Redmond’s pioneer history includes great stories about intrepid loggers and farmers.
These days, there’s a new breed of pioneers, such as Regan Bode and her boyfriend Aaron Tyler, who became the first tenants at the new Legacy at Riverpark Apartments, 7753 159th Place NE. The modern Riverpark development is part of a building boom that will make downtown Redmond a true neighborhood, instead of just a thoroughfare to Microsoft or State Route 520.
Bode and Tyler had been living at the nearby Peloton Apartments. But as soon as they heard about Riverpark, they inquired about the residential options because they wanted to be even closer to downtown — and public transportation. Bode works at a Seattle publishing company and Tyler works at Microsoft.
“We walk to the grocery store, restaurants, movies, everything. That was the main draw to the location,” said Bode.
Group Health’s Redmond Medical Center is also part of the Riverpark complex. A luxurious Hotel Sierra, retail and restaurant tenants are still to come this fall. Parking for 750 cars will be available in an underground parking garage and separate parking will be provided for additional housing units which could be converted to condos.
Bode is eager to see what kind of restaurant might be featured at Riverpark. A full-service restaurant with an eclectic menu is what Legacy Partners Residential, Inc., the developers of Riverpark, would like to see there.
However, said Bode, the convenient location of their new home has already helped her and Tyler discover many small restaurants that they wouldn’t have noticed if they weren’t exploring their neighborhood on foot. Tropea and Watercress Asian Bistro have been their recent favorite “finds.” She said they also like The Matador and will continue to support local eating establishments that aren’t part of a chain.
Before moving into Riverpark last month, “we thought about (living in) Seattle, but liked that there weren’t the same kind of safety issues here,” said Bode. “This worked out to be ideal.”
Common areas of Legacy at Riverpark include game rooms, exercise rooms and landscaped courtyards for tenants. There will be paths leading directly to the Sammamish River Trail and there’s storage space for bikes and kayaks. Retail tenants might include stores selling running shoes, bikes and other products that tie in with an active lifestyle.
Kerry Nicholson, senior managing director of Legacy Partners, said the “overall look and feel” of the apartments at Riverpark are “fairly contemporary to appeal to the high-tech sector.”
Kevin Buckley, senior business manager for Legacy at Riverpark Apartments, added, “And a lot of empty nesters, leaving the traditional home, are really changing their lifestyle.”
After years of catering to children’s needs, they want to live someplace that feels hip, like Belltown, but in an area with less crime and more access to nature, he explained. So far, the most popular models at Legacy at Riverpark have been two-level penthouses with big kitchens for entertaining.
We asked Nicholson how non-residents will know which areas of Riverpark are open to the general public.
He said welcoming signage will be placed near a fountain facing the Sammamish River Trail and open houses for the City of Redmond will feature barbecues, music and brochures about the project.
While seeing Riverpark take shape, the most exciting thing, said Nicholson, “is the ability to change the neighborhood, replacing a rundown strip mall, where a Shari’s Restaurant was once the anchor.”
“There is a catalyst for change,” he noted. “The city really cared about this being one of their gateways — seeing this, instead of old industrial shops. This six-acre site has a transformative impact.”
For more information about Legacy at Riverpark Apartments, call (800) 668-9650.
For information about downtown Redmond construction projects, call (425) 556-2450, e-mail downtownconstruction@redmond.gov or visit www.redmond.gov.
