Slog - Comments on What He Said http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15 James at Seattlest--which is currently our Slog's enemies list, but what the hell--takes on Wedgwood... "Neighbors fear development" has become the Seattle equivalent of "dog bites man." Of course neighbors fear development. That's what they do. The latest brouhaha: Wedgwood is getting a four-story condo/retail complex in the middle of their one-story residential neighborhood. Hands are being wrung, meetings are being called, nimbyism is being denied, blogs are being written. We wouldn't have it any other way, really. It's Seattle. Neighbors fret. Since we left Wedgwood, we don't really have a dog in this fight. But we were struck by... Copyright 2008 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:42:49 -0800 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:58:54 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Bellevue Ave hahaha, wedgewood and character!

i remember there being 2 places there worth going, when I lived in RAvenna. now that i live on Bellevue Ave, there is no reason.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803146 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803146 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:50:00 -0800 Comment by Levislade Hey, they have that giant, kickass rock! Now that's character.

I just wish they would add an 'e' to their name. "Wedgwood" is just weird-looking. ("Wed-gwood"? "Wedg-wood"? "Wed-g-wood"?)

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803151 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803151 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:54:18 -0800 Comment by MvB We're just glad to be on a list!

]]> MvB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803152 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803152 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:55:24 -0800 Comment by Michigan Matt Wow! Seattle's just a big Ann Arbor!

]]> Michigan Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803163 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803163 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:02:33 -0800 Comment by Matthew Who do they think is going to move into these condos, meth dealers? Even that far north, they'll still sell in the $400s and up. Many of the new residents will still be single families, just ones who are slightly less rich. Is it that big a deal? And don't you want more retail near your house, so you can stroll up the road to get a bagel instead of firing up the Hummer? I'll never understand why house-dominated neighborhoods get so freaked out by this stuff. Hey Wedgwood people: A condo development won't ruin your neighborhood. It just means people want to live there, but can't afford to live in a house like you. They're so desperate to live in your neighborhood, they'll accept being in a condo. This means you live somewhere nice. It's a good thing. Really! I promise!

Be glad they're not building storage facilities and car dealerships, like where I live.

]]> Matthew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803171 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803171 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:10:09 -0800 Comment by Orv @5: Follow the money. It's about property values. If you have a mid-rise condo building towering over your house, blocking the sun, in theory it makes your property less valuable. Likewise, the extra traffic from all those new residents and businesses won't help either.

I don't have much sympathy, but I'm sure that's what's underlying this.

]]> Orv http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803195 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803195 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:22:36 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon i live in wedGwood/view ridge, and these NIMBYs can suck it. 35th NEEDS URBANIZATION, and better a 4-story condo than more 8-pack ghetto-of-the-future townhomes wedged onto L4 lots. the 1-story development that just went up at 35th & 72nd (new starbucks) is a tragic waste of potential. it could have been 3 stories & not blocked any views from 34th.

now, the 6000SF, 2.3 million $ fugly megahouse that just went up & blocked my view of the cascades the same year that our property valuation went up 99K? that's some bullshit - it DID lower the value of our house.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803217 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803217 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:37:25 -0800 Comment by Dean I said it before, and will stand by it. Wedgwood it the new Queen Anne. Just wait a few years.

]]> Dean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803238 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803238 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:53:20 -0800 Comment by Clint Why is Seattlest on the enemies list?

]]> Clint http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803243 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803243 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:56:40 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle #4 - I remember visiting Ann Arbor when we lived on Grosse Isle.

Wedgewood is not Ann Arbor.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803260 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803260 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:08:47 -0800 Comment by David In Wedgwood You didn't quote it here, but this is what caused Seattlest to lose all credibility with me:

Early in our stay, spurred by all the Republican bumper stickers we noticed, we described it as a piece of the east side dropped into Seattle city limits, and nothing much happened to change that opinion.

Total and utter horse shit. Wedgwood is as blue as any neighborhood in the city.

]]> David In Wedgwood http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803270 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803270 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:19:08 -0800 Comment by theTruthhurts Wedgwood, no "e" kids, is ready for some density along 35th and other place. I was disappointed that Top Pot donuts built such a suburban designed building with all that parking and no apartments above.

]]> theTruthhurts http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803272 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803272 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:20:13 -0800 Comment by Michigan Matt @10--I should clarify, Will. A decent portion of vocal Ann Arbor residents don't want any buildings constructed that are over 4 stories tall--in the downtown area. DOWNTOWN! And the idea of anything over 3 stories or apartments in single-family home neighborhoods makes some people here really, really angry.

]]> Michigan Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803294 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803294 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:39:30 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave the e is in there for a reason. a slap in the face to people that live there and pride themselves on a spelling.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803295 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:39:49 -0800 Comment by Katelyn Yum, Top Pot. SUCK IT, WEDGWOOD.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803301 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803301 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:42:54 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon @12:

Top Pot is in a REMODELED GAS STATION.

they didn't built that.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803315 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803315 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:55:11 -0800 Comment by pizza spy Total and utter horse shit. Wedgwood is as blue as any neighborhood in the city.

Right now it would be hard to find a Bush bumper sticker anywhere in Seattle, but when I delivered pizzas in Wedgwood around 1999-2002 there were PLENTY of proud republicans driving their SUV's down 35th ave.

Look at the 2004 campaign contributions for 98115. There's a loooot of red in there.

]]> pizza spy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803327 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803327 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:08:09 -0800 Comment by Greg Barnes @12: What @16 said. If they built a new building, it would still being worked on. It took them at least a year to do that remodel.

I only pray that whatever goes into the new condo complex includes a good restaurant. The new Starbucks building teased me for so long: 'Desert Sun'! Could it be a taqueria? Oh, crap, no, it's just a tanning salon. But the last space is empty, we have a chance. Oh, crap, it's another upscale antiques/junk store. Follow Roseanne's lead (the former occupant of the Top Pot building) and take it to UVillage, folks.

]]> Greg Barnes http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803337 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803337 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:14:43 -0800 Comment by David In Wedgwood Pizza Spy @ 17

98115 is a huge zip code stretching north to NE 103rd, south to NE 54th, west to Greenlake and east to Lake Washington. Wedgwood makes up maybe 10% of that.

Don't forget that there are some very affluent neighborhoods around Wedgwood: View Ridge, Hawthorne Hills, Laurelhurst, Windermere, etc. My guess is that those neighborhoods are more red than most of Seattle, but it's not fair to lump Wedgwood in with them, just because you see Republican bumper sticker on cars on 35th.

I've lived in two locations in Wedgwood for over 15 years. I know the people and they're overwhelmingly blue.

]]> David In Wedgwood http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803348 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803348 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:22:49 -0800 Comment by David In Wedgwood Greg @ 18

But the last space is empty, we have a chance. Oh, crap, it's another upscale antiques/junk store. Follow Roseanne's lead (the former occupant of the Top Pot building) and take it to UVillage, folks.

Greg, it's a terrific boutique called Fresh. It is not an antiques/junk shop. It's got a great mix of women's apparel, housewares, jewelry, gifts, baby, etc.

BTW, the reaction to Fresh has been phenomenal. There's nothing else like it in Wedgwood and it fills a huge void.

http://www.seattlechic.com/2007/08/09/a-fresh-new-boutique/

http://blog.nwsource.com/shopping/archives/daily_find/082407_wedgwood.html

]]> David In Wedgwood http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803360 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803360 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:35:58 -0800 Comment by elenchos Anybody who understands property values knows that the place to add an e is on the end of your name.

Wedgwoode = class.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803431 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803431 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:24:45 -0800 Comment by Seth ATTENTION REPUBLICANS OF WEDGWOOD: Donating money to the Republican Party from Wedgwood addresses does NOT prove that you exist.

Please assemble at the Wedgwood Rock Sunday at 7am for ID checks and radio-tagging.

Sincerely,

David In Wedgwood

]]> Seth http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803438 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803438 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:37:34 -0800 Comment by David in Wedgwood Whatever Seth...

]]> David in Wedgwood http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803462 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803462 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:58:02 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @13 - that's a result of zoning. That can be changed.

It's still not Ann Arbor.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803483 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803483 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:06:38 -0800 Comment by Cato the Younger Younger I live in Wedgewood (just a block from Starbucks...sacred coffe blessed caffine momma I worship thee!)

And Wedgewood needs A HELL OF A LOT MORE OF THIS SORT OF DEVELOPEMENT!!! The closest sort of retail we have is University Village and the two little stips of 75th and 35th then further north around 85th and 35th. WE NEED MUCH more deveopement. Hell, a couple of gay night clubs would be perfect!!!

Keep right on building that place up!!

]]> Cato the Younger Younger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803487 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803487 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:07:42 -0800 Comment by mmbb We like to complain about progress.
Anyone remember the 1999 debacle about Matthew's Red Apple Market and QFC?

]]> mmbb http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803513 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803513 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:24:13 -0800 Comment by Wonk The Times article that is linked here refers to a report by the Planning Commission. I went to their website and found the report. It's really good and easy to read. Check it out: http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/

]]> Wonk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803636 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803636 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:28:36 -0800 Comment by jake Hey, this has always bothered me: what the hell is with the "enemies" list? I mean, most of the entries are obvious, but do you really have something against Daniel Schorr?

]]> jake http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803713 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:10:23 -0800 Comment by jake never mind, i'm an idiot. (he was on nixon's list. slow wikipedia screwed me again!)

]]> jake http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803714 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803714 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:11:18 -0800 Comment by About to be shaded in Wwood Did you read the article??? It says that Wedgwood can and should take density. Wedgwood needs better retail. Duh. I bought a house here because, at the time, I could not afford to buy in a hip and swank neighborhood. I still can't but am thankful for the house I have. HOWEVER, the issue is how to absorb growth and density while improving neighborhoods and keeping some existing charm and character is a city-wide issue -- unless you think all neighborhoods should look like the bland rebuild of Lake City. Look around at what is proposed in Greenwood, Ravenna, Dearborn and Maple Leaf before throwing rocks at people trying to have an intelligent conversation about the future of where we all live.

]]> About to be shaded in Wwood http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803817 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803817 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:38:13 -0800 Comment by WAAA? Down with single family neighborhoods!

Down with neighbors who try to exert control over developers!

They shall be ruthlessly excoriated on our little Stranger-wannabe Web site!

]]> WAAA? http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803861 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/what_he_said_15#c803861 City Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:58:54 -0800