Bellevue in Uber’s Crosshairs for New Office Lease

Uber is looking to drive into a new office space in the Seattle area.

The San Francisco-headquartered ride share company is looking at signing a lease for up to 150,000 square feet in the Puget Sound region, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported. The corporation is reportedly mostly looking at buildings in Bellevue, though Seattle isn’t off the table.

Uber already has a home in Seattle at the Second + Seneca building at 1191 Second Avenue, but it doesn’t plan to vacate its five-floor, 115,000-square-foot footprint.

“We have no plans to relocate from our existing Seattle location,” an Uber spokesperson told the Business Journal. “The Greater Seattle area is an important talent hub for Uber and with all such markets, we regularly review real estate availability and offerings as part of our ongoing business practice.”

The ride-hailing company is looking at properties including the City Center Plaza and Four106 buildings in Bellevue, sources familiar with the matter told the Business Journal. Uber reportedly could begin touring those properties in the coming weeks.

Uber is not dead-set on those properties, however.

“They sent counter [offers] to five buildings in the [Bellevue Central Business District] and for the Spring District Meta sublease [at 12355 Northeast District Way],” one source told the Business Journal. “As far as I understand they are considering all options.”

Uber could potentially look to lease between 120,000 to 150,000 square feet in the Eastside and move employees from the Second + Seneca location to Bellevue when the Seattle lease expires in 2029.

“Or they could stay bifurcated, or [Second + Seneca owner] Northwood Office could give them a hell of a deal to expand significantly there,” the source said, noting that rental rates are much lower in Bellevue “for a reason.”

“I haven’t seen a tenant choose Seattle yet because of price,” the source added.

Uber has approximately 1,400 employees in Washington, according to the Business Journal. As of the end of last year, Uber corporate operations boasted 31,100 employees, per Bullfincher. An estimated 35,000 Uber drivers operate in the state.

— Chris Malone Méndez