“Could the Overlake commercial district echo the success of South Lake Union?” asks Tom Hinman, facilitator for Imagine Overlake.

Redmond and Bellevue residents and businesses are invited to attend a community information meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. on March 10 at the King County Library in Redmond. Sponsored by Imagine Overlake, a new grassroots citizens’ group, this meeting will launch a community conversation that visualizes how the area surrounding Overlake Village’s future light rail station might look in the next decade.

Esterra Park, a catalyst project centered in the former Group Health hospital site in Redmond, began the first phase of construction with site preparation last year and is expected to have about 500 apartments ready for occupancy next fall. An office building on the 28-acre site adjoining the Microsoft campus is currently being reviewed by Redmond planners. The project’s second phase will include a neighborhood park that has been the topic of several community open houses as the City of Redmond and developers seek public input.

Hinman said, “We want to capture momentum generated in recent Sound Transit meetings and the park planning process in looking ahead to other neighborhood gathering places — including future parks — that will make Overlake an exciting place to live. Building a sense of community is as important as new construction if Overlake Village is to achieve the dreams of residents, planners and developers.” Hinman also cited South Lake Union as a new neighborhood working to build that sense of community, but that Overlake Village could be more family friendly.

The program will feature a brief update of Redmond and Bellevue projects in Overlake and a short presentation on the community’s role in building a vibrant neighborhood by Imagine Overlake. An extended discussion engaging stakeholders and planners will follow. As planning continues, contact imagineoverlake@gmail.com with any questions or to indicate your areas of interest.