On a sunny Saturday morning, nearly 25 urbanists showed up to learn more about how the Wilburton neighborhood will be changing with the opening of East Link light rail. With frequent trains that will connect the neighborhood to Redmond, Seattle, and other cities in our region, Wilburton represents an exciting opportunity for sustainable, transit-oriented development.
However, current land use patterns in the area are unfortunately a far cry from this vision. No fewer than five sprawling car dealerships are present less than a quarter mile from the station. Wide roads like NE 8th St and 116th Ave NE are rather inaccessible to those who are not traveling in a motor vehicle. And with very little housing immediately near the station, it’s hard to imagine people regularly using this station in their day to day lives.
Our group tried to avoid the worst of the heat by finding shade where we could. We started our walk under the bridge leading to the Wilburton light rail station. 
Katherine Hollis, Executive Director of Eastrail Partners, points to the location of the future pedestrian overcrossing over NE 8th. This bridge will provide a key connection on the 42-mile-long Eastrail. 
Bellevue Councilmember Janice Zahn speaks to the crowd on the possibilities for protected bicycle infrastructure near the Wilburton neighborhood. 
The group listens to Brady Nordstrom, Eastside Program Coordinator at Futurewise, as he discusses the possibilities of the publicly-owned parcel at Lincoln Center. 
Community members came with many questions and ideas on how the Wilburton neighborhood could be better organized for more sustainable, pedestrian-oriented, and equitable development. 
The heat of the sun reminded our group of the importance of trees in providing shade and making public spaces more accommodating. 
CSB Founder Chris Randels discusses the limitations of the land use code in creating development patterns that support the city’s goals while mentioning the potential presented by publicly-owned parcels. 
We cannot give enough thanks to our outstanding partners from The Urbanist, Futurewise, and Eastrail Partners who all contributed to an amazing event!
Luckily, the City of Bellevue recognizes the immense opportunity presented by this station and is taking action to prepare the area for frequent transit. City staff envision the neighborhood incorporating over 6,000 housing units (increased from the current 500), with many of those units being affordable. Community work from 2018 envisions roadways being transformed into multimodal boulevards that can accommodate people getting around by walking, biking, rolling, or taking transit. And staff are working on land use codes that would prioritize the development of rich public spaces, tree canopy, affordable commercial spaces, and so much more.
At our event, we shared information and ideas on how Wilburton can become a neighborhood that is vibrant, accessible, and affordable to more people. From creative ideas to public space creation, to talking about how trail investments can connect with surrounding developments, to how & where exactly the city should build more housing in the neighborhood, our group had a rich discussion on the future of our city. And with the Wilburton process just getting started, the conversation is certainly far from being over.
When opened, the Wilburton light rail station will provide fast, frequent connections to Downtown Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, and other cities throughout our region. 
The light rail line will be a defining feature of the neighborhood as it grows. Our group wants to ensure that enough housing and sustainable transportation options are provided so that everybody who wants to be in the neighborhood can feel like they belong here. 
In ten years’ time, the Wilburton portion of Eastrail will hopefully look very different. Businesses will integrate directly with the trail, providing a mix of public and private spaces for people to gather. 
Although current developments have parking lots facing the trail, a revised land use code will enable future developments to more directly integrated with the trail & encourage more trail-oriented development. 
As a key Eastrail crossing, NE 4th St has the potential to turn into a multimodal boulevard that enables safe travel through all modes. 
Although 116th Ave NE is currently exclusively for use by cars, our group loves the Citizen Advisory Committee’s recommendation of a “grand boulevard” that supports the safe mobility of people walking, biking, and rolling.
Even if you didn’t join us for the festivities, you can still provide your feedback to help guide the development of the Wilburton neighborhood. It will take all of us to ensure that we end up with a Wilburton that is affordable, equitable, sustainable, and accessible for all who want to be there. To share your thoughts:
- Take the city’s online survey on housing, transportation, parks & open spaces, and more. This should take between 10 – 15 minutes to complete.
- Drop some pins on the city’s interactive map of the Wilburton neighborhood. This maps allows community members to note what they view as the challenges & opportunities for the neighborhood, in the areas of transportation, affordable housing, and more.
- Email your general comments, questions, and recommendations to WilburtonVision@bellevuewa.gov
It’s rare that cities get the chance to create a whole new neighborhood from the ground up. Your voice matters in this conversation, and you can help make sure we create a Wilburton that lives up to Bellevue’s values. Our organization is looking forward to the ongoing discussion and design process, and we hope you’ll join us in creating a better Wilburton for everyone!
All photos credited to Brady Woods
Complete Streets Bellevue 
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