Re: Re: Re: Changes on Broadway
Weird. I don’t feel oppressed when I walk past the six-story building that sits at the corner of Broadway and John—which is “jammed right against heavily traveled sidewalks.” So is the seven-story tall Biltmore, which is a beloved local apartment building.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the Pearl District, and I don’t recall many buildings with setbacks. I recall a lot of buildings that built up to the sidewalks—maybe they’re the older buildings, but they’re also the ones with street-level retail, cafes, stores, and restaurants. As for Vancouver, you’re right—there are lots of taller, skinny buildings that don’t fill their lots.
But we can’t have “tall, skinny buildings” in Seattle, because we set an idiotic six-story, 65-foot height limit. That being the case, we’re going to have to live with the kind of development that, yes, fills the lot, and builds up to the allowed 65 feet. If you want to see an example of ugly, short, and set-back, check out the short, wide, and set-back building at the end of Broadway. Most people think it’s the ugliest building in the city. So set-backs, nice as they are, don’t guarantee you anything. Neither does short.
Since we’re total pussies around here about height (hello, Peter!), we can’t jump on developers for building out to their lot lines—and I disagree with you, Erica, about how people feel about crowded sidewalks. The hustle and bustle of street life is one of the things that people dig about living in the city.
Fully agreed. Now are we going to have to bribe you to post a photo of this thing?