oh come ON!
it's a 12 story building in DOWNTOWN FUCKING SEATTLE!!
BUILD IT ALREADY!
Cale,
Whatever you think about "building it already" ... the point is: Deputy Mayor Ceis didn't want to "build it already" when I talked to him in August. He wanted to pass comprehensive zoning changes and let the public reap some benefits before giving the developer what it wanted.
He appears to have folded his hand since then.
Tim Ceis is only my second favorite rent-boy, this afternoon.
Maybe Amazon started playing the Amazon card a little tougher with Vulcan, so that a different flavor of shit's flowing downhill to Ceis suddenly. Given its business model, Amazon has to plan carefully around its fragility if consumer spending starts dropping even a little--last time it did they had to shrink but quick. If there's a downturn they'll find it cheaper to consolidate workerbees by going from two taller buildings down to just one, rather than still have multiple lowrises scattered over several blocks as with Fred Hutch.
Remembering how the public got itself well screwed on the Wright Runstad/PacMed deal that plunked Amazon on Beacon Hill in the first place, I'd be shocked if anything different happened from today's City Hall.
Thanks for the updates, Mr. Feit; time to email Hizzoner yet again.
Cale,
What you don't know about zoning and land use would apparently fill several books.
Kudos to the Stranger for getting a density/development/corporate giveaway issue right, for a change.
I for one am glad the Stranger is going back to the slog thru zoning applications that is the bulk of city work.
That's where the real stories are buried.
Mr. X, you forgot to tell him to go back where he came from (I love when you get all testy and xenophobic--it's so sexy!). Also, please find a way to misuse numbers on this one.
Just saw the other day how you argued that the growth rates bear out people's desire to live away from density--way to ignore the 500% growth rate for downtown, the 'hood in question. Perhaps you were too busy masturbating over photos of Emmett Watson and Knute Berger to notice the actual numbers.
@7,
Name calling aside, if you read my post, you'd see that that 500% growth rate for Downtown (ie - a population of 20,000) is a drop in the bucket compared to where the majority of growth is occurring throughout the region.
But thanks for playing...
Back on topic, Hallivulcan bought their SLU properties with open eyes and under the existing zoning, and it not the job of the City Government to maximize their profit.
Bonus round - you do know that spot rezones are illegal, yes?
Anyone else think Tim Ceis looks a little like Andy Warhol?
". . . zoning applications that is the bulk of city work. That's where the real stories are buried. Posted by Will in Seattle"
Ha. The "real story" around here is the Sound Transit end game.
Odds are the the commuter service will continue along the Everett to Tacoma BN tracks. And the downtown-to-airport light rail service will start up soon enough. But the rest of what is now "Sound Transit," well, that is going to be nothing but a fond memory in a year. Other transit operators will be picking up the pieces the legislature doles out.
wanna fill me in x?
Josh-
comprehensive zoning changes would rock, the problem is this city hardly knows what it wants. we need stronger planners with a great vision for seattle, not endless chit chat from mayor deputies who shove their cocks in front of developers to snag brownie points with voters.
in the mean time there are big businesses who employ many people in this region who need room to expand. would you rather see two shiny new 12 stories in bellevue?
can anyone tell me what would be lost with two 12 story buildings in south lake union?
Indeed, in lieu of comprehensive zoning, I guess illegal spot-zoning for sale to the highest bidders only is the best way to get shiny new buildings in Seattle.
Because we've hardly got any building going on here now, as is--the downtown's a desert!
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