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RSS icon Comments on Bye-Bye, Cha-Cha

1

Second thoughts from the developers' favorite paper. Surprise, surprise.

Posted by rodrigo | November 1, 2006 3:31 PM
2

That's alot of good stuff down the tube--all at once. For crying out loud--these times are changing even more.

Posted by frank w. | November 1, 2006 3:32 PM
3

There is no place left to drink. The only thing saving the Comet is the glory hole...

God save us all.

Posted by Sad Drunk | November 1, 2006 3:36 PM
4

Dan Savage with a vicious "fuck seattle" comment in 3....2....1....

Posted by ghianna | November 1, 2006 3:37 PM
5

See what you've done, Densitymongers? We told you it would only lead to condo developers eating the city alive, but nobody listens.

Posted by Gomez | November 1, 2006 3:43 PM
6

quoted from an announcement on the POWHat-news list (Pine, Olive Way, Harvard Avenue Triangle):

For those interested in the pending redevelopment of Pine St. from Summit to Belmont (currently home to the Cha Cha, Bus Stop, Man Ray & Kincora, etc), there will be an Early Design Review meeting tonight (Wednesday, 11/1) at 6:30 PM at Seattle Central Community College, room 3211.

What's proposed: A mixed use development including 96 residential units [and] 120 parking stalls.

This will be a significant residential & commercial development that will alter the face of Pine Street. You can help influence the building design by providing feedback at the meeting. All are welcome to comment.

Posted by Phil | November 1, 2006 3:49 PM
7

This is the 'dymanic' part of living in a dynamic city.

That's how it goes. Seattle will go on.

Posted by John | November 1, 2006 3:54 PM
8

bye bye Cha Cha? More like Bye bye Bus Stop!

Gomez,
The Stranger advocates for density. There's already density on that block.

I for one think it's stupid to replace density with density. And that's why I'm against the development there. Put density where it'll do some good ... rather than laying on top of a block that's already urban and works well.

Posted by Josh Feit | November 1, 2006 3:56 PM
9

I was hoping the builders might start reading this site before tearing down down Le Bus Stop, etc.:

http://seattlebubble.blogspot.com/

Posted by Explorer | November 1, 2006 3:57 PM
10

I can't wait to see who these suckers are that will be buying condos on such prime real estate like Pike/Pine corridor and the Ave.

"honey, would you help me move the dead crack whore from the doorstep so I can get the newspaper?"

Posted by * | November 1, 2006 3:58 PM
11

I don't recall where I read it, but within the last week I read that the Cha Cha plans to move into the space currently occupied by Des Amis on Pike. Perhaps someone can confirm or deny?

Posted by POWHat peep | November 1, 2006 4:02 PM
12

Powhat Peep: You read about it on Slog.

Posted by David Schmader | November 1, 2006 4:14 PM
13

That's correct.

Posted by ECB | November 1, 2006 4:15 PM
14

If 920 passes you can sue them for zoning it so it blocks your view.

Posted by Will in Seattle | November 1, 2006 4:28 PM
15

That block is dense? It looks like a lot of one-story buildings home to nothing but small businesses. A 96-unit building will be a hell of a lot more dense.

Posted by keshmeshi | November 1, 2006 4:29 PM
16

@15 - word.

Posted by charles | November 1, 2006 4:37 PM
17

Exactly. that block would be moderatley dense if it had a 4 story apartment or condo above the businesses. Right now, it isn't any denser than some stretch of busisesses on Lake City Way.

Posted by doink | November 1, 2006 4:44 PM
18

That end of the block is the only part that currently DOESN'T have high-density housing. Do a walk around from Pine & Summit to Olive & Summit, up to Belmont & back to Pine. It is, as Josh stated, pretty dense already.

Posted by COMTE | November 1, 2006 4:44 PM
19

Josh and Erica and friends -- if you start using the term "density" to mean nothing more than "i like it" you really sound foolish and make everyone who is pro-density look stupid. I am pro-density and I am fine with that block becoming dense (as in lots of people living on it). I don't particularly care to see cool things get displaced by less cool things, but I've never been so naive to think there are no down sides to densification or revitalization or gentrification or whatever you want to call it. Frankly, I'd still rather see Pine Street more dense even if it means losing a couple bars in the process. Perhaps you feel differently, and perhaps you can make an argument for selective density or something. Just please don't argue that the block is "already dense" cause, as others have already pointed out, it isn't.

Posted by cite | November 1, 2006 4:55 PM
20

Josh Feit, you are a big faker! Knocking down some one story buildings to build 96 units of condos is replacing "density with density?"

I think that's the biggest hooey I think you have EVER written. I'm so disappointed...

Posted by LH | November 1, 2006 5:00 PM
21

The Stranger was for density before it was against density.

Wrong in the first instance, and right for the wrong reasons in the second.

Posted by Mr. X | November 1, 2006 5:27 PM
22

Gotta agree with those calling Stranger staff out on selective density approval. When word got out about the B&O having to move due to their building being razed for a new project, I recall the responses from Stranger staff ranging from "that's too bad" to "so what? density is more important than an established neighborhood business". But the Belmont/Bellevue area north of Olive is already pretty dense. Where was the concern that 'increasing density in an already dense area is stupid' then?

Posted by genevieve | November 1, 2006 5:39 PM
23

Cite @19. Very eloquently stated.

I'd be curious what Dan Savage's take is on this particular development, if he has one at all. I've found Dan to be a bit more intellectually consistent about density issues than Erica has been. The Stranger has been such a terrific champion of density, I would hate to see it come across as hypocritical -- and dare I say, NIMBY -- about density.

Posted by cressona | November 1, 2006 5:46 PM
24

Seattle died when Fallout closed. Might as well tear the rest down.

Mark my words: The Space Needle has 20 years, tops.

Posted by Dougsf | November 1, 2006 6:24 PM
25

I just think the Stranger comes across on land use issues as dense, period.

Posted by densityforit'sownsakeisstupid | November 1, 2006 6:25 PM
26

The point, Josh, is that the city approached the matter of density by welcoming developers and letting them do as they pleased with the city, and you stood by because you wanted density, not realizing that the consequence was them swallowing up the places you love and turning them to condos and mainstream upscale storefronts.

Nickels has defined the Seattle Way, and the Way, sadly, is letting the highest bidder do as they please to our city.

We won't recognize this city in 10-15 years. It'll look like a giant U Village, except too expensive to live in.

Posted by Gomez | November 1, 2006 6:42 PM
27

Eh, that block's been dead to me ever since the Hi*Score Arcade got torn down. I survived, and even didn't complain too loudly when my dad took me out to lunch at that Green Papaya bullshit in its place. I think the point I (and everyone else in this thread) am dancing around here is: we'll all survive, stop whining.

Still, where the hell can a guy find some original, vector-graphics star wars arcade game around here? Fuck.

Posted by Juris | November 1, 2006 7:02 PM
28

To the Central District!

Posted by Hipster Relocation Committee Member | November 1, 2006 7:29 PM
29

old, old old news, good riddence

you thought someone could afford to keep those dives open - try georgetown next

i could only eat at that place once and then wonder how clean the kitchen wasn't

Posted by Jack | November 1, 2006 8:37 PM
30

Yes, it's sad, and I'll miss Manray, but you know what, I'll hang out in Purr instead, and a new bar will open up to take Manray's place. And there'll be 96 more residents in the area to patronize them.

Posted by Gitai | November 1, 2006 8:55 PM
31

@22 -- what are you talking about? Dan savage was all over it. Sorta. He sounded like he was going to chain himself to the bulldozer until everyone called him on it.

But basically there are more for rent signs on broadway than I can count, and it seems like every few months two more "import" stores open up. The Stranger ripped on Greg Nichols a while ago saying that he abandoned broadway, the business community basically shut down their mini chamber of commerce or whatever, so I say if you tear down a block like the one that the cha-cha is on, move all those things onto broadway, and increase density.... where's the effing problem!? lol.

Posted by Charles | November 1, 2006 9:17 PM
32

And then Purr and everything on THAT block gets ripped down, gitai, to build more condos, and so on. That's the point.

Posted by Gomez | November 1, 2006 9:18 PM
33

Relax gomez, that will take at least 5 years to happen. And by the time it does, some other new bar will have opened up on another block. By the time it happens again, you will hopefully have gracefully aged out of the scene.

Posted by doink | November 1, 2006 10:26 PM
34

The Stranger's champions of density are mostly just entertainment mongers. Density is fine if people over 40 on limited incomes are displaced from the city, as long as the cloned hipsters can get pizza after midnight and maybe fuck a delivery boy/girl who looks just like themselves for an extra few bucks. Why don't they live in New York? Because only in hyperpolite Seattle can they spout off without being instantly dismissed as lightweights.

Posted by rodrigo | November 2, 2006 1:23 AM
35

So what about the younger generation, doink? Or just to hell with them?

Posted by Gomez | November 2, 2006 8:10 AM
36

The point of my post and Doink's is that a city is not static. It's a living, breathing organism that changes constantly, and when it comes to cities, it's change or die. When I moved here ten years ago, Fremont had no nightlife and now neighbors are complaining that it's too raucous on the weekends. The Ave was a collection of used bookstores and fast food joints, and now there are franchise and family style restaurants in their place, and sadly, the used bookstores have had to move away, but if there's demand for it, a type of neighborhood will always find a new home. Sure, move all the bars to the CD. I'd appreciate the bump in my property values, and having to walk a few blocks instead of a mile when I go out to get liquored.

Posted by Gitai | November 2, 2006 9:07 AM
37

Fremont had nightlife 10 years ago, but it didn't cater so much to yuppies.

Posted by rodrigo | November 2, 2006 9:26 AM
38

Juris: "Still, where the hell can a guy find some original, vector-graphics star wars arcade game around here? Fuck."

In Portland.

Posted by Amy Jenniges | November 2, 2006 10:16 AM
39

The Stranger is not monolithic. Dan, Josh and I all have different opinions re: density. I have frequently argued AGAINST specific projects that densify the city, including the B&O.

Posted by ECB | November 2, 2006 10:42 AM
40

hey, at least Club Z is safe...they just signed a new lease!!

Posted by michael strangeways | November 2, 2006 5:34 PM
41

oh, and I've been told by one of the owners of one of those bars, they all have to be out by November of next year, so party-hearty for the next 12 months...

Posted by michael strangeways | November 2, 2006 5:35 PM

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