Posted Mon, Jan 9, 7:38 a.m.

The Blind leading the Blind! One cannot avoid noticing that almost all of the Villins in your list, are governments, not the private sector who ususally gets the blame for losing our cultural sites. Does that tell you something about how good of a job our preservation community has done ...

Posted Wed, Oct 19, 5:15 p.m.

Knute, were you speaking of any Leaders that were to be your audience? I don't see any on the horizon. Just more sell outs and myopic people who will do in 2012 what has been going on up to this point. It's the trnch that we are in. There is ...

Posted Tue, Jun 21, 8:20 p.m.

Sorry for the typos!

Posted Tue, Jun 21, 8:19 p.m.

So, why do we not scream and yell about the demolition of the Plant 2 building by Boeing, clearly one of the most significant,structure of all time in Seattle. It's importance extends from local to international. Directly effecting hundreds of thousand of people who designed, fabricated,strategic bombers, flight crews who ...

Posted Thu, Jun 16, 7:56 a.m.

Stephen, KC Facilities has circumvented their own KC Landmarks Commission illegially to avoid the Commission designating the building as a KC Landmark. Seattle has no jurisdictional responsibility over KC owned buildings, therefore the Seatle Landmarks Board turndown review has no teeth.I have a pile of communications about this planned illegal ...

Posted Thu, Jun 9, 7:33 a.m.

Anyone whose been in Seattle since the 60's (post Worlds Fair), will know that Seattle as gone from a "City for all" to a "City for the wealthy and tourists." And, that trend will continue as housing costs increase in price, housing units get smaller (anti-family), and lack of leadership ...

Posted Wed, May 25, 7:53 a.m.

The Viaduct replacement was corrupt right from the get-go. And the anti-tunnel advocates have a long memory and want it cancelled. A short history lesson. WSDOT allowed the Viaduct to fall into disrepair long before the 2000 earthquake. Example: deteriorated concrete roadbeds causing maximum noise. Should have been repaved with ...

Posted Mon, May 23, 7:37 a.m.

JUST FIX IT! Stop the demolition of the Southern portion before it's too late. For less than $2 billion, way within the funds available, without Seattle and others putting anything up, it can be retrofitted and upgraded to last indefinitely. There would be very little disruption (which the DBT proponents ...

Posted Wed, May 4, 8:20 a.m.

LIES! Remember what WSDOT/SDOT/GOVERNOR et al told us (promised us) about the DBT alternative and why it was chosen? "IT WOULD NOT CREATE DISRUPTION DURING CONSTRUCTION LIKE THE OTHER ALTERNAIVES"! What BS! LIES! And why are they moving to tear down the southern end of the Viaduct before the Tunnel ...

Posted Tue, Apr 26, 5:07 p.m.

David, what have you been drinking? Lemonade? We both go back far enough to remember what it took to save Pioneer Square and defeat the downtown developer interests who wanted it gone and replaced with more highrise buildings. That was in the 1960s! Guess what! they are at it again. ...

Posted Thu, Mar 31, 7:31 a.m.

David, you keep missing the prime issues. THE TUNNEL IS NOT FUNDED. And the more confusion in Seattle, the less support the Tunnel has in the legislature We are near the end of the session and no budget proposal has been floated. Whether the DBT gets the nod will ride ...

Posted Tue, Mar 29, 8:17 a.m.

Too little, almost too late! Her owner is loving her to death. She has to change hands if their is any hope of saving and restoring her. I look at her almost every day and it is heartbreaking to see her decaying and homeless. But the Kalakala is currently the ...

Posted Fri, Mar 25, 8:29 a.m.

Knute, One has only to look at the elementary school age portion of Seattle's population to see that it is no longer a place to raise a family. The public school age population is lower than before WWII. Private schools do not amount to enough of a population to move ...

Posted Fri, Mar 11, 8:03 a.m.

David, you must be getting old to not remember that the fight to save Pioneer Square came way before the Market vote. Wes Uhlman, newly elected mayor, hit the ground running and fully commited his adminatration to saving the blighted Historic are, standing shoulder to shoulder with Victor Steinbrueck. The ...

Posted Wed, Mar 2, 9:33 a.m.

I can here the sucking sound already. While creating new spaces and units in the South end of the downtown core, it will make it even harder for historic building owners to attract tenants to their special and limited buildings, especially when people elect to be housed next door and ...

Posted Wed, Mar 2, 9:19 a.m.

From the time that we campaigned to have the District designated by the City and placed on the National Register, we all knew that undertaking the stabilization and preservation of the buildings in the district was a risky venture.The list of risks included: Earthquakes Fire Derilict owners (demolition by neglect) ...

Posted Fri, Feb 25, 9:44 a.m.

One can not find a more personable, friendly, kind and generous person than Louis. I helped hime get this newly arrived Orchestra some public notice back in the early 70's in Pioneer Square's Occidental Park concert series during the summer months. It was an immediate hit. The contrast of the ...

Posted Thu, Feb 24, 7:52 a.m.

I was born and raised in Chicago, the only American city with a "World Class Waterfront. Seattle, with the present planning and it's restrictions, you are not world class and never will be...if that is a goal. First and formost, in 100 years (the projected life of a large and ...

Posted Mon, Feb 21, 9:08 a.m.

A good example and perhaps the future of small cities outside the high density core cities, is Bellevue. Once a very small outlying community, now a full service city. This pattern of maturing smaller cities is alive and well in america. And, as telecommunications make it more and more possible ...

Posted Mon, Feb 21, 8:46 a.m.

You are missing the whole point of having an historic district. First, protect and preserve the character-giving features of the district. That means, preserve the buildings, the common heights of almost ALL of the existing buildings, the spaces in between like streetscapes and alleyways, infill spaces that had buildings with ...

Posted Thu, Feb 17, 11:29 a.m.

Well said, Seattle Observer!

Posted Thu, Feb 17, 10:57 a.m.

I used to compare the DBT with the WOOPs(sp?)debacle. I've decide that it should better be called the "Titanic 2" In that senario, the wealthy passengers, special interests and polititions) get the life boats, and Washington residents,sterrage, go down with the ship, or freeze in the icy water. The Ship ...

Posted Fri, Feb 4, 7:58 a.m.

There is NO URBAN DESIGN on the block of the Library. The sculpture's presence is a good indicate that the Designer could care less for our local culture and sensitivities. The sculpture should be moved to a branch library asap. There, it will reunite with the local aspects the sculptor ...

Posted Tue, Feb 1, 7:56 a.m.

With more local communities wanting more local control of their destiny, it might be worth the investigation to see if Counties, whose local (cities)political boundaries are able (through growth management) to cover the total area of the County through annexations, could opt to divy up the County's remaining rsponsibilities and ...

Posted Fri, Jan 28, 9:20 a.m.

Knute, the problem is not how and where to go in the Historic District, it's getting people to come to the District. The coming mega-projects and their impacts are overwhelming. The impacts start all over the Nation, where people hear of the construction disruption and risks and all things associated ...

Posted Thu, Jan 27, 6:49 p.m.

How does Pannenan know that the rent will be higher once the retrofitting is complete? WSDOT won't be purchasing the building, so it will stay in private hands. The artists should be relocated at WSDOT's expense to nearby space, at the same rental rate they were paying. Then, when the ...

Posted Thu, Jan 27, 7:45 a.m.

Very good list Knute! I'm sure we can all add to it. But underlying all this old and new, are the phases that we have gone through to get where we are, for better or worse. In the 60's and 70's we were a local community doing things for ourselves ...

Posted Mon, Jan 24, 8:11 a.m.

Heed her warning! Trying to Demolish a contributing structure will add months, if not years to WSDOT's schedule. But then....!

Posted Thu, Jan 20, 8:01 a.m.

Perhaps, as part of every candidates campaign for a Senate or House seat (Governors as well),the Historic Preservation Caucus should send out questionaires and conduct interviews to determine the level of understanding each hopeful politition has in the fields of State History, Historic Preservation & Archaeological programs and Heritage activities ...

Posted Wed, Jan 19, 7:40 a.m.

WSDOT does NOT determine the future of the Building. Seattle, through the actions of the Pioneer Square Review Board, does. It is not the City's problem,or the owners problem. It is WSDOT's, and they have to make sure the building lasts through the tunnel drilling. That cost is the responsibility ...

Posted Tue, Jan 18, 11:32 a.m.

New News! GSA wil not have the DBT under their (Old Post Office Building)Federal Office Building! Thank you Publicola! Is this the straw that breaks the back of the DBT? Will WSDOT have to reconsider their alignment...again, in order to avoid this Federal Building, Western and Polsom buildings? Will this ...

Posted Tue, Jan 18, 8:15 a.m.

No. 1. Why is the PSRB discussing this when WSDOT is not the owner of the building and cannot submit a demolition permit unless they are? No. 2. If WSDOT has to purchase the Building in order to apply for a demolition permit (or for that matter a retrofitting perminta), ...

Posted Thu, Jan 13, 7:49 a.m.

Today, in King County (just one example), thanks to every community wanting more direct control of governmental activities (regulation, taxation, elections, etc.) we now have a plethera of Cities that control almost all of the developable land in the County....and then some. This decentralization has resulted in higher costs for ...

Posted Tue, Jan 11, 8:20 a.m.

The artist should hold their ground. It ain't over till it's over! Why, The Tunnel project funding has NOT been approved by the legislature which will hold their ground on requiring Seattle to pay cost-overruns. It is THE deal breaker! Call Speaker Chopp! You have rights! All are protected by ...

Posted Mon, Jan 10, 8:21 a.m.

While it's too early to focus the discussion on what exactly motivated this shooter that caused him to commit this terrible crime, there is a glaring fact that cannot be ignored. Representative Gifford is the first elected representative, from Arizona, that is Jewish. And while she is struggling for her ...

Posted Tue, Jan 4, 8:02 a.m.

There is still a slight chance that the Boeing's Plant 2 demolition will have to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 review. Please write Boeing and tell them you want the Plant 2 demolition stayed. Art

Posted Mon, Dec 27, 9:59 a.m.

Too many points to respond to. But, here's a few: The view from Kerry Park used to be dominated by Mt. Rainier. Now it is a distracted view with ugly highrises in the foreground. We lost that one! There is no responsible Urban Design program in City Hall. The trade ...

Posted Wed, Nov 10, 8:16 a.m.

In the 70's , when we were trying to attract people back to the almost abandoned Seattle consistant with the "Back to the City Movement" all over the Country, Our mantra was "Seattle, a city for all!" Today, Seattle is "a city for all wealthy and tourists!" We have sold ...

Posted Thu, Oct 14, 7:52 a.m.

Perhaps, with rising sea levels and climate change, more people will be opting to move to cooler climates (Northward,) which includes higher elevations not impacted by innundation of lowlands. And, with diminishing sources of fresh water, due to glacial melting, having to provide potable water via deep water wells connecting ...

Posted Wed, Oct 13, 1:15 p.m.

Yes, we can learn from past experiences. However, since the invention of agriculture, man has changed the planet to the point that natural processes have been altered and in ever-increasing ways. Sea Level rise is perhaps the most obvious and threatening natural phenomena. We (the world) will see unprecidented sea ...

Posted Mon, Oct 11, 7:50 a.m.

Thus, rather than the business community supporting the deep bored tunnel, with lower capacities, a more risky route, slower speeds, steeper grades and complicated portal connections to business areas, they should support the retention and retrofitting of the current Alaskan Way Viaduct which carries the most amount of traffic, supports ...

Posted Fri, Oct 8, 8:45 a.m.

The co-lead is just another shell game and distraction from the crime that is being committed by the "Co Leaders". The crime is that without a Final EIS being published, nothing should be accomplished for any ONE alternative until the "preferred alternative" is selected by the proponents. NO SUCH DECISION ...

Posted Wed, Sep 15, 8:13 a.m.

Two things: A publication on the preparations for the 1962 worlds Fair. Many capital improvements were accomplished (I-5 for one) to be ready for the Fair. We are now either using or eliminating such improvements. A look at what was the lasting legacy of improvements that have come and gone, ...

Posted Tue, Sep 14, 8:28 a.m.

David, Please reexamine Crosscut's policies relating to commenting on articles. It is our nature to provide input on articles and/or criticism. But the comment acivity has been highjacked by those who are preoccupied with challenging other commentors, frequently very disrespectfully. If one wants to expand the dialog related to the ...

Posted Thu, Aug 19, 9:35 a.m.

Peter Phillips is a good, honorable and pro-active advocate for the continuation of maritime and other businesses in the city. He is not anti bikes! He has been diligently following the long process of examining the impacts of the proposed Deep bore Tunnel as well as the other choices considered. ...

Posted Fri, Jul 30, 8:40 a.m.

Perhaps the vote will bring us to our senses, get us off our high horse, start behaving responsibily, and just fix it. That is not a bad senerio given the impacts of a NEW Viaduct or tearing it down with no replacement. Life in Seattle is always the lesser of ...

Posted Thu, Jul 29, 3:50 p.m.

Perspective. When the 1989 earthquake struck San Francisco, every city in America sent their structural engineers down to see what happened and determine what would be needed to avoid a similar impact in their own comnmunity. WSDOT did just that, and came home with the understanding, while seeing the differences ...

Posted Thu, Jul 29, 7:37 a.m.

Good comeback Knute! It was refreshing! No matter what it takes or how long this project (Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall repair or replacement) takes to be implemented, it has almost been a decade since the earthquake, with only minimal repairs to the waterfront structure. WSDOT/SDOT have allowed us to ...

Posted Mon, Jul 26, 7:45 a.m.

Ward's book is a must read! Especially for those that are supporting the Bored Tunnel project. Ward estimates that Sea Level Rise (SLR) by 2050 will be 3 feet (just 40 years from now), and by 2010, 9-10 feet. If his projections are possible, then let's not waste time replacing ...

Posted Mon, Jul 19, 8:41 a.m.

When one reads a Crosscut article and is encouraged to comment, it is appropriate to comment on the article itself. But, what has happened to this concept, is that commentors start commenting on comments and not the article. Then the conversation degenerates into semi name-calling and ultimately, pot-shots at persons, ...

Posted Tue, Jul 13, 11:50 a.m.

A fewe points to consider: 1. When I-5 was being planned, the AWV was in place and handling the N/S traffic needs of Seattle and environs. Local access was added (Columbia and Seneca ramps) after Downtown interests demanded improved access/egress to/from the Viaduct. Given that construction of I-5 was being ...

Posted Thu, Jul 1, 9:43 a.m.

Using the State's Colman Dock over-water development for an enhanced Passender-only Ferry terminal with more openspace, commercial activities, etc.,coupled with interconnections to other froms of transportation for those ferry passengers would greatly improve the central waterfron, south end. The Port and State Ferries should work together(right now)to find and develop ...

Posted Thu, Jul 1, 8:57 a.m.

Just a point of clarification. The unused piers are 62 & 63. The reason that they are that way, is not due to failing pilings. The city decided that the future of the 2 piers was their worth as over-water existing development. That over-water development bank is to be used, ...

Posted Tue, Jun 29, 10:42 a.m.

Latest census numbers show that Seattle is now under 10% of the State's population...and going down. Seattle is losing the attention of the Legislature as this diminishment continues to dilute Seattles representation. When I arrived in Seattle in 1967, this city was 50% of King county's population. When I worked ...

Posted Fri, Jun 25, 8:38 a.m.

Wells, You would be benefitted by knowing and understanding the history of each of these parks/openspace designs and their formulation processes. Blaming the individual Landscape Design professionals for the end product is touching the wrong end of the elephant. You also have to put yourself in the shoes of those ...

Posted Fri, Jun 25, 8:25 a.m.

A brief note about the Freeway Park. I was the project Architect for the City of Seattle for the portion of the Freeway Park that held up the eastern portion of the park, that being the Municipal Parking Garage paid for by the inssuance of Municipal Bonds. The Freeway Park ...

Posted Tue, Jun 22, 4:42 p.m.

So, mhays, you are already supporting change orders to alter the southern portion of 99 to elevate the roadway, which is about 1 1/2 mile from Spokane St. to the Tunnel entry. And you support a change order to modify the Tunnel entrance by raising the elevation to sit above ...

Posted Tue, Jun 22, 2:41 p.m.

mhays, So, have you seen such an elevated ring at the South portal? Or,the raised roadway design in the first phase(Kiong to Holgate) when it is finished(not the temporary road)? You better hurry and check it out and get it included since it is about to have a ground breaking ...

Posted Tue, Jun 22, 9:55 a.m.

So, if you protect the tiny portal (raising it above rising sea level, how does one expect to drive to it or from it with the whole south end of out industrial area under water? As for the Viaduct, it should be retrofitted with the rising sea levels taken into ...

Posted Tue, Jun 22, 8:28 a.m.

Forget about it! Everyone seems to have their head in the sand (or fill) on what will happen at the waters edge. Read Peter D. Ward's new book "The Flooded Earth: Our future in a World Without Ice Caps." He is a professor of Biology and Earth and Space Sciences ...

Posted Fri, Jun 18, 7:53 a.m.

The proposed Tunnel project perpetuates the wrong-headedness that got us into Viet Nam. Without strong leadership, we are destined to continue to dig a very big whole (pardon the pun) from which Seattle can not climb out. The illegal way Seattle, led by the Governor, is proceeding without even finishing ...

Posted Mon, Jun 14, 9:18 a.m.

Except for the Space Needle, which owns the land it sits on and requires access/egress over Public land,the great majority of land is public. With the Center having to earn it's keep and still provide public use/benefits, having to find compatible tenants has been the task of decades. They come ...

Posted Wed, Jun 9, 9:58 a.m.

The Highline Project is a great example of found unprobable openspace in a dense urban area. However, we are dealing with a transportation project which is a vital part of our accessability to/though downtown. It is a key link for the economic vitality of our major business/industrial centers. So any ...

Posted Wed, Jun 9, 8:20 a.m.

You are all missing the key element in this discussion. It will be the Legislature's decision whether or not to go forward with a project that will put them at risk for cost overruns. They WILL NOT remove the limitation on cost-overruns. If they continue to have Viaduct fatigue, and ...

Posted Wed, Jun 2, 9:35 a.m.

We have been all about minimalism, or getting he biggest bang for our buck. Instead of urban renewal for Pioneer square and Pike Place market, we have continued history and added cultural enhancement. That continues in other neighborhoods like Ballard, Columbia City, West Seattle, Capitol Hill, etc. Through the Forward ...

Posted Mon, May 31, 10:04 a.m.

What if..... Yes, it was time to kiss the Old City Hall goodbye. And, yes, we needed a new Municipal building for courts, etc. But, demolishing the Old Public Safety Building may have been a grand mistake. Perhaps we should have completely rehabed it as our New City Hall which ...

Posted Thu, May 27, 8:39 a.m.

Let's ALL spend our time assisting Pioneer Square in getting City Hall to provide REAL economic incentives for building owners and retail tenants who have been put at a disadvantage in the downtown marketplace by overlay legislation that is outdated and used as a punitive hammer unlike any other part ...

Posted Wed, May 26, 12:11 p.m.

The biggeat problem with our City Hall is it's location. Who can easily get to it? Certainly not a handicapped citizen. And the wind tunnel that it created (juxtaposed other bland public buildings) sets you back one step for every two one takes. It should have been built on the ...

Posted Mon, May 24, 10:03 a.m.

Pay no attention to stated contingencies by the State, or the expectation of low bids! The "for sure" overruns will be in the form of change orders oncde the contracts are let, that the contractors always make their profit on. Bid low to get the job then screw the client ...

Posted Mon, May 24, 9:52 a.m.

For those who say they speak for Pioneer Square and oppose the Real Change Newspaper coming to the District, I say shame on you! Pioneer Square has had an historical interest and effective activism in treating the homeless and down and out's with humane and effective programs. It has done ...

Posted Fri, May 7, 8:09 a.m.

One might notice the close relationship the Mayor has with Speaker Chopp for the answer to what will happen in the next session. Legislators have Viaduct fatigue and want it over with. My take is that they won't budge on the cost overrun issue sending WSDOT back to the drawing ...

Posted Wed, May 5, 3:01 p.m.

PS Stuart, you left out of your list of mega projects coming, the development of the north parking lot. Art

Posted Wed, May 5, 2:51 p.m.

Thank you Stuart for a well written and useful article. In my 40+ years in the historic Preservation field, I think I have seen it all. From historical reconstruction (Williamsburg) to massive demolition of historic resources across the Nation. If I have come to respect the general publics opinion about ...

Posted Thu, Apr 29, 8:36 a.m.

While I'd prefer an annex to the Elliot Bay Bookstore, the timing is right for a unique cultural facility in a retail location that is well suited to this vacant space. No matter which AWV solution one subscribes to, one thing they all have in common is the massive funding ...

Posted Tue, Apr 13, 7:55 a.m.

Knute, great work on this topic and site. Those of us who are working to save the Historic Seattle Federal Reserve Bank Building on 2nd Ave, have become sensitive to this important and unique period of American History.It was not just built in the post-war era, or labeled as mid-century ...

Posted Tue, Apr 13, 7:22 a.m.

This is why the issue of cost-overruns for the proposed downtown Tunnel, to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, will be the fatal flaw. Since the Tunnel option was a Seattle solution, the legislature wants Seattle to pay for any/all cost-overruns. The City's position has been that the State can't make ...

Posted Mon, Apr 12, 8:58 a.m.

We were lucky to have had him as long as we did. Truman didn't need to be phased in. He hit the ground running and never stopped. The two of them were the knock out punches that ended the Wars (Europe & Pacific)and created th modern world in which we ...

Posted Thu, Apr 8, 8:01 a.m.

White Center may be the only neighborhood that could offer residence an abundance of affordable housing. As the Rainier Valley light-rail impacts land values and encourages the City's actions to increase density (not affordability), the gentrification of South Seatle will be expedited causing the uprooting of our residents who have ...

Posted Thu, Apr 1, 8:01 a.m.

The exact criticisms of the Viaduct having narrow lanes and no shoulders is being replicated in the Tunnel. Check the cross-section of the Tunnel. The Tunnel design calls for a 2' and a 6' shoulder, hardly enough room for a car or truck to pull out of traffic. And, unless ...

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 7:46 p.m.

Your just drinking more of their lemonade! Obviously your mind is made up. But you were lead by them and their political moves. Retrofit supporters at least came to our solution based on our collective experiences and objectives set by the legislature and WSDOT. Just as a reminder, they are: ...

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 5 p.m.

While the Tunnel was touted as having no disruptive impacts, the demolition of the King to Holgate section will cause disruption, possibly as long as two years until a temporary bypass (another viaduct)is constructed. Forked tongue!!! Then there's the disruption caused by the two Portal locations, especially the North Portal. ...

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 2:59 p.m.

mhays, I am ready to be proven wrong about Retrofitting the Viaduct. But until WSDOT spends the equivolent amount of money it has on the other alternatives being considered, and studing various schemes that Retrofit the Viaduct, none of use can say, for sure, it can be done with the ...

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 10:12 a.m.

Thanks jmrolls! I forgot to mention that there is no rocket science in Retrofitting since the technology already exists and is being actively used by WSDOT on other structures in need of Retrofitting. And, construction can begin almost immediately so we wouldn't have to be threatened by another earthquake impact ...

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 7:56 a.m.

And that is why Retrofitting the AWV makes such good sense. This is what we would get: A budget of $1.4 billion creating surplus funds ($1 Billion) that could be diverted to the 520 replacement and eliminating the need for tolls. A 3 year construction project that would create minimal ...

Posted Fri, Mar 19, 7:34 a.m.

The turn-down by the LPB has no basis in law. No local government has jurisdiction over a higher level of government,in this case, the Feds. Just like separation of church and state, until the property is owned by a private entity, the LPB has no authority to consider nominating higher ...

Posted Fri, Mar 19, 7:18 a.m.

David, you have completely missed what's really going on with the Center. It is a big shell game driven by city policies that are attempting to bypass legislative mandates and let developers off the hook.

Posted Thu, Mar 18, 10:17 a.m.

Portions of an E-mail sent: From: Erik Reval, Legal Division, Federal Reserve bank of San Francisco (Erik.Reval@sf.frb.org) To: Susan Boyle (sboyle@bolarch.com) Date: June 10,2008 12:00 PM "Hi Susan, Congratulations on your success at the City's Landmark Board. I heard it went very well."........ .....Thank you for all your work on ...

Posted Mon, Mar 8, 8:12 a.m.

Knute, This story speaks to the lack of attention we all give to the importance of History education and specifically, local history. Without a populus that appreciates it's own history, how can we expect our children,or newcomers, to get excited about the rapidly disappearing landmarks of their community. Why not ...

Posted Thu, Feb 18, 7:30 a.m.

Knute, Locate what affordable housing? Seattle has forced low and medium income families out of the city to the surroundinding smaller cities. This is reflected in the ever-decreasing school age population of Seattle. And there went diversity with it. Lack of quality education has also taken it's toll on the ...

Posted Tue, Feb 16, 9:59 a.m.

If historic Preservation is seen as a Federal Program in order to make it work, we are done for! We have had 44 years (since the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966)to get this message and develop the kind of effort that does not depend on Federal help. Yes, the ...

Posted Thu, Feb 11, 2:13 p.m.

R., if you think the Viaduct does not meet curent transportation standards, take a good look at the Tunnel design. Shoulders? Emergency exits, no way to get to the surface, built accross the major fault line, etc. At least we know that the Viaduct survived the largest earthquake in modern ...

Posted Thu, Feb 11, 2 p.m.

Sinbad, It was the Ozark Hotel. Art

Posted Thu, Feb 11, 1:59 p.m.

Hello Sinbad, The hotel fire was in 1970 and killed 19 residents. The old Hotel had only one means of egress. I'm blanking on the name. Fire Chief, Gordon Vickery, immediately drafted an ordinance that called for the immediate closure of all other similar hotels/flop houses, single room occupancy buildings ...

Posted Thu, Feb 11, 9:38 a.m.

Go down to Olympia and listen to legislators anger about this Tunnel and Seattle. The "Seattle pays all cost overruns" is NOT going to be removed. And going ahead with lower bids would be a very dangerous political move, because the overruns come in the form of "Change Orders" to ...

Posted Thu, Feb 11, 8:31 a.m.

Have things changed? I don't think so! Remember when uptown merchants had street people in "their" neighborhood. They just called the police who then picked them up and dropped them off in Pioneer Square. And, since downtown is "everyone's neighborhood, social services, missions and corrections facilities have been concentrated in ...

Posted Wed, Feb 10, 7:50 a.m.

Steve deserves credit for stepping in and buying the Kalakala when the only other bidder would have taken her to San Francisco where her hull originally came from. While very little has been done physically, he did raise the level of her significants by getting the Kalakala on the National ...

Posted Thu, Jan 28, 6:26 p.m.

If we just Retrofit the Viaduct for $1 billion, there is no need to disturb any artifacts either in the fill or the undisturbed old beach. No delays for digs, and a structurally sound VIADUCT THAT PERFORMS AS WE CURRENTLY ENJOY IT WITHOUT DISRUPTION DURING OR AFTER CONSTRUCTION.

Posted Thu, Jan 21, 8:15 a.m.

Hey Ron, How's this: Have WSDOT employees sign a contract with the Legislature and the City of Seattle, which pledges all salaries, benefits and personal holdings (such as homes & businesses), retirement funding and savings for their children's education as the way to pay for any and all cost overruns ...

Posted Fri, Jan 15, 7:54 a.m.

Before one asks for the citizens of Seattle to fix the Seawall with a tax increase, the Mayor/city have to resolve the cost-overrun issue for the Tunnel. If the Tunnel is dropped due to this issue, the State will have to come back with a new alternative which they probably ...

Posted Thu, Jan 14, 8:34 a.m.

This period of highrise building, I call "Jokeitecture." That is, which ones make you laugh the hardest. Unfortunately, they become old jokes that just hang around for too long ultimately adding to the dehumanization of our Cities. By the way, did you hear the one that.............? Arthur M. Skolnik FAIA

Posted Tue, Dec 29, 8:11 a.m.

Knute,there are many more. Let's talk in the new year. But one that stands out is Sally Clark's lack of leadership and footdragging on creating more effective historic preservation incentives for downtown and the rest of the city. Without these, we will lose many buildings unnecessarily. Oh, and what about ...

Posted Mon, Dec 28, 9:08 a.m.

Here's my take on how it will go: Seattle won't agree to pay cost overruns. Legislature drops the Tunnel WSDOT brings back their senerio to build a NEW Viaduct on the waterfront. which is wider and uglier than the existing Viaduct. Seattle balks and digs in to stop it. City ...

Posted Mon, Dec 21, 7:57 a.m.

Knute, you missed this opportunity to gain some traction on how to move ahead. You need not have given 7 ideas on how to proceed. Just one would do. The rest will follow. Leadership in the District has to be by doers not talkers. Evaluating isn't acting. Too many words ...

Posted Wed, Dec 9, 5 p.m.

When Walt Carr, the originator of Elliott Bay Books, sold the store, it was a sign of things to come. The TLC that Walt brought to this unique business was special in it's identifiacation with the Pioneer Square Historic District. Through thick and thin, Walt had seen it all, and ...

Posted Fri, Dec 4, 7:55 a.m.

Calm down! It's important to get it right! But some advise. Ask your doctor if his technique allows (or improves the chances for)reconnection if sometime in your future you find yourself wanting to impregnate someone. Or, if storing sperrm is another option..go for it. My story will help you understand ...

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 7:49 a.m.

This is a wonderful first step for MOHI. However, it will only be completely successful when it becomes the prime advocate and landlord for the ever diminishing fleet of historic vessels that cannot find a home for display, interpretation and restoration. With our not-so-pretty previous efforts to date to save ...

Posted Mon, Oct 12, 8 a.m.

All examples of our State and local governments current lack of effective preservation incentives. And all preservation advocates still sitting on their hands, doing nothing to get organized, make recommendations and pursue legislation. The blind leading the blind! Art

Posted Fri, Oct 2, 9:22 a.m.

Knute, I had the greatest of pleasures to have Jane Jacobs as one of my Crits while I was pursuing my Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at Brooklyn's Pratt institute back in the 60's. And I can tell you from direct experience, that she would NOT agree with the ...

Posted Tue, Sep 15, 8:26 a.m.

These parks are timebombs. With NO enforcement of preventitive health management, one dog, on a short visit, can spread anything to the others present. And that doesn't include droppings (especially loose stool) that could contaminate others who attend later. I went to a dog park with my dogs, who have ...

Posted Tue, Sep 15, 8:15 a.m.

A City for ALL or for the Wealthy and Tourists? AFFORDABILITY, EDUCATION and COMPASSION! Without these principals, who cares! Art

Posted Tue, Sep 8, 7:20 a.m.

Oh Knute! This article doesn't do this subject justice. Too many variables, historic neighborhood configurations, Racial descrimination, loss of affordable housing and generally absent or bad planning. Too many things to react to and lack of time keeps me from responding here. Perhaps you could break this topic down into ...

Posted Mon, Aug 31, 7:44 a.m.

Niclel's administration showed us all that partisan politics, and the games that are played with it, has no business being in local government.Yes Greg is a political animal. And, Ceis was there to make sure he didn't waver from that political partisanship behavior. Although our local political arena is democratic, ...

Posted Thu, Aug 27, 12:54 p.m.

People make decisions to their own liking and values. Not because there is a bus line nearby, but because they define their needs by their own vision of how they want to live. That may in fact be greatly influenced by the housing/lifestyle they grew up with. Let's not tamper ...

Posted Thu, Aug 27, 8:14 a.m.

Doug, can't you write a shorter paper and say the same thing with fewer words? Before we spend another dollar on lightrail, we need to go BACK to the original RTP recommendation which was MORE BUSES, MORE PLACES, MORE OFTEN, estimated to need a $1+ Billion funding source. That has ...

Posted Wed, Aug 26, 8:39 a.m.

Knute, don't bother with density. Better to spend more time on the Quality of life in these locations. Rank them after you overlay such amenities as: Amount of recreational open space Crime rate quality and availability of public education access to jobs public transportation commute times all levels of housing ...

Posted Tue, Aug 11, 7:58 a.m.

Quantity is good to look at. But it's how Seattle has evolved while attracting growth that is the critical factor. We WERE a city for all in the 60's and 70's with great attention to the local quality of life. Then, we got big ideas about being visible and competitive ...

Posted Fri, Aug 7, 10:37 a.m.

You got it backwards Knute! The Mayor's Office should be an end in itself. It is the highest, most important executive position in our land. No other politition is as close to his/her constituants and held as accountable as the Mayor of a city. It should attract leaders and visionaries ...

Posted Thu, Aug 6, 7:40 a.m.

John, you too have been drinking the WSDOT lemonade. How can you overlook the uncoming conflict that will cause the southern portion of the Viaduct to be demolished (King to Holgate), causing the disruption that you say will be avoided. Assuming the tunnel is eventually completed (with signifcant cost expansion ...

Posted Thu, Jul 30, 10:17 a.m.

Until Norm Rice became Mayor, it had been a very long time since a City Council member had become a Mayor. Now, it seems that the spin on candidate knowledge and experience is tied to having held a previous political position. This is wrong! We need to nurture future leaders ...

Posted Thu, Jul 9, 8:58 a.m.

Art for the final time There was a comprehensive article in the Seattle Times a couple of years ago which explained how the MLK route was decided. You'll have to go in and scan several to find it. Art

Posted Wed, Jul 8, 7 p.m.

Art again. I was the South Corridor Manager for the Regional Transit Project back in the 90's. The debate between serving points of origin vs. destination was a a wash. MLK and Rainier have (had) the best transit service in all of Seattle. No need to replace it with rail, ...

Posted Wed, Jul 8, 8:22 a.m.

Robert, you are Wrong to assume MLK was destined bla bla bla. I'd be glad to fill you in on the detals as to how it got there and not the real proposed route, down E. Marginal Way and the First Ave. Bridge to 99. Arthur M. skolnik FAIA 206.669.5048

Posted Mon, Jun 22, 9:08 a.m.

Boring! Resting on one's accomplishments is a backwards way to approach a city's quality of life. One must start at the bottom, so to speak, and judge one's community on problems unsolved And that would focus on the compassion and democratic process of getting to equal and free. Such things ...

Posted Thu, Jun 18, 8:34 a.m.

You must be drinking the same coolade that WSDOT is dishing out, to get to your inaccurate statement about rehabbing the current Viaduct. The beauty of a Retrofit is that it need not be closed down during construction, except for minimal periods to repave the roadbeds which could take place ...

Posted Wed, Jun 17, 8:30 a.m.

Everyone should be holding their breath until January, 2010, when the Legislature convenes and gets to see the research done by WSDOT as delineated in the "Amendment" to the State's Bill, that all supporters of the Tunnel lobbyed for and got, reluctently. While Nickels and Drago have rebuffed the provision ...

Posted Tue, Jun 2, 7:49 a.m.

Seattle departed from the "enjoy being who an what we are" in the early 80's. That was our local/homegrown period where we cleaned up Lake Washington, held the World's Fair, passed the Forward Thrust Bond package, designated Pioneer Square an Historic District, saved the Pike Place Market ans successfully began ...

Posted Wed, May 27, 9:30 a.m.

This coming primary is likely to be a bust for expected turnout. The voting public is contemplating none of the candidates for a mayor. The largest vote getter may be the non-vote. With inside traders, incumbant, and outlanders running, a vote for a mayor will be a no vote for ...

Posted Wed, May 27, 9:17 a.m.

In is no longer acceptable to refer to communities outside large cities as suburbs. They are just small or smaller cities, refering to the size of their population only. Small cities provide all the same services as big cities as required by their state constitutions. So, let's get into the ...

Posted Thu, May 14, 7:30 a.m.

An over reaction! Here's my thoughts: Have the primary races by district but have the general election at-large. That way you guarentee the geographic distribution of the candidates, but hold the candidates to city-wide appeal from the whole city population. Let's try this before we go too far. As an ...

Posted Wed, May 13, 7:55 a.m.

Very good summary, Tina. And, right on! The sound of local government being an active advocate in the continued redevelopment and restoration of the District is deafening. City Hall has the OBLIGATION to participate in a substancial way since it created this District, which is the most heavily restricted property ...

Posted Thu, Apr 30, 9:05 p.m.

So here's what is likely to happen: Seattle challenges the Tunnel bill amendment to get out of having to pay cost overruns. If it does, the compromise is dead. If it doesn't, all incumbants will be voted out of office. An Initiative will be passed stopping the Tunnel. All factions ...

Posted Thu, Apr 30, 8:19 p.m.

Knute, I don't know where to begin. Why bring Bozeman in to tell us what we already know and hate. Our government has abandoned us for the globalization of the city. It has trampled our values and spirit. It has preyed on our lowerr income residents who have no choice ...

Posted Fri, Apr 24, 8:54 a.m.

Baaaaa! The blind leading the blind! Too bad! Believe the hype, for the pipe, Pay the price, then leave you might!, Art

Posted Fri, Apr 24, 7:33 a.m.

Non-elected civic leader and visionary? Sign me up!!! Art

Posted Tue, Apr 21, 7:23 a.m.

Knute, RIGHT ON! Art

Posted Thu, Apr 9, 8:28 a.m.

We all have recently learned that in tight times, we reduce spending and plan for basic needs for survivability. The State, by example has NOT gotten the same message with our money. Take, for example the replacement of the Viaduct with a proposed Tunnel, the most expensive alternative. It's like ...

Posted Thu, Apr 9, 8 a.m.

Knute, I gave up on planning for a Cascadia decades ago when I watched the myriad of cities being created as well as the thousands of other districts, none of which coincide with others boundaries. What a mess. And all base on self interest and control. So I now think ...

Posted Tue, Apr 7, 8:04 a.m.

One important corection and significant aspect of the Gold Rush which you did not mention, was not that the Klondike Gold Rush was not important, of course it was. But, it couldn't have been a booming success without two major things in place: 1. The Railroad had come to Seattle ...

Posted Tue, Mar 31, 7:43 a.m.

Thanks Knute for advancing my idea of a public "Journalist Square" with the Globe being the centerpiece. We can discuss the details later. Now we have to: 1. Protect the Globe from any relocation OUT OF THE CITY. 2. Setting up a search committee to receive proposals for the public ...

Posted Fri, Mar 27, 8:02 a.m.

Speaker Chopp may be the ultimate deal-maker, but he's the most conscientious legislator in our State government. We are not seeing partisan backroom dealing. We are seeing the art of political accomplishment. That's what got him to be Speaker. He delivers! If Frank has concerns with the Tunnel idea, then ...

Posted Mon, Mar 23, 6:44 a.m.

Sorry Knute, but we need more than a Councilmember challenging Nickels. We need an advocate from the community who knows how this administration has abandoned there needs. Regardless of the Councilmembers individual talents, they have collectively caved on the issue of making a stink about the harshness and myopic approach ...

Posted Tue, Mar 17, 8:05 a.m.

Bruce, remind me to not invite you to deliver my eulogy. Art

Posted Wed, Mar 11, 7:44 a.m.

Peter, IT'S YOUR TIME! DO IT! Arthur M. Skolnik FAIA

Posted Thu, Mar 5, 10:45 a.m.

It not just Nickel's fault. In the early 70's, we knew that the issues to saving any historic vessels were multiple: Insurance coverage required for moored vessels in public waterways to cover recovering ships that have sunk and bringing them back to the surface for restoration. (Very expensive for individual ...

Posted Tue, Mar 3, 12:12 p.m.

Let's get back to having newcomers take a Seattle 101 course. Art

Posted Mon, Feb 23, 7:04 p.m.

I cannot believe that Seattle has done it again. As the past and final Executive Director of the Kalakala Foundation, and a champion for historic preservation in general, it makes me want to vomit with anger. For a city who owes it 's very existence to the Maritime world, the ...

Posted Mon, Feb 23, 9:01 a.m.

Knute, this one nearly put me to sleep. I appreciate your attempt to right a wrong, but solving this problem is beyond responsible planning or clever programs. It just has to run it's course, and then whoever is left can pick up the pieces and start over. Our policies and ...

Posted Fri, Feb 20, 8:20 a.m.

This attempt to increase density is trying to make up for very bad transportation decisions made in the last decade. I worked on the Regional Transit Project as the South Corridor Manager and saw the misguided rationale of the leaders (especially Seattles City Council)to have the light rail run through ...

Posted Thu, Feb 19, 7:31 a.m.

So, are you announcing your candidacy for Mayor? Art

Posted Tue, Feb 17, 7:46 a.m.

Thanks for the accurate quotes. But some major facts were left out. For example, the 100+ year controversy is still alive and well as an international event between the USA, Canada and the First Nation People of Canada. The Tagish people, who always knew there was gold there, never mined ...

Posted Mon, Feb 16, 3:36 p.m.

Sounds like Viet Nam all over again!

Posted Mon, Feb 16, 2:05 p.m.

Let me set you straight on the common sense of RETROFITTING. Everyone involved in engineering design has said the the Viaduct can be RETROFITTED for a very long term use. We all use the same criteria for addressing the design of the fix. Remember, seismic safety is to protect life ...

Posted Mon, Feb 16, 8:30 a.m.

You have the right idea, in that we need to secure a dependable transportation corridor while other solutions are vetted out. But, you overlooked the most obvious alternative that works the best for our community interests. That is, RETROFITTING the Viaduct to eliminate the public safety risk which would cost ...

Posted Mon, Feb 9, 7:59 a.m.

One could believe that since the two Gregs were so close during previous campaigns, that they have conspired to have Smith run as a way to make the Mayor look more liberal and community-friendly, as opposed to the developer mentality of Smith. And, by having Smith run, it separates the ...

Posted Wed, Feb 4, 8:08 a.m.

New blood in the Exec position can lead the charge to diminish the responsibility of County Government towards getting rid of it altogether. We went the wrong way in 1992, combining Metro and the County. Metro should have become a separate elected body and move it out of the County. ...

Posted Fri, Jan 30, 8:42 a.m.

Don't hold your breath! First of all, you can't predict Chopp's position. No one can. He's the most independant, civicly motivated, look-out-for-the-litle-guy legislator down there. Add to the 2 slaps in his face, downtown interests not supporting his Viaduct concept and second, proposing a Tunnel that DOES NOT SERVICE HIS ...

Posted Wed, Jan 28, 7:46 a.m.

Perhaps, if our Government "Leaders" would stop "solving" our transportation problems by coming up with and supporting the MOST EXPENSIVE solutions, we could reduce the regressive kind of taxation that you are supporting. Everyone needs to wake up and look around and see that our lifestyle and mobility choices combined ...

Posted Mon, Jan 26, 8:04 a.m.

If the Nisqually earthquake had not happened, and no attention needed to be given to the Viaduct, we would have ALL agreed that the Replacement of the 520 bridge would still be our States highest and most urgent priority transportation project. With the shaking of the Viaduct, and repairs required, ...

Posted Tue, Jan 20, 7:12 a.m.

HOLD YOUR HORSES! Just because the announcement of the "collaboration of "3" polititians has recommended a Tunnel, doesn't mean it's a done deal. Not by a long shot. The messy but important process of legislative decision-making is yet to begin. It is likely that those legislators, who hold control of ...

Posted Fri, Jan 16, 7:27 a.m.

As for the Deep Bored Tunnel happening, until all the numbers are in, funding approved by all members of the "Collaboration" , stopping the Southern demolition to avoid interim disruption and Retrofitting the complete Viaduct so it can last, at least, as long as it takes to open the supposed ...

Posted Thu, Jan 15, 7:39 a.m.

Using our comminity as an example, 70% of job and residential growth has been and is occuring in the outlying communities of the City of Seattle. No matter how many reside in the City, it is a drop in the bucket give our population growth out there. So, expect the ...

Posted Tue, Jan 13, 7:43 a.m.

Where's Frank Chopp on this "collaboration?" How and when will Seattle and King County come up with their $1 billion each in order to be a "real participant?" Can we wait? Can we allow the Viaduct to deteriorate for another decade while we wait for the new route? Without a ...

Posted Thu, Jan 8, 10:55 a.m.

In 1975, I was appointed the first full-time professional State Historic Preservation Officer by then governor Dan Evans, a strong advocate of preservation and archaeology. The OAHP was then seated in State Parks. The Governor agreed with my request to remove the Office from Parks due to obvious conflicts of ...

Posted Wed, Jan 7, 9:03 a.m.

Good overview, Knute. But there is a major item that didn't get mentioned. Seattle City Council member Sally Clark, 1n early 2008, said that she would take up the matter of creating an Incentives Task Force that would review the City's existing efforts and recommend new incentives for property owners ...

Posted Tue, Dec 16, 11:38 a.m.

The ONLY way to avoid a big dig or equivolent is the RETROFIT the complete 2-mile long Viaduct. It can be accomplished in three years with no disruption of corridor businesses, employment, traffic volumes and for leas than $1 billion. All other alternatives are bogus, Lame, unjust, catastrophic and very ...

Posted Fri, Dec 12, 2:15 p.m.

There is no precident for the scale of disruption that would be experienced with any of the finalist schemes. We have NO right to cause that much interference with our community's patterns and business practices. It takes a lot of erragance to suggest this commotion. Are we so smart that ...

Posted Fri, Dec 12, 11:38 a.m.

David, you shouldn't be led a stray by this winnowing down process and the players that are involved in it. The ultimate decision will be the legislature's and particularly Rep. Frank Chopp. If one looks at his constituant interests, neither finalist meets their basic criteria. That is, no disruption during ...

Posted Fri, Dec 5, 7:50 a.m.

Hello Dick, glad to see you are still following the School closure issue. But inevitably, this is just a snapshot of a moving target. As long as the City of Seattle continues to acknowledge the negative impacts that rapid/high density development has on school age populations, that population will continue ...

Posted Fri, Nov 21, 7:27 a.m.

ALL major transportation project are finished, at least, at 3X multiple of the original estimates, with future inflated dollars. Big Dig, SEATAC Runway for example. So, get real! Also, non of these options include the economic hit to adjacent businesses, tourism and the regions economic vitality which has been estimated ...

Posted Tue, Nov 18, 5:11 p.m.

Planned Obsolescence! WSDOT and the City of Seattle have wanted to tear the Viaduct down since the 70's for it's aesthetics. WSDOY and the City never did preventative retrofitting. After the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the Stae and City sent engineers down to see what we could learn. They said ...

Posted Thu, Aug 28, 8 a.m.

YES!: Check out the previous listed article about the current demographics and trends in Seattle and you can see that Seattle has turned into a spoiled kid who only thinks of itself. Regionalism is not practiced in Seattle. Seattle has become a wealthy self centered brat and continues to grow ...

Posted Wed, Aug 6, 7:44 a.m.

Major savings!: Hey, big spenders, Retrofit the Viaduct (including the southern 40% proposed to be demolished)for $1 billion max, and take the cost savings of $1 billion and transfer them to help out the budget for the 520 bridge replacement which would lower if not eliminate the need for tolls. ...

Posted Sat, Aug 2, 8:48 a.m.

On the move!: For those of us who cannot afford the ever-increasing costs of city living, low and middle income families continue to move out of the city limits to surrounding cities and suburbs, causing the unintended sprawl. Seattle is becoming a very rich suburb of the North, East and ...

Posted Fri, Jul 18, 8:48 a.m.

What a great state!: Knute, why didn't you take me along. Years ago, when I was the Washington State Historic Preservation Office, I got to oversee the 1976 Bicentennial celebration throughout the State. I got to tour just about every town, city and county. I heard their plans for the ...

Posted Mon, Jul 14, 2:55 p.m.

It's not the place, it's the process and people!: If we want to give newcomers the best representation of Seattle and environs, we shouldn't focus on the things and stuff of our physical city. The most important thing that I focus on, when I am touring potential or new residents ...

Posted Fri, Jun 27, 9:49 a.m.

Clarification: To ddmiller, I said that the great majority attending were.... I did not mean to exclude neighborhood reps. I am sorry if it sounded like I did. Belated thanks for attending! Art

Posted Thu, Jun 26, 7:40 a.m.

Excuse me: If one were to profile the number of people who testified at the recent Council meeting referred to by Leah, that were satisfied with the current Ordinance, one would see that the great majority were either: government employees, non-profits representatives or consultants making their living off being hired ...

Posted Wed, Jun 25, 4:42 p.m.

But.....: That doesn't resolve the concerns of the hundred plus downtown property owners who continue to be in the cross hairs of the LPB for nomination and possibly designation. No additional incentives have been created by the city to offset the impacts on the developability of their propeties, or the ...

Posted Wed, Jun 25, 3:06 p.m.

Compared to the Viaduct: Doug, if I follow your logic, which I agree with, and compare it to the logic of tearing the Viaduct down and replacing it with a megamillion dollar solution, it doesn't line up. I would have expected you to support the retrofitting of the Viaduct instead ...

Posted Tue, Jun 24, 11:31 a.m.

DA!: The lack of low and middle income housing in our urban centers is driving sprawl. And that sprawl will contine as long as people need an affordable roof over their heads and a safe place to raise their families. So get real! Hardly ANY affordable market rate housing has ...

Posted Tue, Jun 24, 10:30 a.m.

Amend the Ladmarks Preservation Ordinance and....: Yes the process needs to be re-thunk! There are several places in the Ordinance that can be improved upon without showing a bias towards owners or preservationists. Just making it more fair and treating everyone like good citizens is the simple guiding goal. We ...

Posted Tue, Jun 17, 7:16 a.m.

Very good summary...but: One must look at how this all has evolved to see what's driving this autocracy. It is the mayor and his distorted 19th century ideas. Up unitl this mayor, it was typical to see staff persons mingling with City Council members in the sharing and creation of ...

Posted Mon, Jun 16, 9:06 a.m.

Shooting Blanks: More than ever before, we need to be flexible in our regional trasportation planning. We are in a new generation for patterns of human settlement. Our 19th century approach to getting people to use mass transit is not working here. Just wait until we see the lack of ...

Posted Sun, Jun 15, 6:42 a.m.

One more thing: The City of Seattle consistantly demands a $1 million Bond before it will let an historic Vessel moor in a publicly controlled right-of-way or in City owned waters. This is an unatainable requirement for non-profits trying to raise funds to restore these vessels. For the Kalakala, our ...

Posted Wed, May 14, 7:44 a.m.

Perfect example of lack of incentives: The Ballard community interests, have a good idea, to reconfigure the proposed development to save the landmarked Dennys Building. However, by reducing the footprint of the new building and compensating the owners with the ability to increase the height of the development so the ...

Posted Mon, Apr 14, 5:28 p.m.

RE: The issue is options: And, people will begin voting with their cars. That is, they will not give up their comfortable cars to avoid the tolls. They will change their commuting habits by finding work closer to where they live or, move closer to work. The unfortunate soles are ...

Posted Mon, Apr 14, 8:17 a.m.

Hot Lane not so hot!: So, here's how it will go: Presently, two or more riders zip down the current HOV lane, responding to the incentive of ride-sharing and taking vehicles off the road causing a reduction in congestion & pollution. as well as helping them balance their budgets. Along ...

Posted Tue, Apr 8, 8:29 a.m.

Not just the Mexicans/Spanish: Perhaps we should encourage a bit of competition for this re-occupation of the Northwest. How about getting a Chamgagne winery in France to do a similar ad. They would be justified since before Nepoleon sold this area to Jefferson as the Louisiana Purchase, it was French. ...

Posted Tue, Apr 1, 1:31 p.m.

Not an appropriate waterfront use.: Our State Shoreline Management Act would not see this idea as a water-related or water-dependant use. Thus, it is DOA! Art

Posted Tue, Apr 1, 7:10 a.m.

The nail on the head!: Fear is a great tool for stampeding voters to spend, spend, spend unnecessarily. That is exactly what has been playing out for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The State DOT first announced that their criteria for replacement/repair was to stay within the available State funds (first ...

Posted Mon, Mar 31, 10:51 a.m.

Thank you!: Great article! It tells it like it is. Now is the time to examine the City's Historic Preservation program. We need to know what works and what needs tweaking. The fact that the City is pursuing non-preservatiion projects is a clear example of a need for a course ...

Posted Mon, Mar 31, 9:40 a.m.

Land, Land Land!: Affordable housing is determined by the cost of the land, whereever it is desired. Due to comprehensive code requirements, all basic construction costs are the same for low to high income catagories. The major price differences are in the finishes,appliances and square footage dsired. So, what we ...

Posted Sat, Mar 29, 2:10 p.m.

No! No! No!: I'm an architect/Urban Designer in Seattle. And, this disucssion will uultimately miss the desired mark if focused first on architecture and urban planning for density and eco development. Our North American cities have gone astray by not working together and including the population to be housed and/or ...

Posted Sat, Mar 29, 1:50 p.m.

"Either/Or": David, the IZ is an antique regulation to create affordable housing. First we have to define what groups (s) we need to house, ie, families, workers, disabled, elderly, etc. Then we estimate, by actual numbers or by so many/ sq. ft., the number of affordable housing units that need ...

Posted Thu, Mar 20, 6:30 p.m.

RE: Skolnik? Preservationist opponent?: The Viaduct situation is a scam created by WSDOT engineers and those that lobby them for a project that will create more jobs, use more concrete etc. They could careless about the inconveniences cause by a decade of construction, or breaking the bank. The facts are: ...

Posted Thu, Mar 20, 10:23 a.m.

RE: Skolnik? Preservationist opponent?: Steve, you have your facts ALL WRONG! Call me for the truth and facts! And if you intend to be part of the historic preservation discussion, come to the Council Meeting tomorrow at 9:30 am. Otherwise, do your research before you put your foot in your ...

Posted Thu, Mar 20, 10:20 a.m.

RE: Steve Miller questions Skolnik: Shame on you Patricia. I would have thought you'd act on evidence and research before you would state an opinion. I am very disappointed in you..