Kemper Freeman, Jr. (born October 23, 1941) is a real estate developer, philanthropist, and an outspoken supporter of transportation policies he believes will benefit the Seattle/Bellevue region.^[1] He is Chairman, CEO, and principal owner of Kemper Development Company^[2] , which built and operates Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square located in Bellevue, Washington.

Family Background

Freeman is a third-generation resident of Bellevue, Washington, and his family has been instrumental in the region since the early 1900’s. His grandfather Miller Freeman, pushed for improved Seattle area transportation as early as 1910 through the promotion of the Fishermen’s Terminal^[3] and was instrumental in the construction of the first bridge from Seattle to Bellevue. Freeman’s father, Kemper Freeman, Sr., was the leader in creating Bellevue’s first school district and hospital. Kemper Freeman, Sr. also led the development of what became the Bellevue Square Shopping Center,^[4] which opened in 1946 and continues to be one of the top shopping centers in the country.

Early Life

At age nine, Freeman went to work on a 540-acre dairy farm in what is now Marymoor Park,^[3] earning 50 cents an hour. He learned to drive a tractor and eventually purchased his own, which allowed him to continue farm work over the next 23 years.

Kemper Freeman Jr. married Betty Austin in 1965 and had two daughters, Suzanne Lea and Amy Clotilde.

Career

Never having worked in radio, Freeman agreed to help run his family’s local radio station, KFKF, during a short absence by his father in 1964. He came to love the work and assumed management of the station soon thereafter.^[3]

In 1972, Freeman was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives.^[5] After serving for four years, Kemper retired from the seat to work full-time for Kemper Development Company, focusing on the expansion and enclosure of Bellevue Square in the early 1980’s.^[3]

At Kemper Development Company, Freeman has been the vision behind and has overseen the creation and development of over four million square feet of mixed-use real estate^[6] including:

• A major expansion in the 1980s that transformed Bellevue Square from a one-level, open-air shopping center to a multi-level, enclosed super-regional center with over one million square feet of retail space
• The construction and completion of Bellevue Place, the region’s first true mixed-use center, totaling 1.2 million square feet comprised of two office buildings, retail space and a 733 room Hyatt Regency Hotel
• An expansion of Bellevue Square in the year 2000 that added 110,000 square feet of retail space and brought street-front retail and a dining district to downtown Bellevue.
• The turnaround and 2005 completion of the long-dormant Lincoln Square project, which added a 16-screen luxury theater, The Westin Bellevue, 148 luxury residences, and other retail and dining options to The Bellevue Collection’s offerings and provided a catalyst for additional real estate development in the downtown core.

Freeman served as Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in 1994–95 and is a current Trustee.^[7]

Involvement in Political and Transportation Issues

Kemper Freeman, continues to engage in the development of Bellevue and the Seattle region and is active in political affairs on a local, regional, and national level. He often speaks out on the issue of mass transit expansion and congestion reduction. He has received criticism for his opposition to Sound Transit’s plans for extending light rail from Seattle to Bellevue, and namely his financial opposition to Proposition 1, which was approved by King County voters in 2008.

Freeman believes light rail is inadequate for alleviating the area’s congestion and says freeway expansion and dedicated bus lines will produce better, more cost-effective results).^[8]

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Freeman serves as 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 of the Seattle Symphony and others when complete. The land for the Tateuchi Center was donated by the Kemper Development Company and Freeman has also made a joint commitment with Microsoft to provide an additional $2 million in funding.^[9] Freeman was also past chair for the capital campaign for the Bellevue Arts Museum and has personally given more than $1 million to the Museum over the last ten years.

Bellevue LifeSpring, formerly Overlake Service League, recognizes Kemper Freeman as a board member^[10] and Kemper Development Company as a lifetime donor. The Bellevue LifeSpring Thrift Shop has also been housed at Bellevue Square, paying $1 in annual rent for over five decades.^[11]

Freeman also serves on the board of Overlake Hospital and Medical Center in Bellevue, which his father helped establish.^[12]

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