Slog - Comments on "Perhaps Unpleasant ... Consequences" http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-43, Capitol Hill, Wallingford, U-District) opposes the Seattle City Council on capping condo conversions. As Erica summarized in her column this week, there's a bill in Olympia—being pushed by City Council member Tom Rasmussen—that would regulate condo conversions. There were 2,352 condo conversions in Seattle in 2006—as opposed to 430 in 2004. And the average price of the new condos was $250,000. I don't imagine 2,352 renters have that kind of cash. Erica wrote: A bill supported by Council Member Tom Rasmussen that would place restrictions on landlords who convert apartments into condos is moving smoothly through... Copyright 2008 Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:15:41 -0800 Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:05:55 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Gomez Jamie Pedersen is:

a) full of shit
b) a tool
c) completely disconnected from reality
d) all of the above

You probably already know what answer I picked.

I'm curious exactly which condo developer mogul paid his ass off to oppose the legislation.

Pedersen is such a self-serving piece of shit.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607917 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607917 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:18:14 -0800 Comment by catalina vel-duray I have a feeling that condo conversions may end up capping themselves. There's way too many being built now as it is.

]]> catalina vel-duray http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607919 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607919 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:21:25 -0800 Comment by Hernandez The Rev. Kirlin-Hackett is exactly right. I have no inherent problem with condo development, but what has happened over the past couple years is ridiculous and frightening. Rep. Pedersen, I supported and voted for you. No pull your head out of your ass and do the right thing.

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607921 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607921 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:24:32 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle This is all the market reacting to the height cap on residential apartment buildings.

If we changed zoning to permit four-lot structures to have 100-story residential apartments, with 25 percent for very low income rentals and 25 percent for below median rentals, we could solve it. Which is what Vancouver did decades ago, building giant apartment buildings surrorunded by green space parks.

Time to wake up and smell the growth.

That plus we have to stop whining and discussing and start BUILDING mass transit NOW, not in 20-40 years.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607929 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607929 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:32:24 -0800 Comment by Cameron Please look south to see just HOW BAD an idea a cap on conversions is.

San Francisco through its rent control and now very restrictive conversion cap has some of the most expensive real estate in the country. In a nutshell, a cap will tighten the condo market - which might be happening on its own. But, if supply of condos is cut then prices go up. This effectively prices some people out and may cause them to stay in the apartment market which will push up rents.

Will in Seattle @4 has a much better plan. Make it easier to build bigger, and thus more profitable, apartment buildings. Messing with the underlying housing markets leads to all sorts of unforseen problems.

]]> Cameron http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607947 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607947 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:46:52 -0800 Comment by Gomez The problem, Cameron and Will, is that those apartment towers would get bought up and converted to condos themselves. Developers are sharks and they don't care who they fuck over, as long as they get their money. Trusting the market is like trusting a violent rapist with a knife.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607988 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607988 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:13:56 -0800 Comment by J.R. Jamie Pedersen didn't run for office as a lefty fan of government intervention in the housing market. He ran as a corporate lawyer (and friend of big money interests) and a strong activist for marriage equality. His stand on the condo conversion bill should have been perfectly predictable to anyone who voted for him.

]]> J.R. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607992 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607992 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:17:10 -0800 Comment by Andrew Yep, and the divide between just having two classes of people living in Seattle continues. The folks making enough to afford a condo for around $300K or those making under the cap for low income housing. The rest of us are going to be moving to Kent or Federal Way....... (I have to go puke now)

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607993 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c607993 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:17:47 -0800 Comment by DOUG. There goes Mr Civil Rights again. Pedersen's a corporate tool jackass. Shame on The Stranger for not calling him on his bullshit during the primary.

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608015 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608015 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:34:24 -0800 Comment by Condo Lover It will probably be high end units, not low end ones, that are candidates for conversion. In other words, the displaced renters are the same folks who, as first time buyers, would benefit for lower condo prices which would result from a larger inventory.

]]> Condo Lover http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608016 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608016 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:38:07 -0800 Comment by COMTE Except that's not the reality CL. According to the recently completed study on the effects of conversion by Councilman Rassumsson, the apartment units being converted to condos aren't for the most part "high end", they/re moderate-to-low end, and many of the folks being displaced couldn't afford the $300K+ units that these formerly $800 a month apartments are being "converted" into by way of a few appliance upgrades and a fresh coat of paint.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608045 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608045 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:00:41 -0800 Comment by soupy Unfortunately it's not just high end units. Look at Ballard, all those ugly ass 70s apartment buildings that house mainly little old ladies, are being turned into condos that are selling for $300k & up. It's pretty crazy.

]]> soupy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608046 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608046 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:01:36 -0800 Comment by Investigatory Journalist None of this really matters since there will be no demand for condo conversions once the bubble bursts.

]]> Investigatory Journalist http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608059 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608059 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:17:47 -0800 Comment by George It's pretty simple. Wealthy, middle-aged gays love condos. Pedersen's core constituency is wealthy, middle-aged gays - many of whom are real-estate agents to boot. Therefore, Pedersen loves condos. Foregoing the conversion cap makes it more likely his core supporters can marry each other and live happily ever after in their condos.

]]> George http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608107 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608107 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:03:52 -0800 Comment by Josh Feit @14,
Your weird homophobic comment is belied by the fact that Rasmussen and Murray (who support the cap) are gay gay gay w/ a lot of the same constituency.

]]> Josh Feit http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608111 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608111 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:07:47 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @6 - Gomez, have you ever BEEN to Vancouver BC? I lived in inexpensive apartments there - and know many people who still do.

Wake up and smell the solution.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608300 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608300 News Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:25:56 -0800 Comment by Gomez You're assuming that the development, properties and growth will be managed the exact same way, Will. Also, Vancouver is in Canada, which operates under a socialist economy.

Wake up and learn how to think critically.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608725 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608725 News Sat, 03 Feb 2007 09:20:21 -0800 Comment by Colin A cap is a terrible idea. I'll be back with something.

]]> Colin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608834 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608834 News Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:59:16 -0800 Comment by 98122 @ Will in Seattle:




Will has the right idea. Seattle should skip this step and get with the times. Move to inclusionary zoning. Affordable units INSIDE very tall towers in the city core. Not conversion caps. Not extra money dumped in a fund so we can build more affordable housing in Rainier Valley.

]]> 98122 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608835 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/seattle_reps_jamie_pedersen_and_mary_lou#c608835 News Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:05:55 -0800