Planning for a Walkable City? Bellevue?

For better or for worse, the city of Bellevue comes up a lot on Exit133.  Some love it.  Some hate it.  Tacoma and Bellevue are at very different points in development, however, some of their challenges are ones we face today or will face in the future.  The Seattle Times ran a story yesterday about the challenges the city is facing making its downtown more pedestrian friendly.  Large blocks.  Wide streets.  An emphasis on car movement over people movement.  Bellevue is searching to create distinct neighborhoods after having developed the land.  Tacoma is looking to create distinct neighborhoods in parallel with, or prior to, developing the land.  Parking.

Our cities are different.  However, I believe we can learn from what Bellevue is trying to do now and build it into our urban landscape before the infill is complete.  Of course, to get there, we need to start telling a compelling tale about a walkable Tacoma.  The decisions we make now affect where we’re going.  Are you ready to help tell a story?

Link to the Seattle Times

(Thank you, SparkRobot)