Town houses pop up among the Bellevue high-rises

In a few spots on the outskirts of downtown Bellevue, a more accessible, East Coast-style of living is emerging. Front doors open onto sidewalks instead of high-rise hallways, the units have ground-level porches and there are few elevators in sight.

Town houses are arriving in the midst of a downtown in love with vertical living.

The most visible example is 1200 Bellevue Way, a 49-unit development with red-brick walls that is turning heads on the north edge of downtown. The project is still unfinished, but about a dozen buyers have already moved in.

Bellevue's downtown is quickly filling up with shiny high-rises, full of condos and offices, with retail below. So the brick town houses stand out.

"Twenty years down the road, it's going to look classic, like it's been there for a while," said Noree Milligan, marketing director for the Mercer Island-based Dwelling Co., which is building the project.

A few town-house developments have been built recently south of downtown, and a couple of downtown high-rises under construction will include ground-floor town homes, according to city officials.

The first phase of Washington Square, down the street from 1200 Bellevue Way, will have 26 town homes as part of a twin-tower residential and retail complex. A block away, the Vue Hanover residential building will offer 15 town homes.

Katie and Bryan Welch were looking to upgrade to a single-family home from their Mercer Island condo, but then found 1200 Bellevue Way. They now plan to move into a 2,000-square-foot, three-level town home.

Instead of being stacked in a high-rise, the couple have privacy but can also step outside and talk to their neighbors in the courtyard.

"We own it top to bottom," said Katie Welch, 29. "It feels more like a home, but you have some community there, too."

Like most real-estate in Bellevue, the townhouses do not come cheap. At 1200 Bellevue Way, they sell for $745,000 to $950,000. The Welches paid $870,000.

The proximity to downtown provides "what feels like unlimited choices," said Bryan Welch, 45. The couple are a three-minute walk from a long line of restaurants and shops.

Bellevue city officials would like to see more town homes around downtown because they provide variety and a stronger neighborhood feel. Most developers, though, at least in the downtown core, are building up to maximize the space.

"You're not going to hang out in the lobby on a nice day, but you will hang out in the stoop of your townhouse or front porch," said Patti Wilma, the city's land-use planning manager.

Town homes "are going to be very desirable and popular," she added, "because people want to feel like they're grounded to the land."

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com