Published May 6 2025
The City of Bellevue was recently recognized as the 2025 Frank Chopp Public Sector Champion by the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County for its unwavering commitment to affordable housing. This award highlights the city’s vision and dedication, as well as its consistent efforts to tackle affordable housing issues in a meaningful way.
Bellevue’s prioritization of affordable housing is easily seen in its recent launch of a dedicated Office of Housing. The new city office signals an enduring commitment to supporting the housing needs of the entire community.
“Bellevue is a growing community, and we and our partners are focused on expanding opportunities for everyone to have a safe and stable home they can afford,” said Bianca Siegl, director of the Office of Housing. “We are grateful to be the first recipient of the newly named award recognizing former Speaker Frank Chopp’s legacy of tireless housing advocacy and leadership. It’s an honor that we will continue striving toward.”
Bellevue’s collaborative and impactful approach to affordable housing is also visible in its recent Comprehensive Plan update, which includes capacity for up to 35,000 homes to be primarily built and preserved in transit-oriented areas over the next 20 years. Adopted after two and a half years of significant community engagement, the updated plan emphasizes anti-displacement and reparative housing policies that will encourage Bellevue to grow in a strategic and efficient manner.
The City Council has demonstrated its dedication to affordable housing by launching a data-informed update to the city’s Affordable Housing Strategy with a target of facilitating 5,700 new or preserved affordable homes over the next decade. This target represents a 128% increase over its previous goal, which was achieved three years ahead of schedule.
“Bellevue continues to lead with purpose – aligning closely with the Housing Development Consortium’s mission to ensure all people live in safe, healthy and affordable homes in thriving communities,” said HDC’s executive director Patience Malaba. “We congratulate the city on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to continuing this impactful work together.”
Additional efforts include land use code amendments in areas like Wilburton – which emphasize sustainable transit-oriented districts with increased capacity for housing at all income levels – as well as increasing the number and types of housing units permitted in residential areas, bringing the city into compliance with updated state legislation, and improving processes like expedited permitting for affording housing development.