Wilburton Bellevue Development: What Buyers Should Know About the New Apartment Proposal

Wilburton Bellevue Development: What Buyers Should Know About the New Apartment Proposal

Wilburton Bellevue development is accelerating as the city shifts the area from its longtime Auto Row pattern toward a denser, mixed-use, transit-oriented district with new housing, retail, light rail, trail connections, and pedestrian infrastructure. One of the newest proposals is an eleven-story mixed-use building at 120 116th Ave NE with roughly 450 apartments on a former auto-dealership site. Current Bellevue permit records list between 449 and 452 dwelling units, depending on the application stage, and the project remains under review rather than fully approved.

The apartment proposal is only one piece of a larger change taking place in Wilburton. Bellevue has already adopted a broader land-use framework for the area, Wilburton Station is operating on Sound Transit's 2 Line, Eastrail improvements are moving forward, and the planned Grand Connection is intended to strengthen pedestrian and bicycle access between downtown Bellevue and Wilburton.

For buyers, homeowners, investors, and people relocating to Bellevue, the more useful question is not simply how many apartments are proposed. It is how this project fits into the larger transformation of Wilburton and what that changing neighborhood could mean for everyday life and future real estate decisions.

Key takeaways

• A mixed-use apartment building is proposed at 120 116th Ave NE in Wilburton on a former auto-dealership property.
• Bellevue permit records currently describe between 449 and 452 dwelling units, depending on the related application. For clarity, this article refers to the project as roughly 450 apartments.
• The main design-review application remains pending, so the development should still be described as proposed.
• Bellevue has adopted a broader planning framework for roughly 300 acres of Wilburton designed to support more housing, employment, mixed-use development, walking, bicycling, trails, and transit.
• Wilburton Station already operates on Sound Transit's 2 Line, while Eastrail improvements and the planned Grand Connection add another layer to the neighborhood's transportation story.
• Development activity can change the questions buyers and homeowners ask about Wilburton, but it does not guarantee that nearby property values will rise or fall.

What is being proposed at 120 116th Avenue NE in Bellevue?

A roughly 450-unit mixed-use apartment building is proposed at 120 116th Ave NE in Bellevue's Wilburton neighborhood.

Bellevue's permit database currently identifies the project as 116th Ave Apartments. The proposal would replace an existing former auto-dealership site and parking area with an eleven-story mixed-use residential building.

The current design-review application describes 452 dwelling units, while a related land-use application lists 449 units. An earlier development-conference record described approximately 450 apartments along with ground-floor retail, structured parking, fitness space, leasing areas, and shared amenities.

Readers can review the current project status through the City of Bellevue permit record for 116th Ave Apartments.

How many apartments are actually proposed?

The most accurate plain-English description right now is roughly 450 apartments.

The unit count varies slightly across Bellevue's related permit records:

That variation is not unusual for a project moving through review.

Unit counts, layouts, parking, amenity space, and other project details can change as plans are revised. For that reason, a permanent article should avoid treating one preliminary number as final.

Is the 116th Avenue apartment project approved?

No. The project remains under review and should still be described as proposed.

Bellevue currently lists the design-review application as pending, while a related land-use application is marked not complete.

That does not mean the project will not move forward. It means there is an important difference between a developer submitting a proposal and the City completing its review.

The safest language is:

• proposed
• under review
• plans currently call for
• approximately 450 apartments
• if built substantially as proposed

Claims that hundreds of apartments are definitely "coming" to the site would overstate what the current permit record supports.

Why is Wilburton seeing so much new development?

Wilburton is seeing more development because Bellevue has changed the long-term planning and zoning framework for the area around 116th Avenue NE, light rail, Eastrail, and the eastern edge of downtown Bellevue.

The City of Bellevue's Wilburton Vision addresses an approximately 300-acre transit-oriented development area.

Bellevue adopted updated Comprehensive Plan policies for Wilburton in 2024 and followed with land-use-code changes in 2025. The framework is intended to support a more mixed-use, walkable, trail-connected, and transit-connected district.

That makes the 116th Avenue apartment proposal part of a larger planning story rather than an isolated development announcement.

From Auto Row to a mixed-use district

Bellevue is planning for Wilburton's historically auto-oriented commercial area to accommodate a broader mix of housing, jobs, retail, public space, and transportation options over time.

For decades, much of 116th Avenue NE has been associated with Bellevue's Auto Row.

That existing identity is still visible today.

The planning framework does not mean every dealership or commercial property will disappear. Redevelopment happens parcel by parcel and depends on property owners, financing, market conditions, permitting, and project-specific City review.

What has changed is the underlying land-use framework.

For broader context on why Bellevue continues attracting attention as both a residential and employment center, see our guide to Bellevue's lifestyle, walkability, parks, and regional appeal.

What is Bellevue's Wilburton Vision?

Bellevue's Wilburton Vision is the City's adopted planning framework for guiding roughly 300 acres of Wilburton toward a more mixed-use, walkable, trail-oriented, and transit-oriented neighborhood.

The City Council began the current implementation effort in 2022. Bellevue adopted updated Comprehensive Plan policies in 2024 and completed the related land-use-code phase in 2025.

The City's Wilburton land-use changes created new mixed-use districts and development standards addressing issues such as housing, employment, affordable housing, open space, building design, walking, bicycling, and neighborhood connectivity.

That distinction is important.

The Wilburton Vision establishes what the City is planning for. Individual apartment, hotel, medical, office, retail, and mixed-use projects still need to move through their own review processes.

An adopted planning framework creates development capacity.

It does not guarantee that every project allowed under that framework will eventually be built.

What does transit-oriented development mean?

Transit-oriented development generally means placing more homes, jobs, services, and walkable connections near frequent public transportation.

In Wilburton, that concept is especially relevant because several important pieces are concentrated close together:

• Sound Transit light rail
• Eastrail
• downtown Bellevue
• major commercial parcels
• new mixed-use zoning
• planned pedestrian and bicycle connections across I-405

Those relationships are part of why Wilburton is changing differently from a typical stand-alone apartment-development site.

How are the 2 Line, Eastrail, and Grand Connection changing Wilburton?

Sound Transit's 2 Line, King County's Eastrail, and Bellevue's Grand Connection are giving Wilburton stronger rail, trail, pedestrian, and bicycle connections as the neighborhood becomes more mixed-use.

These are three separate transportation projects, but together they help explain Bellevue's long-term planning direction for the area.

Wilburton Station and the Sound Transit 2 Line

Wilburton Station is an operating Sound Transit 2 Line light-rail station in Bellevue.

The station places the neighborhood directly on the regional light-rail network.

Current station information is available through Sound Transit's Wilburton Station page.

For buyers, the important question is not simply whether a listing is "near light rail."

Consider how useful the station would actually be for your routine:

• What is the real walking time?
• Are there major roads or crossings between the property and station?
• Where do you commute?
• How often would you realistically use the train?
• Would you still need a vehicle for most trips?

Transit access can be valuable without being equally useful for every buyer.

What is Eastrail?

Eastrail is a regional walking and bicycling corridor running through Bellevue and Wilburton, with additional improvements still underway.

King County is converting the historic Wilburton Trestle into an elevated trail segment as part of the larger Eastrail network.

According to King County's current Eastrail project information, construction on the Wilburton Trestle began in 2024 and the County currently anticipates opening that segment in mid-2027.

Infrastructure schedules can change, so anyone making a move based on future trail access should verify the current timeline.

For Wilburton, Eastrail adds another transportation and recreation spine that future development can connect with.

What is the Grand Connection?

Bellevue's Grand Connection is a planned pedestrian-focused corridor intended to improve the connection between downtown Bellevue and Wilburton across I-405.

The City's Grand Connection Crossing is planned as a vehicle-free pedestrian and bicycle connection between downtown Bellevue and Eastrail.

The broader Grand Connection corridor begins near Meydenbauer Bay, moves through downtown Bellevue, crosses I-405, and connects toward Eastrail in Wilburton.

This geographic relationship is important.

Wilburton is not simply another redevelopment district somewhere on the Eastside. It sits immediately next to downtown Bellevue and at the intersection of several transportation and public-space investments.

Is the 116th Avenue project the only new development in Wilburton?

No. The roughly 450-unit proposal is one of several development applications appearing as Bellevue's new Wilburton land-use framework begins influencing redevelopment.

For example, Bellevue's permit system also shows another pending proposal at 1200 116th Ave NE involving approximately 214 apartments with residential amenity space and structured parking.

That does not mean every Wilburton parcel is being redeveloped.

It does show that multiple property owners are exploring what can be built under the area's newer land-use framework.

The useful distinction for buyers is between:

1. adopted zoning,
2. submitted development applications,
3. approved projects,
4. projects under construction,
5. and longer-term concepts that may change or never be built.

Those categories are not interchangeable.

A permit application tells you what someone wants to build.

It does not always tell you exactly what will ultimately exist on the site.

How does affordable housing fit into Wilburton's growth?

Affordable housing is part of Bellevue's Wilburton planning strategy, including a separate City-supported project planned for public property within the transit-oriented district.

In October 2025, Bellevue selected Bellwether Housing to develop affordable housing and community space on City-owned land in Wilburton.

According to the City's Bellwether Housing selection announcement, the proposal is expected to provide at least 127 affordable homes serving qualifying households across a range of incomes.

That Bellwether project is not the same project as the private apartment proposal at 120 116th Ave NE.

Keeping those developments separate matters because multiple housing announcements can make it sound as though every reported number belongs to the same building.

Bellevue's broader Wilburton zoning framework also includes affordable-housing requirements and incentives.

The neighborhood's housing story therefore includes both private mixed-use development and separate affordable-housing initiatives.

Wilburton today versus what is planned or proposed

Wilburton already has light rail and an adopted mixed-use planning framework, while many of the housing projects, trail improvements, and pedestrian connections readers hear about are still proposed or under construction.

Separating those categories makes it easier to understand what buyers can experience today versus what may change later.

Wilburton today vs. planned or proposed change

This distinction helps prevent one of the biggest misunderstandings around fast-changing neighborhoods: a future planning map is not the same thing as today's built environment.

What could Wilburton redevelopment mean for daily life?

If development broadly follows Bellevue's adopted Wilburton Vision, the neighborhood could become denser, more mixed-use, and less dominated by the auto-oriented commercial pattern that has historically defined much of 116th Avenue NE.

That shift will not happen overnight.

Buyers should evaluate both the Wilburton that exists today and the neighborhood Bellevue is planning for over the coming years.

Housing

More residential applications could add substantial apartment inventory to Wilburton, but they do not necessarily create additional for-sale homes.

That difference matters.

A neighborhood can add hundreds or thousands of rental units without creating the same number of condominiums or townhomes for buyers.

When evaluating supply, distinguish among:

• rental apartments,
• condominiums,
• townhomes,
• affordable housing,
• and other residential formats.

Retail and services

Mixed-use redevelopment can add new ground-floor shops and services, but individual tenants and opening dates should not be assumed until projects advance further.

The earlier development record for the 116th Avenue Apartments included ground-floor retail.

That helps explain the mixed-use concept, but it does not tell readers which businesses will eventually occupy the space.

Walking and bicycling

Bellevue's Wilburton planning framework, Eastrail, and Grand Connection are intended to improve walking and bicycling connections, but not every planned connection is complete today.

Buyers should test actual walking routes instead of relying entirely on planning maps.

Look at:

• intersections,
• sidewalks,
• crossings,
• hills,
• construction,
• lighting,
• and real travel time.

A future pedestrian improvement is different from a convenient route you can use today.

Neighborhood character

The biggest long-term change may be Wilburton's transition from a primarily auto-oriented commercial district toward a more urban mixed-use neighborhood.

Different buyers may view that change differently.

Someone who prefers lower-density commercial surroundings may have different priorities from someone who wants apartments, shops, transit, trails, and downtown Bellevue within a compact area.

Neither preference is inherently better.

It is a question of fit.

What should buyers and relocating households watch in Wilburton?

Buyers should evaluate Wilburton using four separate layers: what exists today, what Bellevue has adopted, what developers have proposed, and what remains uncertain.

Before choosing a property, consider:

• How close is the home to Wilburton Station in actual walking time?
• What development applications are active nearby?
• Is nearby construction proposed, approved, or already underway?
• How useful would Eastrail be for your routine?
• Where would the future Grand Connection sit relative to the property?
• Do you prefer a neighborhood becoming more urban and mixed-use?
• Are you comfortable with possible construction activity during the transition?
• What housing type are you purchasing, and how does that affect your ownership goals?

For buyers comparing Eastside options, our guide to Issaquah versus Bellevue provides additional context on housing choices, commuting, location, and lifestyle tradeoffs.

Bellevue's employment base can also matter for relocation decisions. Our article on Bellevue's changing technology and employment landscape provides related context without assuming that employment growth automatically determines real estate values.

What does Wilburton development mean for homeowners and sellers?

Wilburton development may shape the questions buyers ask about nearby homes, but it does not guarantee a higher or lower sale price.

Sellers may encounter questions about:

• light-rail access,
• proposed development,
• current construction,
• future density,
• Eastrail,
• pedestrian connections,
• retail,
• and how the neighborhood could change.

The best response is accurate context.

Avoid statements such as:

“This project will raise property values.”

or

“Light rail guarantees appreciation.”

Those conclusions go beyond what the available evidence can support.

Pricing should still rely on:

• current comparable sales,
• property condition,
• competing inventory,
• recent buyer activity,
• housing type,
• location,
• and the characteristics of the specific property.

Development information can help explain neighborhood context.

It should not replace current market analysis.

Expert insight: What this means locally

The 116th Avenue apartment proposal matters, but the bigger real estate story is that Wilburton itself is changing.

For many years, people experienced this part of Bellevue primarily through Auto Row and the commercial area east of downtown.

That description is becoming less complete.

Wilburton now has an operating light-rail station. Bellevue has adopted a new mixed-use development framework. Eastrail improvements are underway. The Grand Connection is intended to create a stronger pedestrian connection across I-405. Multiple housing projects are entering the review process.

For buyers, this creates both opportunity and uncertainty.

A useful real estate decision should not be based entirely on today's streetscape or entirely on tomorrow's renderings.

Look at all four:

what exists now + what is adopted + what is proposed + what fits your actual lifestyle.

That gives buyers and homeowners a much clearer picture of Wilburton than either a development headline or a sales pitch.

Frequently asked questions about Wilburton Bellevue development

How many apartments are proposed at 120 116th Ave NE?

Current Bellevue permit records associated with the development list between 449 and 452 dwelling units.

The exact figure varies by application stage, while an earlier development record described approximately 450 apartments. That is why this article uses “roughly 450 apartments” rather than treating one number as permanent.

Is the Wilburton apartment project approved?

No. The project is still under review.

Bellevue currently lists the design-review application as pending, while another related land-use application is marked not complete.

The project should therefore continue to be described as proposed.

Could the apartment count change?

Yes. Proposed unit counts can change as a project moves through design and land-use review.

The fact that related Bellevue applications currently list slightly different totals already shows why early development numbers should not be treated as final.

What is Bellevue's Wilburton Vision?

Bellevue's Wilburton Vision is the City's adopted framework for guiding roughly 300 acres of the neighborhood toward more mixed-use, walkable, trail-connected, and transit-connected development.

The City adopted updated Comprehensive Plan policies in 2024 and related land-use-code changes in 2025.

Is Wilburton Station on Sound Transit's 2 Line?

Yes. Wilburton Station is an operating station on Sound Transit's 2 Line.

The station gives the neighborhood direct access to the regional light-rail network and is one of the reasons transit-oriented development plays such a large role in Bellevue's Wilburton planning.

Is Wilburton the same as downtown Bellevue?

No. Wilburton is a distinct Bellevue area immediately east of downtown, across I-405.

The planned Grand Connection is intended to create a stronger pedestrian and bicycle link between downtown Bellevue and Eastrail in Wilburton.

Helpful resources

City of Bellevue: Wilburton Vision

Bellevue's primary planning page for the Wilburton Vision, Comprehensive Plan changes, environmental work, and land-use implementation.

City of Bellevue: Wilburton land-use changes

Explains the adopted mixed-use districts and development standards implementing the Wilburton Vision.

Bellevue permit record: 116th Ave Apartments

Current project record for the proposed development at 120 116th Ave NE, including permit status and unit-count information.

Sound Transit: Wilburton Station

Official station information confirming Wilburton's connection to Sound Transit's 2 Line.

King County: Eastrail

Official King County information on Eastrail improvements and the Wilburton Trestle project.

City of Bellevue: Grand Connection Crossing

Explains the proposed pedestrian and bicycle connection across I-405 between downtown Bellevue and Eastrail.

City of Bellevue: Bellwether Housing selection

Official City information about the separate affordable-housing project planned for City-owned property within Wilburton.

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