As I reflect back on these past four years and all the snow, floods, and worldwide pandemic, I am happy to report Bellevue is steadfast on its course.
At sites throughout the city, you are seeing dirt turned. Whether it’s at Fairview Road and Highway 75, 54th and Highway 370, 35th and Chandler, 23rd and Cornhusker, Washington and Mission Avenue, 25th and Capehart, or Offutt Air Force Base, you can realize Bellevue is changing. Changing for the better. We are transforming from that sleepy little bedroom community to a metropolitan class city. Bellevue is the second largest city in the Metro area, now surpassing Council Bluffs in population.
Our goal is not to be big but to offer the services a metro-class city deserves and lessen the load of high property taxes. Some of these services include additional retail like that being planned in the Bridge Flats in our new Frontier District in Olde Towne Bellevue that adds 18,000 ft.² of retail with 53 apartments above, a $200 million office complex at Highway 34 and 75, a potential new entertainment district which includes a regional water park with a Natatorium, Racetrack/Casino, and other entertainment venues including multiple hotels, Papillion Sanitation’s headquarters relocating to Bellevue, an extension of Lakewood Villages, commercial development at Fort Crook Road and Cornhusker, or just simply improving our infrastructure.
Bellevue is thriving and our future looks amazing. For instance, a regional water park and natatorium that will draw regional interest and provide year-round recreation for our residents. New industry that will expand our tax base and help alleviate our property tax burden. Huge improvements to our infrastructure like the 36th Street widening project. A new library currently being constructed to meet our growing city’s needs. These are just a few projects that are making Bellevue better.
I am excited for the public to see the results of the new parks plan that will be released shortly and I look forward to additional input. Your city is listening and we simply want it to be everything you want it to be.
Even though we are in the information age it seems like people receive less information. I have made it my goal to make sure our citizens are informed about what is going on in the city. We have mailed out an annual report for two years but we are now working to provide a quarterly report as well.
Be proud Bellevue, and enjoy the upcoming Light Up Bellevue holiday light show in Washington Park starting at 6 PM Thanksgiving day.
