BAM moved onto the campus on Sept. 18, 2026. Its offices are in the college’s D Building, which also holds the campus art gallery, the BCTV: College Channel TV station, and Carlson Theatre and Stop Gap Studio. Having BAM there makes the building a center for community arts, entertainment and student learning. BAM plans to take more space on campus in 2027, after the college’s new W Building opens to students and faculty.

From Downtown Museum to Campus Partner

For more than 20 years, BAM operated out of the Steven Holl-designed building at 510 Bellevue Way NE in Downtown Bellevue. The museum closed to the public on Sept. 4, 2024. Attendance, fundraising and retail sales had all dropped after the pandemic, and BAM filed for receivership to restructure. It kept a small transitional staff to run private events and keep the arts fair going.

In October 2025, BAM agreed to sell the building to KidsQuest Children’s Museum for $5 million. The proceeds let BAM pay off its creditors and rebuild as a nonprofit. BAM finalized the sale in May 2026, and Cassandra Johnston, previously BAM’s head of finance and operations, became CEO as part of the transition. KidsQuest plans to open in the former museum building in 2029, with help from $10 million in city funding.

What the Partnership Could Include

Bellevue College and BAM are looking at ways to connect BAM’s regional arts network with the college’s academic programs, faculty and students, and with the wider Bellevue community. Ideas under consideration include:

• Using BAM’s network of artists, community partners and arts organizations to promote and strengthen the college’s current arts programs
• Working with the college’s Interior Design department to co-design BAM’s new space
• Creating Summer Arts Fair internships for Bellevue College students
• Supporting the college’s art galleries on campus
• Offering a series of cultural art workshops for the community

What Leaders Are Saying

Rich Fukutaki, chair of the Bellevue College Board of Trustees, said the arrangement puts a valuable resource within reach of students. “Bringing the Bellevue Arts Museum to Bellevue College will place an extraordinary resource that will enrich students’ education through direct engagement with world-class art, building lasting value to our community,” he said. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting the arts and ensuring they remain an essential part of our region’s growth and identity for years to come.”

Johnston called the move the organization’s next chapter. “We are thrilled to join this vibrant and innovative college community. This move marks the next chapter for our organization as we champion community-centered initiatives that support creativity, learning, conversation, exploration, and impactful community partnerships,” she said.

Adam Harrison, president of the BAM Board of Directors, said the organization will keep producing the arts fair as it redefines itself. “We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Bellevue College as we reinvent what our nonprofit organization will become outside of our former museum walls. We will continue to produce the Bellevue Arts Fair and evolve our brand to respond to the needs of our partners and our community.”

Johnston said both organizations want the same things. “Bellevue College is a natural fit because our intentions align. Collectively, we are committed to expanding access to the arts and championing the social value of creative and cultural spaces for wider audiences,” she said. “We anticipate great things to come.”

The post Bellevue Arts Museum Moves to Bellevue College Campus Under New Partnership appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

The headcount figure was first reported by the Puget Sound Business Journal, which also tracked a jump in TikTok’s Bellevue job listings: 396 open roles as of Monday, up from 327 in August. A TikTok spokesperson did not respond to the Business Journal’s request for comment.

Hiring Outpaces Two Rounds of Cuts

The growth comes despite two rounds of layoffs affecting roughly 140 Bellevue employees. In August, TikTok filed a WARN notice to cut 75 jobs at Lincoln Square North, with separations taking effect Oct. 19. That followed a combined 65 TikTok and ByteDance layoffs in July 2025, most tied to the TikTok Shop e-commerce division.

Both rounds of cuts hit TikTok Shop and global e-commerce teams, which make up the bulk of the company’s local workforce. TikTok opened its first Bellevue offices in 2021 specifically to recruit e-commerce talent from Amazon’s backyard, and most of its Bellevue-based employees still work on the TikTok Shop platform.

The net gain also stands out against a difficult year for Bellevue tech workers. Meta, Bungie, Visa, Salesforce, T-Mobile, and Amazon have all announced Bellevue job cuts in 2026.

From Key Center Subleases to Lincoln Square North

While its headcount has climbed, TikTok has consolidated where those employees sit. Between 2021 and 2024, the company subleased nearly 155,000 square feet at Key Center from SAP Concur and Meta, treating the tower at 601 108th Ave. NE as a temporary hub while its Bellevue workforce ramped up. ByteDance expanded there again in early 2024.

For its long-term home, TikTok turned to Lincoln Square North, the Bellevue Collection office tower Microsoft vacated as it consolidated staff in Redmond. The company leased more than 286,000 square feet there in 2024 and hired global architecture firm Gensler to build out the space. That work wrapped up earlier this year, and TikTok has since given back more than 110,000 square feet at Key Center as its original subleases expired, keeping just two floors in the building.

Gensler also designed a separate 40,000-square-foot Bellevue office for TikTok’s U.S. Data Security division, which opened in June 2025.

Two Companies Under One Roof

TikTok’s U.S. workforce is split into two legal entities based on job function. Employees in e-commerce, advertising, and marketing work for TT Commerce & Global Services LLC, the affiliate that filed the August WARN notice, while those focused on data protection and algorithm security fall under a separate entity. The structure took shape after TikTok was required to sell portions of its U.S. business to an American ownership group. It is not publicly known how Bellevue’s 2,200 employees are divided between the two.

For downtown Bellevue, the numbers point to a tenant that is growing in people while shrinking in square footage, a pattern that has played out across the Eastside office market as companies pack more employees into newer, more efficient space. With nearly 400 open positions, TikTok’s Lincoln Square North floors are likely to get fuller before they get emptier.

The post TikTok’s Bellevue Workforce Grows to 2,200 Despite Layoffs and a Smaller Office Footprint appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

Lowering the barriers to building DADUs and cottages is a City Council priority. The effort builds on the middle housing code changes adopted in 2025, which opened more of Bellevue to a wider range of housing types. Under the new program, property owners will be able to buy pre-approved building plans at a set price, giving them access to high-quality designs and a faster path through permitting.

Survey Open Now

The city has opened a short survey asking community members which design features matter most to them, including layout, number of bedrooms, exterior style and green building features. The responses will be used to build community scoring criteria that designers will follow when submitting plan concepts.

The city aims to offer up to 10 pre-approved plans. Together they’re meant to cover a variety of styles, reflect a range of community preferences and work on typical Bellevue lots.

Why Pre-Approved Plans

Cities around the country are using pre-approved designs to speed up permitting and open the door to more housing choices. According to the city, the approach has worked especially well for DADUs and cottages in other cities, because these freestanding structures can follow consistent design and building standards. Property owners pick from a set of vetted designs rather than starting from scratch, which saves time, cuts down on early decisions and can lower costs significantly.

Community Session and Review Panel

City staff and partners from Govstream.ai scheduled an interactive session after the Residential Permitting Expo on Saturday, Oct. 17. At the session, staff would outline the vision for the program and answer questions, and Govstream.ai would demonstrate tools in development that help property owners understand what may be feasible on their land.

Next, the city will form a community review panel. The panel will evaluate submitted designs and help choose which ones join Bellevue’s pre-approved catalog. Details on applying for the panel, along with other ways to take part, will be posted on the city’s Pre-Approved Plans webpage as the program moves forward.

The city says this community-informed approach will help the final plans reflect Bellevue’s values, support housing affordability and give property owners a clearer, quicker route to building smaller homes.

The post Help Shape Bellevue’s Pre-Approved Plans for Faster Permits on Backyard Homes and Cottages appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

Brothers Nate and Ben Checketts started Rhone in 2014, along with three other co-founders. The company is based in Stamford, Connecticut. It began as a men’s activewear label and added a permanent women’s line in April 2024. 

What Rhone Carries

Rhone’s best-known line is the Commuter collection, which the company sells as performance workwear for both the office and after hours. It includes button-down shirts, pants and layering pieces. For men, the brand also sells quarter-zips, polos, tees, hoodies, joggers, shorts, sweaters, blazers and outerwear, plus training lines including Reign.

The women’s range has leggings, sports bras, tanks, tops, hoodies, pants, dresses, skirts and skorts, under collection names including DreamGlow, Revive and Horizon.

Rhone’s fabrics include recycled polyester, merino wool, organic cotton and modal. Many pieces are antimicrobial and breathable, and some use flatlock stitching to reduce chafing. The brand also has partnerships with the NBA and LPGA.

Similar Stores at Bellevue Square

Rhone will join several other performance and athleisure retailers at the mall. Vuori has men’s and women’s activewear on the first level, in the former Ted Baker space next to Ben Bridge Jeweler. Also on the first level, Beyond Yoga sells workout sets, loungewear, and men’s and maternity styles.

On the second level, TravisMathew carries men’s and women’s golf apparel and activewear.

For women’s performance wear, Athleta operates on the second level. lululemon is moving to a larger Level 2 store in the former Banana Republic space in early December.’

The post Performance Apparel Brand Rhone to Open in November at Bellevue Square appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

The new spa is at 12001 NE 12th St. in Brierwood Center, the strip mall on Northeast 12th Street that is also home to The Goose Pub & Eatery.

In August, American Capital Group submitted a Design Review application to the City of Bellevue to redevelop Brierwood Center. The proposal, called Brierwood Apartments, would replace the center’s four commercial buildings with an eight-story mixed-use building. It would have about 378 apartments, roughly 76 of them affordable, plus ground-floor commercial space and structured parking.

What Is a Head Spa?

Rewind describes a head spa as a restorative treatment for the scalp and hair. Depending on the service, a visit may include a consultation, cleansing, massage, water therapy, hydration, warm towels, steam and finishing care.

Signature Relaxation Services

The spa’s signature menu has five options: the Signature Wash & Style, Signature Express, Aromatherapy Ritual, Herbal Infusion Ritual and Pure Hydro-Lux Scalp Ritual. Each one starts with a scalp refresh, hair wash and blow-dry or styling, then adds its own elements. Rewind offers the $100 Signature Wash & Style as an introductory option for first-time guests.

Premiere Scalp Care

Guests who want to work on the health of their hair and scalp can choose from Rewind’s Premiere Scalp Care services. One example is Targeted Services, a 70-minute treatment priced at $138. It includes:

• Scalp analysis
• Head, neck and shoulder massage
• An essential oil steam tailored to the guest
• A deep-cleaning shampoo with a waterfall rinse
• Hair conditioning
• Targeted services
• A final scalp check
• A high-frequency comb treatment
• An optional blow-dry

Other options on the menu include Clinical Scalp Renewal and Extended Target Therapy.

Choosing a Treatment

Rewind recommends choosing a service based on how much time a guest has and what they want from the visit. Shorter services give a quick, polished refresh. The extended rituals add more massage and scalp care, and some include facial treatments, hot stones, steaming or extra relaxation time.

The post Rewind Head Spa to Open Second Location in Bellevue Oct. 21 appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

Home Comfort Alliance has released a new analysis examining furnace maintenance and emergency heating repair costs in Seattle ahead of the winter season. The analysis finds that a furnace tune-up performed before winter may cost homeowners significantly less than waiting until a heating system fails during a cold snap.

The company’s newly published 2026 Seattle furnace cost guide found that while a preseason furnace tune-up typically costs between $125 and $200, emergency heating repairs during freezing weather can quickly become more expensive once diagnostic charges, trip fees and replacement parts are added.

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest winter outlook calls for warmer-than-normal conditions across much of the Pacific Northwest, HVAC professionals caution that even short periods of freezing weather can place significant stress on aging heating systems.

“After more than two decades responding to service calls around the Seattle area, I can tell you the cold snap doesn’t create the problem,” said Josh Torgerson, HVAC service supervisor at Home Comfort Alliance. “It exposes it. A furnace may seem to be working fine until temperatures suddenly drop and components that have been weakening for months finally fail under heavier demand.”

Heating contractors throughout the region often experience a surge in emergency “no heat” calls during the first major cold-weather event of the season, particularly among systems with worn igniters, dirty flame sensors or deferred maintenance issues.

To help homeowners prepare before colder weather arrives, Home Comfort Alliance recommends five steps:

• Schedule a furnace tune-up before heating season. A comprehensive inspection should include testing critical components such as the igniter and flame sensor and evaluating the heat exchanger for potential safety concerns.
• Ask what is included in the tune-up. Service offerings vary by contractor, and homeowners should request a detailed checklist rather than comparing price alone.
• Understand emergency service pricing before a breakdown occurs. Many HVAC contractors charge higher rates for evening, weekend and holiday service calls.
• Replace air filters and inspect exterior venting. Restricted airflow and blocked intake or exhaust vents can contribute to heating system shutdowns.
• Know when replacement may be more cost-effective than repair. Older furnaces with significant repair needs may warrant evaluation for replacement rather than continued investment in aging equipment.

“Our goal is to help homeowners make informed decisions before they find themselves without heat on one of the coldest days of the year,” said Mark Morgan, Vice President of Services at Home Comfort Alliance. “Many emergency repairs can be avoided through routine maintenance and early identification of worn components. Understanding potential costs ahead of time gives homeowners more options and helps prevent unnecessary stress during the heating season.”

The guide also includes a breakdown of common furnace repair costs, emergency service considerations, a maintenance checklist and troubleshooting steps homeowners can take before scheduling a service appointment.

The full report, “How Much Does a Furnace Tune-Up (and Emergency No-Heat Repair) Cost in Seattle? (2026 Guide),” is available at: https://homecomfortalliance.com/blog/news/furnace-repair/furnace-tune-up-cost-seattle/

About Home Comfort Alliance

Home Comfort Alliance is a locally owned heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical contractor serving homeowners throughout the Puget Sound region of Washington. Founded in 1977, the company provides repair, maintenance and replacement services across Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, Bremerton, Sumner and surrounding communities. The company focuses on helping homeowners improve comfort, safety and energy efficiency through professional home service solutions.

The post Home Comfort Alliance Releases 2026 Guide to Seattle Emergency Furnace Repair Costs appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

The 0.92-acre site at 1051 108th Ave. NE held a 30-unit complex built in 1977, spread across five low-rise buildings and a surface parking lot. Alco Investment Company bought the property in 2020 for $12.8 million. In March 2023, SRM purchased the site for just over $14 million.

The demolition comes after the City of Bellevue issued a permit on Aug. 13 for site clearing and construction. In October, SRM secured $72.5 million in construction financing from Bank OZK, according to a King County deed of trust.

Brizo will have 239 market-rate apartments over two underground parking levels for about 200 vehicles. When the project received design review approval in December 2024, plans called for 220 units and 174 parking spaces. Residents will be within walking distance of parks, shopping, restaurants, downtown offices and the downtown Bellevue light rail station.

Design Inspired by Wetlands and Streams

Seattle-based Runberg Architecture Group designed the building, which totals 268,032 square feet, 153,354 of them residential. The design takes its cues from the wetlands and streams around Bellevue. The exterior skin shifts visually to suggest an image refracting off the surface of a pond. A wooden overhang at the rooftop amenity space is meant to look like tree branches reaching over the water’s edge. A two-story glass podium will face 108th Avenue NE, with a dark penthouse level at the top.

Amenities

Planned amenities include:

• A fitness center with a yoga studio
• A dog and bike wash area
• Bike storage
• A package room
• Two rooftop decks with club rooms, at the building’s east and west corners

The project team includes KPFF, DCI Engineers, Hewitt, Rushing, BEE Consulting, ArchEcology, A3 Acoustics and Endelman & Associates.

Brizo will also add a public through-block pedestrian connection with public art sculptures. It will run south from NE 12th Street and link to walkways near the Belcarra and Ashton towers.

The post Demolition Underway for 239-Unit Brizo Apartments in Downtown Bellevue appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

The new location sits next to Edible Arrangements and Square Roots Salon. It will be Sev Skin’s fifth location in Washington and its first in Bellevue. The company’s other Washington clinics are in Mill Creek, Northgate, Southcenter and Tacoma.

Treatments are given by a team of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and laser technicians. Sev Skin says its services use FDA-cleared technology designed for all skin types, with treatments that are minimally invasive or non-invasive and include features meant to keep clients comfortable.

Clients can book treatments as single sessions, as packages or through a membership. Two of the laser hair removal packages are listed with prices. The Essentials Duo, an eight-session package covering underarm and Brazilian laser hair removal, costs $1,280. The Essentials Trio adds full-leg laser hair removal to the same two areas and costs $2,880 for eight sessions. Neither package expires, and treatments in each can be booked together or separately. Packages are non-refundable and can’t be transferred. A Facial Duo four-session package pairs a laser facial with SkinPen microneedling.

For the opening, Sev Skin has a founding member offer of 20% off memberships with code FOUNDING20. It’s a limited-time offer for clients new to Sev Skin and applies to Laser Hair Removal and Laser Facial memberships.

The company started in Los Angeles in 2010 as a laser hair removal studio called SEV Laser. It now has 76 locations in 15 states. After 16 years under that name, the brand changed to SEV SKIN and introduced a “Ready for Anything” brand platform. Sev Skin started its introductory offer program in January 2025.

The Bellevue location will be open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. Appointments can be booked online.

The post Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care Studio Sev Skin to Open in Downtown Bellevue appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

An officer on patrol spotted Zachri Jon Armour at Bellevue Way and NE 2nd Street around 10:46 a.m. on Oct. 14 and took him into custody without incident.

The case began in the early hours of Sept. 28, when a fire was reported at about 3:09 a.m. on the 200 block of 108th Avenue NE. Crews extinguished it. Evidence officers collected at the scene showed the business had also been vandalized.

Detectives working the case determined that Armour entered the building around 8 p.m. the previous evening and remained inside for roughly seven hours. They say he damaged many parts of the building, made repeated attempts to set property on fire and took items from the business before the fire alarm went off around 3 a.m.

Investigators linked Armour to the break-in through forensic evidence, which also showed he was inside the building during that overnight window.

Armour was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and second-degree burglary, one count each. His bond is set at $300,000.

The post Arrest Made in Overnight Break-In and Fire at Downtown Bellevue Office appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.

What Changes for Residents

The Baxter was built in 1997 and renovated in 2023, and about 80% of its apartments have already been updated. Keelbase says it will complete improvements on the remaining units, upgrade the common areas, and manage and operate the property more hands-on, with the goal of a better experience for residents.

An Unusual Path to Ownership

Keelbase first bought the property’s existing loan from the lender. It then took ownership through a deed-in-lieu, an arrangement where the property is handed over to whoever holds the loan instead of going through foreclosure. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Keelbase started looking at The Baxter more than a year ago, through its longtime relationship with the property’s lender. The firm stayed in talks as market conditions and the property’s circumstances changed. Dylan Simon, Jerrid Anderson and JD Fuller of Kidder Mathews were the exclusive advisors to the lender, which was also the seller.

“We worked closely with the existing lender over an extended period to find a solution that worked for the parties involved and ultimately allowed us to acquire this high-quality asset,” said Cooper Engst, principal and co-founder of Keelbase Capital.

Engst said the building’s previous financing was set up “in a very different interest-rate and valuation environment,” so Keelbase was able to buy in at a better price than it could have several years ago. “We’re beginning to see more situations like this emerge across the market,” he said.

Paul Roeter, Keelbase’s other principal and co-founder, said many lenders are dealing with similar situations right now, and that the firm’s experience and flexibility let it work with them as a constructive partner.

Why Investors Are Watching Downtown Bellevue Apartments

The Baxter is within walking distance of East Link light rail and downtown Bellevue’s major employers. According to the release, Bellevue’s growing technology and AI workforce keeps pushing up demand for rentals. CoStar data shows apartment rents in Bellevue’s central business district rose 5.8% from the year before as of the second quarter of 2026.

Roeter said higher interest rates have pulled property values down at the same time public stock markets have hit record highs. That combination, he said, has pushed private investors to look for more alternative investments.

What’s Next for Keelbase

Keelbase funded The Baxter purchase with a group of private investors and family offices who invested alongside the firm. The firm is also under contract to buy several larger apartment properties in the region with institutional investment partners.

The post 80-Unit Baxter Apartments in Bellevue Sold; New Owner Plans to Finish Renovations appeared first on Downtown Bellevue Network.