Kemper Freeman

Frederick Kemper Freeman, Jr. (born October 23, 1941)^[1] is the active chairman and CEO of Kemper Development Company,^[2] which built and operates Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square located in Bellevue, Washington. Kemper represents the third generation of the Freeman family, who have been involved in the growth of the Bellevue community since 1897.^[3] He is a former Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives from the 48th district^[4] and publicly active in conversations about traffic and transportation in Bellevue.^[5]

Freeman family

Kemper Freeman Jr. is a third-generation resident of Bellevue, Washington. His grandfather, Miller Freeman, was active in state politics and public affairs, including promoting the development of a bridge connecting Seattle, Mercer Island and Bellevue.^[3] Freeman Jr.'s father, Frederick Kemper Freeman, Sr., led the development of what is now Bellevue Square, which opened in 1946.^[6] He also was involved in building Bellevue's first hospital, Overlake Hospital Medical Center.^[3] Kemper Freeman Jr. was born on October 23, 1941.^[1] He married Betty Austin in 1965 and has two daughters, Amy Schreck and Suzanne McQuaid.^[7]

Career

In 1973, Freeman Jr. was appointed to a vacant seat in the Washington State House of Representatives as a Republican representing the 48th district. After serving for three years, he resigned from the seat to focus on his business in building and development.^[8] He then began working full-time on the expansion and enclosure of Bellevue Square with his father, which re-opened in 1981. In early-1980, Freeman Jr. founded the Kemper Development Company,^[1] which has overseen the continued expansion of Bellevue Square as well as development of:

• Bellevue Place, a mixed use property that opened in 1988, housing office space, retail, dining options and the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.^[9]
• Lincoln Square, which opened in 2005 with condominiums, a movie theater, bowling alley, restaurants, retail and the Westin Bellevue.^[7]

In total, the three properties (Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place, Lincoln Square) makeup the Bellevue Collection, covering approximately 50 acres of land in downtown Bellevue.^[3]

Traffic and transportation involvement

Freeman Jr. often speaks out on the issue of mass transit expansion and congestion reduction. In 2010, he filed a lawsuit against the East Link light rail project that would travel eastwards from Seattle to Bellevue via the reversible lanes of the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, converting them from car traffic to light rail tracks. In the case, Freeman, Jr. cited that the project misused tax dollars as well as positioned more efficient ways to alleviate the area's traffic congestion, including freeway expansion, use of dedicated bus lines and van pools.^[7] In March 2012, courts ruled against Freeman Jr., in favor of the project.^[10] In April 2012, representatives of the Eastside Transportation Association announced intent to appeal the ruling.^[11]

In September 2013, Washington Supreme Court ruled that plans to build light rail over I-90 bridge do not violate Washington's Constitution.^[12]

Community involvement

Freeman Jr. holds leadership appointments in several community and economic development organizations in the Bellevue area, including:

• Co-chair of the capital campaign for the Tateuchi Center, a performing arts center under construction in Bellevue that will feature theater, dance, and the music when complete.^[13] The land for the Tateuchi Center was donated by Freeman Jr., who has also made a joint commitment with Microsoft to provide additional funding.^[3]
• Trustee for Overlake Hospital Medical Center^[2]
• Board Member of Bellevue LifeSpring, formerly Overlake Service League^[14]

References

External links

• The Bellevue Collection
• Kemper Development Company