low income families
  • Addressing past inequities that have shaped the city
  • Planning for residential neighborhoods that protect and promote the health and well-being of residents by supporting equitable access to parks, a clean environment, educational and economic opportunity, and transportation options.

On this project page we invite you to learn more about key housing data, share your housing story, and provide input that will help shape the future of housing in Bellevue.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT READY FOR REVIEW

On Thursday, April 27 the city released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. Community members and organizations with an interest in the future growth of Bellevue can now comment on the DEIS until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12. To read the DEIS and find out how to submit comments, please visit the city's Environmental Review webpage.

Housing is a key issue facing the city and the issue raised most often by community members. Over half of all respondents to the Bellevue 2044 Questionnaire rated the city’s progress towards providing a range of housing options that are affordable for people to rent or own as “below average” or “very poor.”

Planning for a range of housing types at different affordability levels is a key focus of the Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan. As a city we need to consider what type of housing is needed, where to put more housing, and how much housing we need to plan for to meet our goals. Some of those goals include:

  • Planning for a range of housing types and densities that allow us to maximize recent investments in transit
  • Prioritizing affordable housing for very low income families
  • Addressing past inequities that have shaped the city
  • Planning for residential neighborhoods that protect and promote the health and well-being of residents by supporting equitable access to parks, a clean environment, educational and economic opportunity, and transportation options.

On this project page we invite you to learn more about key housing data, share your housing story, and provide input that will help shape the future of housing in Bellevue.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT READY FOR REVIEW

On Thursday, April 27 the city released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. Community members and organizations with an interest in the future growth of Bellevue can now comment on the DEIS until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12. To read the DEIS and find out how to submit comments, please visit the city's Environmental Review webpage.

Share Your Housing Story

As part of the planning process the team will review a lot of data related to housing, but it's also important to hear about people's personal experience. We invite you to share your housing story. Have you or a member of your family struggled to find housing in Bellevue? Considering moving due to housing costs? Looking for a certain type of housing that you can't find?  


Thank you for sharing your story with us.
This discussion is currently paused while the community reviews the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). To learn more about the DEIS please visit https://bellevuewa.gov/2044-environmental-review.
  • Share Finally settling in Downtown Bellevue on Facebook Share Finally settling in Downtown Bellevue on Twitter Share Finally settling in Downtown Bellevue on Linkedin Email Finally settling in Downtown Bellevue link

    Finally settling in Downtown Bellevue

    by Keri, about 2 years ago
    After many years of renting downtown, my wife and I had a daughter and we began searching for a more permanent place to live. After running into many, many multiple-offer situations (30+) we finally got close on a townhouse, but still did not "win."


    Fortunately, we the lead offer caused a lot of friction with the seller, and the deal subsequently fell through. The seller then chose us (second-place works sometimes!) and we proceeded with the purchase.

    Very grateful this worked out, but we can definitely sympathize with folks who did not have such a fortunate experience trying to secure... Continue reading

  • Share Bellevue by accident on Facebook Share Bellevue by accident on Twitter Share Bellevue by accident on Linkedin Email Bellevue by accident link

    Bellevue by accident

    by siddhartha1, about 2 years ago

    I am a healthcare professional who was distance claused out of Seattle and chose the eastside rather than move north or south of Seattle. I answered an ad on the PCC Kirkland bulliten board to become a house maid in Wilberton in 1991. We bought the house in 1995 for 105k. The increase in value is shocking, on paper I'm more than a millionaire but squeaking by on property taxes. I recently made the decision to stay in Bellevue and am hoping to be able to do so because of the cost of living. I've look for years for somewhere... Continue reading

  • Share Living in Diverse Communities and With Our Generation on Facebook Share Living in Diverse Communities and With Our Generation on Twitter Share Living in Diverse Communities and With Our Generation on Linkedin Email Living in Diverse Communities and With Our Generation link

    Living in Diverse Communities and With Our Generation

    by Keri, about 2 years ago

    I moved here in 1981 in the diverse Crossroads area. We lived there for 26 years and had two children. We moved to a few places in Bellevue. My husband retired and died a few months later. I rented for a while and then looked to buy but couldn't afford anything I wanted. I care about sustainability and was looking for quality and things like solar panels that aren't available to people who rent.

    I wanted to be able to live somewhere where my family could still visit, but there is not availability in my home town. We have to... Continue reading

  • Share Born here, live elsehwere on Facebook Share Born here, live elsehwere on Twitter Share Born here, live elsehwere on Linkedin Email Born here, live elsehwere link

    Born here, live elsehwere

    by siddhartha1, about 2 years ago
    I was born and raised in Eastgate, attended Bellevue public schools K-12, and have fond memories walking the trails through Cougar Mountain throughout my youth. My parents moved to Bellevue in the late 80s and could afford a modest, mid-century house on a Boeing Engineer's salary supporting a family of 4. Their investment in housing in Bellevue was extremely profitable and they likely would have been strong voices against development of middle house. After college, I moved back to the eastside and worked for a nonprofit. Rents quickly started to rise dramatically in the mid-2010s and I've since moved to... Continue reading
  • Share Worried My Generation Can't Comfortably Set Down Roots Here on Facebook Share Worried My Generation Can't Comfortably Set Down Roots Here on Twitter Share Worried My Generation Can't Comfortably Set Down Roots Here on Linkedin Email Worried My Generation Can't Comfortably Set Down Roots Here link

    Worried My Generation Can't Comfortably Set Down Roots Here

    by Keri, about 2 years ago
    I would be considered a transplant, having come to Bellevue from out-of-state, right out of college, for work. I was born in 1998, so many of us (millenials/zillenials/Gen-Z) have been working for a few years, but not enough to build a foundation to own a home around here for our (current/future) families, especially around good school districts.


    But most of us won't have the means of purchasing a house for many more years, in which the market makes it very discouraging for us since we feel that we won't have a chance to compete. Either we continue renting or move... Continue reading

  • Share Young Person Looking to Live on Facebook Share Young Person Looking to Live on Twitter Share Young Person Looking to Live on Linkedin Email Young Person Looking to Live link

    Young Person Looking to Live

    by siddhartha1, about 2 years ago
    I moved to Bellevue 4 years ago, and it was a wonderful city. But this city is getting increasingly unaffordable. Especially for youth who are moving to the area and don't have many assets, saddled with burdensome student debt. I and my friends all spend increasing amounts of money on our living situations, and are less able to commute due to expensive vehicles.


    We need a city that looks out for its younger citizens. We want to live in an amazing city, we want to have higher density so it's a closer 10 minute walk to our friends, rather than... Continue reading

  • Share I won't be able to afford a home here, even with all the work we're doing tonight. on Facebook Share I won't be able to afford a home here, even with all the work we're doing tonight. on Twitter Share I won't be able to afford a home here, even with all the work we're doing tonight. on Linkedin Email I won't be able to afford a home here, even with all the work we're doing tonight. link

    I won't be able to afford a home here, even with all the work we're doing tonight.

    by Keri, about 2 years ago
    It's honestly just pure math. My boyfriend and I live together, want to start a family as we're nearing our thirties. Combined, we make 50% of AMI and aren't in positions where our earning potential will greatly increase, but we love our jobs and both contribute to our community. However, there are just absolutely no ownership opportunities available to people making our level of income. Because this all takes so long, even if Bellevue goes absolutely boldest (which we still absolutely should, i.e. exceed 35,000 units, go up to 70,000 units and more, upzone everywhere, create more 0-30% AMI units... Continue reading
  • Share my first grader's teacher on Facebook Share my first grader's teacher on Twitter Share my first grader's teacher on Linkedin Email my first grader's teacher link

    my first grader's teacher

    by siddhartha1, about 2 years ago

    I met with my first grader's teacher at the end of the year to find out what plans she has for summer and beyond. She is newly married and I was hoping to hear how the young couple is going to settle down close to school or at least in the city. Both of them are educators and couldn't afford to buy a home in the city. They settled for a home by Lake Stevens. I looked up the place and it is at least a 45min to an hour commute to the school. I was sad to learn that... Continue reading

  • Share Bellevue Lifer on Facebook Share Bellevue Lifer on Twitter Share Bellevue Lifer on Linkedin Email Bellevue Lifer link

    Bellevue Lifer

    by Keri, about 2 years ago

    I was born in Bellevue in the 60s to parents who were heavily involved in church life and city planning meetings to first ensure our family was not negatively impacted by changing city policy and also to lend their opinions to how Bellevue should grow - school boundaries were a big conversation back then. My mom served as a teacher in the Bellevue School District for 45 years. My dad had a business that employed neighbors and other Bellevue people.


    Bellevue has been an exclusive neighborhood for as long as I can remember.

    My parents borrowed money from my grandfather... Continue reading

  • Share Concerned about increasing property taxes as valuations soar on Facebook Share Concerned about increasing property taxes as valuations soar on Twitter Share Concerned about increasing property taxes as valuations soar on Linkedin Email Concerned about increasing property taxes as valuations soar link

    Concerned about increasing property taxes as valuations soar

    by siddhartha1, about 2 years ago
    My husband and I bought our home in 2013. We love living in Bellevue but we could not afford to buy the home we are living in if we had to buy it today. Each year our property valuation increases and last year the valuation increased by over $500,000. I am really concerned that as we retire and live on a fixed income that we won't be able to afford to continue to live here. I love our neighborhood as we can walk to parks and many services such as a grocery store and restaurants.
Page last updated: 08 Oct 2023, 11:56 AM