CHS reported here on the push to rollback building heights in the areas of Capitol Hill where the pressures of development clash most heavily with existing neighborhood communities — City considers curbing building heights in response to outcry from neighborhood groups.
That was our say. Earlier this week, we covered the city’s community meeting held at Lowell Elementary to discuss possible changes in the “Lowrise 3” zoning. That was our say, too. Below, is your say. The city’s recording of the Tuesday night meeting is below. While you might find the words of those advocating for a position different than yours nearly unbearable to listen to at times, try to stay with it. The conversation will grow on you. Much of the positioning and rhetoric was stripped away from all sides Tuesday night as neighbors talked about what they believe — in their hearts — is best for the neighborhood. There are moments that will make you feel hopeless. But the conversation as a whole should give you great hope that participants care greatly about the key question we should each be asking — as one speaker put it, “Why do people want to live on Capitol Hill?”
The DPD slideshow goes to the essence of the problem: 75% of new housing is in Urban Villages / Centers, which are in LR (low rise) zones, but LR zones are only ~ 12% of the City’s land area.
What is the rest of the land area? Some is in Parks, some in commercial zones but most of it (65% ; http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-s-growth-projection-reflects-a-city-1285651.php ) is zoned Singe Family.
Over the last ~ 20 years I’ve been watching, ANY attempt to increase density in single family zones has been fought with tremendous zeal and success (and money and lawyers?) by single family zone representatives. The only area in which Single Family zones were allowed to get more dense (http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpds021570.pdf ) was in the (relatively impoverished ) SE sector of Seattle.
I see this as the big issue, and it could easily be read as a class issue or an “I’ve got mine” issue. I didi not see Councilmember Sawant at the meeting: don’t know if any of her aides were there (who are they? http://www.seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm#sawant ).
I’m glad these elitist NIMBY back-yard huggers, are finally being defeated in our quest to bring affordable housing to newcomers. http://takemybackyard.blogspot.com/
Defeated? You are not very in-tune with what is happening regarding the LR-3 zoning changes.
I want to live on Capitol Hill for a number of reasons. It’s been my neighborhood for most of the nine years I’ve lived in Seattle and I’ve gotten to know its details, to be a part of the community. I love that I can walk to downtown and to all the things I need (like groceries, etc.) I love that it’s the gayborhood, although some people seem to be trying to change that. I am starting to dislike the changes, like the gentrification, homophobia, and culture of coming to the neighborhood just to make the whole hill a place to party and not to live. I want to live here because it has become my neighborhood, and I hope I will continue to want to stay (although sometimes I think I should stop fighting to stay, as the new elite seems to want the place to themselves, and I don’t care for their snobbery)
It is disgusting. It’s no longer a neighborhood but a shopping mall for the newly arrived Amazonians and suburbanites to take hold in. Not a city but a mall with high poverty on the streets and crime to behold. Great city planning. I hate the hill.