"Real Estate Development 2015 and Beyond - The Eastside and The Bellevue Collection!"
Kemper Freeman Jr.
Chairman and CEO Kemper Development Company
Scribe: Megan Sweeters Introduced by: Dick Brown
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In this Issue
Kemper Freeman Jr., Chairman and CEO of Kemper Development Company, shared some history of Bellevue and his family, the major drivers of Bellevue’s growth and a look into the expansion of the Bellevue Collection. His grandfather’s initial market research, after acquiring ten acres in downtown Bellevue in 1946, became the genesis for Bellevue Square and continues to be the foundation for growth today, “What does the market/population need that it doesn’t have now?”.
Club news includes an update on the upcoming BBRC 10K race, BBRC New Member Project, Rotary First Harvest and information on the upcoming Fellowship Gathering.
Speaker
Dick Brown introduced our guest speaker, Kemper Freeman Jr., while sharing his thanks to Kemper for his on-going dedication and support to the tenants of the Bellevue Collection. Dick owned Albert Ltd. and a long time tenant of Bellevue Square.
Kemper Freeman, Jr., a Rotarian for forty nine (49) years, spoke about how lucky he, and Eastside residents, are to be in our community – “Born and Revised”. The three (3) Major Drivers are (1) the underlying economy, with our community noted as the best place to do business in the US attracting major businesses like Microsoft, Paccar, Nintendo and Boeing, (2) Energy Independent, and (3) Free Enterprise. Bellevue became a city in 1953 and now the Eastside is a Sub Regional Market serving as primary market for 670,000. The Eastside has now passed Seattle (a Super Regional Market serving 8,000,000) in retail and restaurant sales with $8.9 billion and $4.5 billion in sales, respectfully. Concurrently, commuting from the Eastside to Seattle has dramatically changed over the past half century, from 85% to 9% of Eastside residents commuting to Seattle.
The Bellevue Collection consists of Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place with retail, office, hotels and residential, and much more in the works. The Bellevue Collection is also home to the annual Snowflake Lane, Fashion Week and Bellevue Arts & Crafts show (the longest running Arts & Crafts show and celebrating its 70th year in 2015).
Club Business
Invocation and Introduction of Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Dan Sullivan gave an “Irish” Invocation and led the pledge, and Carmela Ramaglia introduced visiting Rotarians and Guests.
Lucky Charms
BBRC Sergeant-At-Arms and Leprechaun Tim Leahy went looking for Lucky Charms. Did you know… Steve LIngenbrink’s lucky charm is the #9 on the Craps table, Carmela Ramaglia has lucky charm necklaces, and Laura Adams Cosacchi will be carrying her lucky Ribbon of Pins on her upcoming route on Camino de Santiago? Neither did many of our members, so our SSA Leprechaun took off with a Pot of Gold!
BBRC “All In For Autism” 10k Run
April 26, 2015
Mike Ralph says “Step it Up”! Our annual 10K Run/5K Walk/Kids Dash is coming up fast! Good progress is being made on our $50,000 sponsorship goal however we are far short of the runners and volunteers needed. Go Team!
New Member Project
During the first year of BBRC membership, each member is required to join the New Member Committee and be involved in completion of a project created, planned and implemented by the committee. Sheldon Sweeney announced that the committee is working on a project to build a border around the Aylssa Burnett Adult Life Center to grow food and flowers. Seattle Children’s Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center was created to help meet the important needs of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities as they age out of the education system. A film provided insight into the year-round classes to promote lifelong learning, enhance quality of life and provide meaningful ways to take part in the community.
Ukraine – Used Medical Equipment Needed
Please contact Val Golovorodko, BBRC Member and native of Ukraine, if anyone has connection to organizations that could donate used medical equipment to aid Ukraine during the conflict with Russia.
Announcements
Rotary First Harvest Work Party – March 14th from 9-11 a.m.
John DeWater – Please join the Fellowship Committee for fun and fellowship on March 19th at the Black Raven Brewery in Redmond at 14679 NE 95th St.
Colleen Turner – Please call to assist in the distribution of Dictionaries to local Elementary schools next week.