July 10, 2024

At BelRed Station, Vulcan now leasing Ondina's 249 Bellevue units

Photo by Brian Miller [enlarge]

The scene last Sunday. Move-ins should begin next month.

Exxel Pacific broke ground in late 2021 on the eight-story, 249-unit Ondina apartments. Vulcan Real Estate and Runberg Architecture Group are the other prime movers at 13238 N.E. Spring Blvd., on a corner that looks southwest to BelRed Station.

And as finishing touches are being added to the interiors and landscaping, leasing signs are now prominent outside the building. During a visit this past Sunday, mostly empty trains rolled serenely past the new Ondina, and a solitary passenger was observed on the platform. He walked to get there, and the Park & Ride lot was virtually empty. (But again: Sunday.)

The name? Vulcan's project site explains: “Meaning ‘little wave' in Latin, Ondina embraces a blue-mind theory of design by bringing the calming element of water into every aspect of the aesthetic.” Accordingly, the project is targeting Salmon Safe certification and LEED Gold certification.

The Ondina website is now offering four weeks of free rent on selected apartments. Featured monthly rents include $2,060 for a studio with 425 square feet; and $4,065 for a two-bed with 1,157 square feet.

Vulcan is participating in the city of Bellevue's multifamily tax exemption program. About 50 units will be affordable to households earning up to 80% of area median income. One example is a one-bedroom with 423 square feet; that goes for $2,000 per month.

Amenities include an eighth-floor terrace with grilling stations and attached lounge; a co-work area, gym and dog run; bike room, package room and participation in the Bilt Rewards program, which incentivizes online payments in exchange for various mileage plan-style perks.

Some units have air conditioning; others have A/C ports. All have in-unit washer/dryers. The leasing website indicates that move-ins will begin next month.

Construction was Type III-A wood over Type I-A reinforced concrete. There is no commercial space at Ondina, which spans about 270,732 square feet. That figure includes amenities and one level of underground parking, with 187 stalls.

Thrive will manage the apartments. The Ondina team also includes Hewitt, landscape architect; KPFF, civil engineer; Sound Earth Strategies; Terracon Consultants, geotechnical engineer; Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, structural engineer; Emerald City Engineers, MEP; 4EA Building Science, envelope; Endelman & Associates, ADA consultant; 3 Acoustics; and Bank of the West, which supplied a $75 million construction loan.

Planning began about six years ago under Runberg and prior project owner SummerHill Apartment Communities. Three years ago, Vulcan acquired the corner, at 132nd Avenue Northeast, for nearly $18 million. Ondina was then said to be Vulcan's first Eastside apartment project. More recently, its two companion Filament apartment buildings began in downtown Bellevue, also close to light rail.

It's hoped that the Eastside starter line will connect to Seattle at some point next year.