Dec
06
2007
Here’s a sample of holiday festivities in the Emerald City:
Dec
06
2007
The City of Seattle is presenting free Holiday concerts at City Hall and the Municipal Tower.
Tuesday Concerts at the Municipal Tower (700 5th Avenue):
- December 11th - Ballard High School Chamber Orchestra
- December 18th - Windsong
Thursday Concerts at City Hall (600 4th Avenue):
- December 6th - Bobby Medina Quartet
- December 13th - Medievel Women’s Choir
- December 20th - The Northwest Chamber Chorus
For more information, please visit: www.Seattle.gov/arts
Oct
03
2007
The American Planning Association (APA) released its 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Neighborhoods list. Among among the contenders the Pike Place Market district was selected as one of the 10 Great Neighborhoods in America.
The Pike Place Market neighborhood continues to lead by example. Its compact, pedestrian-oriented design and range of housing options served as the inspiration for the city’s Downtown Livability Plan, passed in 2006. Despite ongoing financial and other challenges, its community continues to fight to sustain its viability. It serves as a reminder that it is not just a mix of buildings that define a place but, rather, the mix of people that infuses a neighborhood with a distinct voice and personality of its own.
Read more from the APA review of the Pike Place Market district.
Feb
17
2007
Who knew sculptures could have offsprings. First there were “splinters” and now there’s “eaglets”.
© Seattle PI
Read more - Seattle PI article
Feb
14
2007
Well, I guess we can forget about those signature update forms from the county. The Gov, after ducking the issue and insisting the decision go to the voters, has changed her mind. She’s put the kibosh on the tunnel deal and is moving ahead with replacing the viaduct.
And, the city is considering canceling the vote, but they can’t decide on that either. The mayor wants it, a couple of council members are thinking about cancelling it and a poll on the Seattle Times is definately against it.
Personally, I can’t say I’m disapointed since I’m one of the few who preferred the more fiscally reasonable plan. However, I am disapointment in our governments, city and state, who dillydally about, forever studying and researching, never acting decisively, always passing the buck.
Feb
13
2007
Sound Transit reports they expect the downtown bus tunnel to re-open this September for buses and the new light-rail route to Tukwila. In 2009, light-rail service will be offered from downtown to Seatac Airport.
Oct
16
2006
The Seattle PI posted an article today about the lack of family-friendly living in the downtown core. Parents cite lack of larger units, developers cite lack of schools and schools cite lack of demand; an unenviable catch-22. Yet, I’m not sure there is an easy solution.
Certainly, bringing schools to the area will provide a foundation for families to consider urban living. But, should the city invest into a new school that currently would have very little demand, especially at a time when other schools are closing? Will building larger units, as some parents claim, bring them to the downtown area? Considering that 2-bedroom units at Rollin Street Flats & Escala start at $800,000, it reasons that only uber-wealthy families could afford a 3-bedroom “family-sized” condo. And, would children who live in million-dollar condos attend public rather than private schools?
The PI had an accompanying article about how downtown family living works in Vancouver, BC. The article cited downtown schools and the fact that many of those families came from areas where high-rise family living is common and that’s why it works. Which may certainly be true. But, Vancouver’s downtown area, and I’m talking about the West End (between the financial district & Stanley Park), is essentially residential with a mixture of low and high-rise residential buildings, single-family homes, parks, schools and quiet tree-lined streets. Families lived in this part of downtown long before the explosion of high-rises along False Creek and Burrard Inlet.
The fact of the matter is Seattle isn’t Vancouver and never will be. Plus, Vancouver has something Seattle doesn’t, a long-established downtown residential neighborhood with infrastructure and community services to support it. Rather than compare ourselves to Vancouver, Seattle (the city) needs to look inward to determine if the downtown area can truly support urban family living for all classes. And, if so, the city needs to develop solutions rather than rely on developers or the wait endlessly before the demographics change.
Jun
18
2006
An article in CNNMoney.com describes what we’re seeing in Seattle, people moving back to the city core after decades of migration to the suburbs.
Young professionals make up a big part of the trend. “It’s carefree living,” says Caparo. “Young professionals just want to put the key in the door and go to bed at night and lock it up again in the morning.” It’s also where the action is, professionally and socially. “For them, there’s lots of DNA to hook up with,” says McIlwain.
Retirees love the museums, restaurants and, most important, access to the best health care. Empty nesters get to live near work.
“For years people traded a commute for affordable housing,” says Jim Gillespie, CEO of Coldwell Banker. The further out in the suburbs, the more affordable the homes. But as suburbs expanded and got more crowded, road construction did not, could not, keep up. Congestion grew worse.
Of course this movement bodes well for Seattle’s exploding condominium renaissance. Fueled partially by the Growth Management Act, rising commute times and fuel costs, and lifesytle choices, urban centers are both practical and necessary to accomodate long-term growth.
And, I may become part of the statistic. Three years ago I left the city core to purchase an affordable home in North Seattle. From my apartment on Capitol Hill I lived a very pedestrian lifestyle - walking to the grocery store, movie theaters, restaurants, bars, Pacific Place and to the Pike Place Market every weekend to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It was the epitome of urban lifestyle.
Now, I drive everywhere.
So I’ve been thinking about cashing out my nearly 40% appreciation and moving back to the city core and becoming pedestrian, again. Guess I’ll pull out my rabbit’s foot because I’ll need luck to get one of Vulcan’s lottery spots.
