Dear PACE supporters,

 

On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors of the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), please allow me to extend our deep gratitude to you. Our mission to fulfill the need for a cultural heart on the Eastside is made possible by your interest in, involvement with, and contributions made to PACE.

 

I write now with an important update. Recent communications (September 2025) with City of Bellevue leadership have encouraged PACE to take a more expansive view on site options as a result of a recently completed study of the Meydenbauer Center, which suggests the potential of building an 1800-seat theater as part of the plans to expand and update the convention center. This potentially presents an option for PACE to be included in those plans.

 

PACE now has an opportunity for due diligence to thoroughly evaluate the study’s findings. We anticipate this process to take some time. Given this timeline and the focus on investigating this opportunity, I have offered to continue to work on this mission in a volunteer capacity as I have accepted a position at another organization. I remain fully invested in seeing this concept through to reality and am transitioning to continue my service as a PACE Board member so we can navigate this next phase in a collective volunteer capacity. This will ensure continuity of our work and relationships, while allowing PACE a more expansive fiscal runway through these next steps. 

 

We share this news with full transparency and see these developments in a very positive light: PACE holds site control for the 10th Street property while also being invited to consider an alternative site at Meydenbauer with City involvement. This dual opportunity places us in a stronger position than ever before.

 

We pledge to keep you updated as we obtain and analyze the study and this process unfolds. We invite any questions you may have, and appreciate your ongoing support as we continue to be the voice of the community advocating for a performing arts center.

 

With gratitude,

Lora Unger
Executive Director
Performing Arts Center Eastside