To learn more about the Seattle market and corporate housing in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to download our 2017 Synergy Global Housing Seattle Whitepaper, part of a series highlighting serviced accommodations in 10 U.S. markets.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, close to 1,100 new residents moved to the Seattle area. As the population grows in “the Emerald City,” so does the need for more space to house this new population of Seattleites. Unfortunately, the Pacific Northwest’s topography creates physical boundaries for expansion, and new residents are being forced farther and farther away from the heart of Seattle.
No community has felt this growth more than Bellevue, a city just to the east of Seattle.
Separated by Lake Washington and only 2 miles apart, Bellevue is technically a neighbor to Seattle, but the commute between the two can often take more than an hour as only two bridges (Interstate 90 or State Route 520) provide access across the lake.
Bellevue’s population was estimate at close to 140,000 people as of April of 2016, according to the city’s Planning and Community Development Department. This figure continues to grow at an astronomical rate. U.S. Census figures show that Bellevue’s population grew more than 10 percent in the 1990s and an additional 14 percent in the 2000s. In the first six years of this decade, Bellevue’s population has already grown 8.6 percent, with no signs of slowing.
“When you head east out of Seattle, and cross one of the bridges, Bellevue looks like it’s a city with a million people living there,” says Ben Wood, Synergy’s General Manager in Seattle. “There are a lot of new high-rises and the same kind of developments that are going up in Seattle you can see popping up in Bellevue as you approach it.”
While the city continues to grow, the area hasn’t lost its small-town charm – especially in the downtown neighborhood. Known as “Old Bellevue” this area has become a vibrant place to live, work and play, with a large selection of independently-owned boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. It’s also home to a number of unique spas and salons. The Main Street section, between Bellevue Way and NE 100th Street, reflect a bit of historical flair with old-fashioned lampposts and brick sidewalks lining the streets.
“There’s parks in the area, and they are building an amphitheater right now,” Ben says. “There’s cool little coffee shops and pastry stores. The bars and restaurants all have outside patios. It’s its own little part of Bellevue. We’re seeing a lot of our guests come in and instantly like it.”
The most popular neighborhood for corporate housing in Seattle is in South Lake Union, just to the north of downtown, but with technology companies such as Valve, Bungie and Expedia establishing a headquarters in Bellevue, the east side of Lake Washington is becoming increasingly important for short-term furnished housing solutions.
That’s why Synergy is focused on working with local property managers to identify opportunities to add housing solutions that meet the needs and desires of our customers. We want to deliver the right fit in terms of accommodations and location for all of our guests. Synergy has already partnered with Venn at Main to become the exclusive provider of furnished units for the Bellevue apartment community.
“It’s kind of weird (in a good way) that when you stay in one of our Bellevue apartments, you’re right in the middle of everything,” Wood says.
Among the upcoming events in Bellevue this summer is the open-air art and craft fair featuring 200 artists, musicians and craftspeople that encapsulates multiple events including the Bellevue Festival of the Arts, the Bellevue Art Museum’s Artsfair and the 6th Street Fair. The annual celebration is hosted during the last full weekend of July.
To learn more about the Seattle market and corporate housing in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to download our 2017 Synergy Global Housing Seattle Whitepaper, part of a series highlighting serviced accommodations in 10 U.S. markets.