I would rather slow the process down and have QUALITY buildings than half-assed buildings that will be considered the SLUMS of Seattle in 10 years.

And Jo, in response to saying it’s their own property and they can do what they want with it…. I would disagree. If it was all their choice, we wouldn’t have set up regulations and a Design Review process and neighborhood review meetings…. The whole idea is that it’s supposed to be a conversation between developer, city and community.

Yea, they do some tacky things. However, their money, their land, THEIR choice. I don’t have any right to try and impose on what they should do with THEIR land.

Don’t like it? Move or start buying up land yourself.

I moved here for good in April 2002. After the move, the first movie I took in at the Broadway Market Landmark turned out to be the last day it was open. It was being replaced by Golds Gym. That mall-ette is now a QFC, and the whole north end of Broadway is unrecognizable. A big chunk of Pine is coming down. Thumpers. B&O. What’s next?

I was 40 when I finally moved here and am 46 now. And I was never really funky even when I was visiting here at a much younger age. The numbing suburbia of Dayton does that to a person, I suppose. But even though I ended up living downtown instead of Capitol Hill, I still consider it to be my neighborhood. I like having a neighborhood that feels the way Capitol Hill feels, a place where Wiccans, restaurants, barbers and feather boas can share a block of storefronts.

But while a lot of these places can afford the rents for the older, smaller storefronts, the street level retail options that the new buildings offer is out of the price range of most. We end up losing what gives the neighborhood its character. Walgreens is a fine establishment, to be sure, but having a Walgreens at Broadway and Pine just doesn’t feel like Capitol Hill.

I’m not some fuddy-duddy against new development. And I certainly can see why developers want to be part of the action in neighborhoods like Eastlake or Capitol Hill. But that doesn’t have to involve wiping out the places in the neighborhood where the local community gathers, the businesses that support neighborhood events, the affordable storefronts for the niche-filling shops, community groups and theatre troupes that define Capitol Hill.

There are plenty of small apartment building sites that could easily support higher density. New housing doesn’t need to take all the most visible sites where the already establilshed community gathers.

Capitol Hill is already a living neighborhood. It has great access to public transportation, and some of the highest population density in the city. Increasing density further can be done while respecting what the community already has. We didn’t need to lose a block of Pine to get more density in the neighborhood.

Actually, I was on Boren Street near Pike the other day, there was a selective demo going on an old brick building. I said cool, this old lady is getting her groove back! But I was wrong! I drove by it today, it’s entirely demolished. I will vomit if I see another efis clad, vinyl windowed, color challenged, cheap condominium!

I’d say East Lake Condos have been much more attractive than Capitol Hill Area. I’m just a little nervous about Equinox being out of scale! Did you see the hole in the ground??

Another gigantic hole is that project on 2nd and stewart. is that project stopped?

Also, I saw a land use proposal for a 34 story hotel and condo thing on 2nd and Virginia. I wonder who is doing that..

lots of demolition sites around the city! We’re like big moles digging away the city. I hope 10 years from now we don’t scratch our heads and wonder where the fuck did Seattle go? so maybe it’s OK to hold on to whatever we can :)

Basically, you’re saying you’d rather create urban sprawl in the name of pleasing your friggin’ tastebuds with B&O. Yeah, that sounds like you really care. Please, get real.