Another Teton Dam

Crosscut — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

The golden age of dam building has long since passed, capped by the tragic failure in 1976 of the last big dam, an earthen structure on the Teton River of Idaho. Few new dam projects are being proposed these days, and many dams are being purposefully breached. But that hasn't stopped some from resurrecting the possibility of a new Teton Dam.

The revenge of the resource economy in the Mountain West

New West — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Despite slowing growth, the Mountain West is driven by a strong, complex economy that includes a natural resources boom, with industries such as mining once again on the upswing, a continued construction engine that seems to be resisting the housing slump, and the new standby, tourism.

Annals of Northwest secession

Crosscut — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

A primer of regional separatist movements, real and imagined.

Seattle area, San Juans lead the local wealth parade

Crosscut — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:22:01 PDT

Mike Parks, editor of the valuable Marple's Pacific Northwest Letter ($), has posted some fascinating data about levels of wealth in Washington and Oregon, digging into the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis figures for 2006, the most recent year available. The figures show how much Washington's richest counties are outstripping other nearby states.

Mods versus snobs

Crosscut — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Modernist architecture is for the elite, right? Not any more. The movement to preserve modern structures is finding new energy in populist appeal and as a counterbalance to today's McMansions and Viagra villas. The debate over a Ballard Denny's is just one squabble in a growing national discussion about preservation, proportion, and pedigree.

Does Seattle work any more?

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:00:01 PDT

A former mayor takes a critical look at Seattle's political culture, its past triumphs, and why it's so much harder today to make good decisions. One problem: We chew but do not swallow.

Appraising the Deborah Jacobs revolution at Seattle libraries

Crosscut — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

They are changing fast, turning into neighborhood gathering places. Did we put too much emphasis on our glittering downtown branch, and does it have enough of the comforts of a bookstore?

A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown

Crosscut — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:00:01 PDT

The Puget Sound Regional Council's Vision 2040, to be adopted tomorrow, has been outrun by seven years of population growth in the very outlying areas the plan is intended to protect, says the recent former Washington secretary of transportation. He explains what's happened and argues for a recalibration of strategy.

Some good Googie news

Crosscut — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:22:01 PDT

In the world of news related to Northwest Googie architecture and historic preservation, there are some new and interesting developments. They range from negotiations over a controversial Ballard diner, an upcoming lecture on Googie architecture by the expert on the topic, possible landmark status for popular a burger stand in Tacoma, and the announcement of the state's 2008 awards for historic preservation. Here's a quick rundown.

Seattle Process demystified: an introduction to neighborhood planning

Crosscut — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Chapter 1: It's been almost a decade since 38 neighborhood plans were adopted by the City Council. The process is about to begin anew. Today Crosscut begins a series of articles looking at the bureaucracy and the process. Consider it a primer for you and your neighbors — and a call to action.

11-7: Northwesterners cut gasoline consumption 11 percent in seven years

Crosscut — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:01 PDT

A report released today by Sightline Institute shows that per-capita gasoline consumption in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho decreased for the seventh consecutive year in 2007. That's an 11 percent decrease since 1999.

The superrich are superdifferent from you and me

Crosscut — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Despite gloomy forecasts, the superrich continue to spend. Earlier this month I wrote about the change in Seattle's culture of consumption--but conspicuous spending is nothing new in New York. However, the New York Times apparently feels that the fact luxury consumption it is continuing unabated despite the nation's economic woes is worth noting: $3,000 cognac, a Rolls-Royce shortage, and heavy demand for private chefs and butlers.

Addressing the rent crisis for Capitol Hill arts

Crosscut — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:00:01 PDT

The City Council convenes a meeting to explore special incentives, as rising rents threaten a lively arts scene on the Hill. Will a complicated Cultural Overlay District be the answer?

Foreclosure Flu sweeps through the Denver suburbs

Crosscut — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:01:01 PDT

Denver, riding high among American cities in growth and enlightened politics, has been hard hit by foreclosures. An eye-opening story in USA Today paints a disturbing picture of one Denver suburb where as many as one-third of the residents have lost their homes on some blocks. Denver officials say they expect 11,000 foreclosures this year, up from 7,700 last year. That's an average, last year, of one foreclosure for each 32 households. Particularly hard-hit are remote subdivisions where low and middle-income families are buying their first homes. That might be a warning for where Foreclosure Flu could start hitting the Seattle and Portland regions: in the outer suburbs where home-seeking families escape from high prices near the core.

Cool ideas for doomsday

Crosscut — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

While global warming is producing an Arctic land rush, climate change could also result in the far north becoming humanity's ark.

Why Fred Brown's mega-arena is not fantasy

Crosscut — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:34:01 PDT

The whole city is chuckling about the no-financing-yet proposal for a $1 billion sports-and-entertainment complex floated yesterday by ex Sonic Fred Brown and public relations guy Dave Bean. But wait. There may be some last laughs in this story.

Conspicuous Seattle

Crosscut — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A town of modest pleasures has become a city of cringe-inducing excess, even in the little things like coffee, booze, and movie tickets.

When government swings the wrecking ball

Crosscut — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Plans for Seattle Center, the University of Washington and the Capitol Campus in Olympia suggest that public agencies, like private developers, are willing to flatten historic buildings if they get in the way. What kind of historic preservation message is that?

Does inclusionary zoning build more affordable housing?

Crosscut — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:10:01 PDT

The cure-du-jour for skyrocketing housing prices, at least in Seattle City Hall, is something called inclusionary zoning, or IZ. It's in effect in more than 300 urban areas in the country. Typically IZ requires residential developers to include a percentage of affordable housing in new projects. Does it work?

Can eco-density be beautiful?

The Tyee (Vancouver) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Vancouver, B.C. wrestles with how to make new buildings and greater density produce better, less uniform architecture. It turns out nobody has a very clear image of what that would look like.

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