Seattle could learn a lot from Bellevue in slowing down development until infrastructure can catch up, and especially in forcing developers to pay for their fair share of infrastructure.
J
Jason Thornberry
10 years ago
The new developments in Ballard have diminished the character of it--they are a blot on the landscape. They are driven by forces living outside of Ballard and they are helping to make this an inhospitable place to everyone.
B
Betty Bigelow
11 years ago
None of this new housing is affordable to anyone who is not bringing down nearly 6 figures a year, based on the price of the units as an indication of income. Stop lying about what all this out of control growth really means.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
The city continues to increase density without providing reasonable transportation alternatives besides cars and buses, contributing to the already terrible gridlock.
K
Kathleen Kerkof
11 years ago
These microhousing units are being presented as affordable housing but the per sq.ft.rate is very high and if they can ask to $1,000 for 200 sq. ft. you can be sure that other landlords are going to be raising their rents accordingly for their more normal sized apartments. thus making livign in Seattle less and less affordable for people of low and moderate means. The recent opening of a 57 unit apartment building in Bellevue charging $400 rent for low income workers is something that Seattle should look into. If you make $10 per hour and work 40 hours per week and thus $1600 per month before taxes, Medicare and social Security are taken out, it is clear that $1,000 a month rent is not a low income housing solution..
C
carie skylar gaia
11 years ago
Where were the voices of current residents when the rules changed and builders were allowed to come in and put up whatever they want, without replacing trees, or any other greenery. It's a crime what's happening.
C
carie skylar gaia
11 years ago
Where were the voices of current residents when the rules changed and builders were allowed to come in and put up whatever they want, without replacing trees, or any other greenery. It's a crime what's happening.
A
Allene Niehaus
11 years ago
I want to know WHY the city has repeatedly flouted existing laws and regulations. Who is being "paid off."
R
robyn meyer
11 years ago
It's already too late for many neighborhoods. This must be stopped NOW!
S
schlem
12 years ago
Featured
This is affecting us personally, as 4-story mansions mushroom around us, filling 90% of their lot size. This is poor planning and urban management manifest!
T
Thomas Wilson
12 years ago
The zoning rules governing rowhouses make no sense whatsoever. The city codes now exempt them from any density limitations unlike all other housing types. They are basically townhouses but by simply declaring them to be rowhouses the developers take an end run around zoning laws. This is a real problem and is happening in L1-L3 zones. Now in my neighborhood I see rowhouses proposed wedged onto small lots. Single lots are now subdivided into two lots. In the front the developers put rowhouses (three on a small lot) on the newly created front lot and townhouses on the newly created back lot. This means one house is replaced by five or more units in an L1-L3 neighborhood. It's as if developers added the rowhouse designation and handed it off to the city to rubberstamp I'm sure with some campaign contributions to boot.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
The Seattle City Council is failing represent the people. I appears they are instead representing the interests and greed of developers. Why is this? They owe an explanation for their actions and they need to begin taking their responsibility to lead Seattle to a livable future.
J
Janet Wiederhold
12 years ago
We have lived in our house in Ballard for36 years and I highly resent these ugly new buildings that block our view. Shame on these money grubbers!!!!
C
Carole Schmidt
12 years ago
Stop mass buildings in Ballard and other family neighborhoods.
H
Hildie Sheftel
12 years ago
I support LiveableBallard and I support all moves to take a MUCH more thoughtful look at how density is manifested to those of us who chose Seattle for its livability but who are not developers looking to supply housing to the tech industry. The rippling effects right now are like a tsunami on the "neighborhood-ness" of Seattle. It's nice to see that I am not the only one who has become overwhelmed by this.
M
Matt Reynolds
12 years ago
Stop ruining neighborhoods. No APODMENTS in Ballard!
J
Jana Royal
12 years ago
Featured
Density if fine but it needs to be balanced with quality of life. Set backs, limits on height and quality transit are all important for density to work long term.
P
Patricia Weenolsen
12 years ago
Don't get me started!!!!!!! Licata is out! The developers have bought the City council and the state.
K
Karen Barrett
12 years ago
Featured
Exemptions that allow buildings higher than average and minimizing lot set backs, does nothing for quality of life in Seattle where we desperately need to maximize the amount of daylight that reaches our pedestrian areas. Take away the little sunshine we get and face dealing with disturbing psychiatric results in the future. If you want people to LIVE in Seattle, be sure it is Liveable.
N
Nancy Kick
12 years ago
I live in the heart of Ballard and the rate and level of development is not being supported by the infrastructure. The roads and transit are not sufficient to handle the massive increase in people.
Seattle could learn a lot from Bellevue in slowing down development until infrastructure can catch up, and especially in forcing developers to pay for their fair share of infrastructure.
The new developments in Ballard have diminished the character of it--they are a blot on the landscape. They are driven by forces living outside of Ballard and they are helping to make this an inhospitable place to everyone.
None of this new housing is affordable to anyone who is not bringing down nearly 6 figures a year, based on the price of the units as an indication of income. Stop lying about what all this out of control growth really means.
The city continues to increase density without providing reasonable transportation alternatives besides cars and buses, contributing to the already terrible gridlock.
These microhousing units are being presented as affordable housing but the per sq.ft.rate is very high and if they can ask to $1,000 for 200 sq. ft. you can be sure that other landlords are going to be raising their rents accordingly for their more normal sized apartments. thus making livign in Seattle less and less affordable for people of low and moderate means. The recent opening of a 57 unit apartment building in Bellevue charging $400 rent for low income workers is something that Seattle should look into. If you make $10 per hour and work 40 hours per week and thus $1600 per month before taxes, Medicare and social Security are taken out, it is clear that $1,000 a month rent is not a low income housing solution..
Where were the voices of current residents when the rules changed and builders were allowed to come in and put up whatever they want, without replacing trees, or any other greenery. It's a crime what's happening.
Where were the voices of current residents when the rules changed and builders were allowed to come in and put up whatever they want, without replacing trees, or any other greenery. It's a crime what's happening.
I want to know WHY the city has repeatedly flouted existing laws and regulations. Who is being "paid off."
It's already too late for many neighborhoods. This must be stopped NOW!
This is affecting us personally, as 4-story mansions mushroom around us, filling 90% of their lot size. This is poor planning and urban management manifest!
The zoning rules governing rowhouses make no sense whatsoever. The city codes now exempt them from any density limitations unlike all other housing types. They are basically townhouses but by simply declaring them to be rowhouses the developers take an end run around zoning laws. This is a real problem and is happening in L1-L3 zones. Now in my neighborhood I see rowhouses proposed wedged onto small lots. Single lots are now subdivided into two lots. In the front the developers put rowhouses (three on a small lot) on the newly created front lot and townhouses on the newly created back lot. This means one house is replaced by five or more units in an L1-L3 neighborhood. It's as if developers added the rowhouse designation and handed it off to the city to rubberstamp I'm sure with some campaign contributions to boot.
The Seattle City Council is failing represent the people. I appears they are instead representing the interests and greed of developers. Why is this? They owe an explanation for their actions and they need to begin taking their responsibility to lead Seattle to a livable future.
We have lived in our house in Ballard for36 years and I highly resent these ugly new buildings that block our view. Shame on these money grubbers!!!!
Stop mass buildings in Ballard and other family neighborhoods.
I support LiveableBallard and I support all moves to take a MUCH more thoughtful look at how density is manifested to those of us who chose Seattle for its livability but who are not developers looking to supply housing to the tech industry. The rippling effects right now are like a tsunami on the "neighborhood-ness" of Seattle. It's nice to see that I am not the only one who has become overwhelmed by this.
Stop ruining neighborhoods. No APODMENTS in Ballard!
Density if fine but it needs to be balanced with quality of life. Set backs, limits on height and quality transit are all important for density to work long term.
Don't get me started!!!!!!! Licata is out! The developers have bought the City council and the state.
Exemptions that allow buildings higher than average and minimizing lot set backs, does nothing for quality of life in Seattle where we desperately need to maximize the amount of daylight that reaches our pedestrian areas. Take away the little sunshine we get and face dealing with disturbing psychiatric results in the future. If you want people to LIVE in Seattle, be sure it is Liveable.
I live in the heart of Ballard and the rate and level of development is not being supported by the infrastructure. The roads and transit are not sufficient to handle the massive increase in people.