Slog - Comments on Queen anne's Future Cosmopolis? http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c Last night was the long-awaited public meeting on Queen Anne Hill where architects unveiled their new plan for the transformation of the Metropolitan Market on Queen Anne Ave. into a block-long QFC and housing development titled "Queen Anne Place.” The tension in the room was more than palpable it was audible. An estimated 150 people of all ages filled the seats in the oven-like Bethany Church and when a community council member announced that QFC donated bottled water for the meeting, many audience members actually heckled, "BOO!” The Cox family, which owns and is developing the property, was brave... Copyright 2007 Tue, 25 Jul 2006 17:40:15 -0800 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 11:11:45 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Sachi I'm a former QA resident, and I still care greatly about my favorite hill. I used to shop at the MM in preference to Safeway so I understand some of the concerns at least. All that said, were any of the comments at the meeting favorable to the new design? It's hard for me to visualize how it would it in -- One mass would be tough to take, but is there enough setback, enough "break" in the side of the building, to give some air to the Ave?

]]> Sachi http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433191 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433191 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:05:32 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi The new plans sound pretty good to me, but I still hate QFC.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433268 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433268 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:51:42 -0800 Comment by K What's wrong with you people. MetMar rocks. QFC? Might as well just go ahead and make it a Winco instead. Bleh.

]]> K http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433440 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433440 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:31:25 -0800 Comment by Noink This is obviously a grand conspiracy organized by Trader Joe's.

My ideal scenario: that shithole Safeway loses all its business, decides to move out instead of renovating and improving, perhaps that property is developed similarly as well, and a new and improved Met Market ends up in that space (check out the one near Sand Point for an example of what a new and improved Met Market might look like).

]]> Noink http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433483 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433483 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:56:25 -0800 Comment by acuteally I am wondering how long it will be before QFC takes power over stone way, where it bought the old safeway. first they ate the old Food Giant on 45th,(like "wallingford really replaces that fab sign) then a chunk of broadway, now queen anne...did they think we wouldn't notice?

]]> acuteally http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433561 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433561 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 21:44:59 -0800 Comment by jorf Did anyone else notice that the Metropolitan Market is a big fat yuppiehole? It doesn't even have a better selection of natural/organic/vegetarian foods than QFC. Just take a QFC, raise the prices of everything by 20%, scatter some $100 blocks of cheese and some shit from the Pottery Barn around, and you have the Metropolitan Market. I'm not a fan of the trend of all foodstuffs in Seattle originating from the Kroger Corporation, but give me a break. Once I tried to count on my fingers all the non-whites in a Metropolitan Market but I got tired of making fists for so long.

This development is just another sign that Queen Anne is slowly becoming an actual part of the city instead of Bellevue West.

]]> jorf http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433644 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433644 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:32:38 -0800 Comment by Fnarf The part I'm not getting is how the neighbors think they can or should decide who the tenant is. I mean, I understand if they don't like QFC they can scare them away with NIMBY tactics. But how do you say "no, we want this other company there instead?" I don't get how that is supposed to work. What if I want Central Market to open a branch there instead; can I demand that?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433737 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433737 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:26:46 -0800 Comment by genevieve Queen Anne is showing the type of attitude toward the development in their neighborhood that I would have expected Capitol Hill to take. Not just with this project, but with the proposed new fire station. I have no problem at all with a neighborhood saying they want to keep the independent market that's already there rather than accept a corporate grocery that can be found anywhere. Sure, QA is full if yuppies, but if yuppies can make developers - I'm sorry, inheritors of land they have no choice but to develop - think about the content of their development instead of assuming that everyone wants a corporate big box store shoved down their throats, then I'm cheering for the yuppies.

]]> genevieve http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433776 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433776 Boom Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:42:21 -0800 Comment by Mr X With the caveat that we are just seeing a top-down elevation view, I'm actually rather impressed that the developer has actually changed this project in response to community comment - it is noticably different from the previous iteration, which is an unusual outcome in the Design Review process .

It seems like this is a voluntary change on the part of the developer to address some of the criticism the project has generated - whether the City will hold him to this (or some other) compromise plan rather than what he is legally allowed to build may or may result in a different outcome .

Now if he could just get a different anchor tenant (I'd say Trader Joe's if Metropolitan Market doesn't want/can't afford it...)


]]> Mr X http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433813 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433813 Boom Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:00:39 -0800 Comment by fine tooth comb Neighbors certainly have the right to organize for what they want--or don't want, as is usually the case on Queen Anne. But they should be careful what they wish for.

Not too many years back, Metropolitan Market tried to build a similar development. A great hue and cry went up all over the hill. "Apartments! Cars! Not Right For Queen Anne!" they cried. The Metropolitan Market folks decided they couldn't make a new development pencil out that would make the villagers happy and so they went away. They actually are the same company that owns the Central Market on north Aurora and other stores.

They haven't made much money at the store in a while. Grocery stores that size have a tough time competing unless they specialize like Trader Joe's.

Enter the evil Kroger corporation with their deep pockets and strong desire to go toe to toe with Safeway in the Northwest. Personally, I am no fan of Kroger, but a QFC in what looks like a reasonably nice development is not exactly urban blight.

So--if the neighbors are successful in driving QFC away after they drove Met Market away--who is going to want to develop that spot? The hassle might not be worth it. The owners should then shutter the store and put a chain link fence around the parking lot until the neighbors want to talk about what is realistic to build there.

]]> fine tooth comb http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433918 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c433918 Boom Wed, 26 Jul 2006 01:07:54 -0800 Comment by Mike I'll wait for the new Whole Foods in Interbay, thanks.

]]> Mike http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c434350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c434350 Boom Wed, 26 Jul 2006 07:10:00 -0800 Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale Wah, wah, wah. It's a supermarket, people. You already have Safeway. and the Met Market?...whatever. It's a supermarket -- where you get food from. Yeah, such a travesty.

You suddenly hate QFC? Yup, typical Seattle "What, what?...No, no!"

Your best strategy is to just keep shopping at Safeway like you already do (unless your advantage card gets you $6 a pound off of king crab legs, probably), or, hey, support your local store and shop at Ken's, or shop at Trader Joe's. Or, if you're really that hurt, drive up to Sand Point and shop at the Met Market there.

QFC, a "big box". Ha, ha, that's awesomely funny. Pardon me while I pop down the road to Starbux or maybe Tullys -- I'll sit by the fire there for a time. Ha, ha.

Oh, and build a fire station somewhere else, too. But you better fucking hustle up the hill if my tabby can't climb down the tree.

]]> Lloyd Clydesdale http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c434376 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c434376 Boom Wed, 26 Jul 2006 08:23:30 -0800 Comment by Queen Anne whiner Waaah! Waah! I want Queen Anne to stay bland and as much like the suburbs as possible. I want to live in a city but don't want density. Waaah! Waaaah!

]]> Queen Anne whiner http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c435879 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c435879 Boom Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:22:58 -0800 Comment by Queen Annie I live on Queen Ann and I must say I love it because it feels like a small town unto its self but only 5 min from down town. I HATE living in the City but I have to for jobs and School. I don't think a QFC is going to kill it but I wish they would take over the frickin Safeway instead. Safeway is over priced and not even that nice. I say leave the MM and get rid of the Safeway. besides Queen Anne could use some more apartment living.

]]> Queen Annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c443094 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/07/queen_annes_future_c#c443094 Boom Tue, 08 Aug 2006 11:11:45 -0800