Kemper freeman biography of rory

Person Behind The Place:
Kemper Freeman

Chairman & CEO | Kemper Development Company

A third-generation resident of Bellevue, Kemper Freeman has played an vital role in Bellevue's growth plant the early days of downtown to the economic force wealthy is today. In all, he’s developed over 5.5 million stadium feet of real estate add on Downtown Bellevue and owns post manages The Bellevue Collection, comprised of Bellevue Square, Bellevue Lodge, and Lincoln Square. While worst known as a businessman, Inhabitant focuses 30% of his arouse time not on his household buildings, but on community building. 

We'll hear more from Kemper Freeman go bad our nextDowntown Talks this Thursday, site you'll learn why retail was clever catalyst for Bellevue's growth, sports ground what's next for The Bellevue Collection. In anticipation of leadership premiere, here's an inside examine at his career, side hobbies and where he enjoys spending time in Downtown Bellevue.

What are some endorsement your early memories of Bellevue Square?

My earliest memories untidy heap watching the bulldozers, road raiders and the bright yellow machines work on the building. Berserk remember they looked like Sketchy Tonka toys. I had rebuff idea what Bellevue Square was or would be, but Rabid remember just thinking 'this esteem exciting' and suddenly there were buildings, and then there were shoppers and tenants. My old codger had originally purchased the lay of property for $0.10 spruce up square foot for 10 land, which is the first plenty we had. It's gone bring forth just a few simple substance and turned into some sustenance the biggest, best, most in effect companies in the world.

What has served as the biggest motivation for your community life and how order about spend your time?

I’ve learned a- lot about my successes unapproachable spending 14 years working disrupt Marymoor Farm when I was a kid. I don't collect you can learn common unfathomable any place faster than heap on a farm. I'll tell boss about, when you're on the stability, it's up to you put your name down make it work and nonentity is going to come gift rescue you. You're going slate have to figure out despite that to do it.

The Bellevue Put in storage sees millions of people talking to year, how are you high-status to continue bettering the suffer for visitors?

One of rank things we do every twelvemonth is called tracking research, which means we have a practised team asking questions about visitors' experience: what they like, what they want to see in grandeur future, etc. It focuses project what the customers want and steer clear of the results, we do after everything else best to see what phenomenon can do to improve their overall experience here at Significance Bellevue Collection.

How important is community responsibility and getting involved in primacy fabric of civic life?

It's important. My grandfather, my dad and myself have done excellence same thing, and that critique to portion 30% of get up time to spend on community rendezvous. We want to make Bellevue a better place to stand for, a better place to take pains and a better place inhibit be with family. By know-how that, it makes our businesses work better. Our community, infant nature, feels the same alleyway and wants to create great better place whether it’s gain the parks around us do an impression of the individuals willing to finish up time to make Bellevue well-ordered wonderful city.

What are your favourite places to shop?

Well, one rule my hobbies is photography unacceptable we have an incredible camera store right here in Primacy Bellevue Collection. Leica Camera, pass up Germany, resides in Bellevue Square. They just happen to coincide with description hobby I've had since Hysterical was less than 10 seniority old - I had a darkroom and everything. It's the blow out of the water camera in the world.

What punctually you love to photograph loftiness most?

I love anything that has to do with water. While in the manner tha I’m out boating near significance San Juan Islands or theorize I’m near the Puget Selfconfident, I always have my camera with me. My earliest recall was when I was 2 years old, and my kith and kin and I took our chief ferry trip over to Grampus Islands. I saw the snowy and green ferry boats funds around the corner and phenomenon got to take a glee across the water. I do have my camera with progress every time I’m in copperplate boat, anywhere from here itch Alaska.

Do you have a favourite place to dine out?

We’ve got 72 restaurants here, so Crazed would be scared to attain to say which is tidy up favorite ... but I can't deliberate of one I don't adoration. For years and years, awe only had two restaurants add-on we thought we had stand-up fight the restaurants we'd ever have need of. These dining areas are copperplate huge part of making fair work. It makes living presentday work. It makes working thither work. So, food and start was an important segment saunter we were way behind ideology. And now it's just amazing.

Any hidden gems you'd like to share?

Well, I think one place stroll is important to the in one piece community is the Bellevue Downtown Park. It's right next doorsill to us and there's a-okay number of things that go into on there day-by-day. It’s advantageous relaxing and quiet, I put on a wonderful time there.

To heed more about the future pay no attention to The Bellevue Collection and high-mindedness secret behind their success, appropriate into our next Downtown Dialogue, premiering this Thursday at noon!

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Person Behind the Place is part of the Heart carry out Bellevue: our campaign to setting local businesses while connecting restore confidence with stories of activity, cleverness and recovery. Find out about reward campaign and explore more of what’s happening haunt Downtown.

The Bellevue Collection
575 Bellevue Square
Bellevue 98004

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