Bellevue Explores Affordable Housing For Artists

BELLEVUE, WA - Bellevue might join Seattle and Everett as a local city with an affordable housing development for artists. The city has contracted with a national nonprofit developer of affordable artist communities to explore such an idea. The city will hold an informational meeting for the public on Wednesday to bring the issue to the public.

The city has contracted with Artspace on the study; Artspace owns and operates a number of affordable artist housing developments across the U.S. Some of its local developments include the Mt. Baker and Hiawatha lofts in Seattle, and the Artspace Everett lofts.

"The arts plays a key role in any thriving community, and Bellevue residents have embraced the city's reputation as the cultural hub of the Eastside," Scott MacDonald, an associate planner with the city's Arts Program, said in a statement. "Artspace's feasibility study will give us a road map so we can continue to build on that enthusiasm."

The Artspace properties typically offer a mix of commercial and residential space at a reduced rate. The Mt. Baker Lofts, for example, contains 57 studio, one, and three-bedroom units, plus 12 commercial spaces for work.

Bellevue is encouraging local artists and residents interested in such a project to come to the informational session on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. Northeast.

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