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800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
Think of the poor scared kitties!
I demand we preserve the original function of this area and restore the log skids so we can log Seward Park and drag the logs down to the steamboats! It's the only historic thing to do!
(you do realize I'm not serious, right?)
The public is better served by an expanded medical care facility than a car dealership or an empty shell of an old building. Be thankful it's a well-funded health facility that wants to build there and not a speculative developer of mixed use condo/retail that will just turn the location into an empty lot or hole in the ground.
And why are they going to build a commercial venture on a parking lot that's better suited for residential?
As far as the architecture, that "auto row chic" is such bull. Those buildings are the mid-century version of so many a discardable and soulless box-and-window plan, much like the tacky stacky boxes being built on the hill nowadays.
God, The Stranger is starting to sound like it's being run out of a one-story strip mall in Fed Way or something.
Oh, and a twirly star-spangled umbrella that dangles people from two-story "strings".
That would fit the character of the neighborhood better.
Cute and cuddly boys. Cute and cuddly.
The Stranger on cars, owning cars, driving cars, urban sprawl caused by cars. BAD, REALLY BAD AND SELFISH AND SUBURBAN AND REPUBLICAN AND STUFF!
The Stranger on saving a generic, defunct auto dealership. REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SOUL AND TEXTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY. WE'LL ALL BE REDUCED BY IT'S LOSS.
Jeeze! Are you guys off your meds?
They'll use that parking lot across the street to eventually build a multi story parking garage or maybe another outpatient facility. That area screams for the need ofa a large parking garage to handle the extra vehicle inflow to the area and when the additional hospital/clinic appointments create additional congestion it will only get worse. Reserving that space for now, will ensure they have future building/growth options down the road.
That dealership needs to go. It is very weak sauce to imply that it is historic in nature. It is a freaking glorified warehouse. Tear the damn thing down. Just make sure you have 300 parking spots on an underground garage, and a couple long term anchor restaurants underneath to give those visiting the clinic/hospital an option to find a reasonable simple quick meal. Very few places fit that bill on that end of the Ave.
Cause she in an insider to the process. How did that happen?
Conflict of interest? She is so full of baloney - Directly accross from the POly Clininc, a first class medical group there is about three blocks that could stand tearing down.
BY THE WAY - all the people clamoring on some one wanting to give Childrens Hospital the benefit to expand, get a clue. The same argument appears here, expanding a good medical facility BUILDS a neighborhood and helps people LIVE.
The Stranger is so off the wall on this one.
Now, the bldg. the Stranger is in SHOULD BE SAVED - it is a beauty with a white Terra Cotta tile like exterior. BUT, it needs rehab and restoration badly .... that crap corner in question can go down and new build with conditions quite nicely. It is nothing at all.
Live two blocks away.
She has a pat speech which she offers at every meeting. One of her pitches is to make it hard to do to - keep outside money out.
That means LIz in. And her sum total is two or three little projects ... Nice lady, but, drunk with self interest and small perspective.
Sure, building in the parking lot would be better, but there's no good reason to preserve that building, and with some decent design rules, a new building could be an improvement.
I'm not saying they should save it or scrap it, but I think it's a mistake to just dismiss it as crap or save it because it's old. If pressed, I'd probably side with the clinic because they would actually use the space to do something worthwhile. But, still, I like those windows.
On one hand, that is a Fugly building. Architecturally, there isn't a reason in the world to preserve it.
On the other hand, I think there is some value in preserving some old buildings in the area. New construction is all kinda uniform, and new retail space is pretty expensive. Do you ever see unique independent businesses in new buildings? No, hardly ever. It is all big chain retailers, who are the only businesses that can afford retail space in new buildings. Almost all small independent businesses are in older buildings, because that is all they can afford. If you tear down all old buildings and replace them with new, you will drive out almost all of the small independent businesses, artists, and shops. If that is what you want, you may as well put a Walmart on Capitol Hill and be done with it.
It seems to be a store house for older deluxe euro cars, like Jags, BMW, etc. Never see people, it is a drag on the neighborhood.
Any thing else is an improvement. The Poly Clinic is a an interesting design, building is low rise with a brick exterior and a sort of turret on the corner. Surely one of the cooler new buildings on the Hill. If they build the expansion with retail at street, tons of design, GO for it.
Fear of change and saving good old building are not the same thing. Repeat, saving good old buildings .... and the nostalgic fear of change are not the same thing.
Amazing the first class medical services have lower priority over another 50.00 dinner space .... several friends with AIDS use Poly Clinic and love it. In fact, rave about it.
I say down with the rich folk's car box and make the clinic there. Like 21 mentioned, the box is a drag on the neighborhood and pretty much any thing else is an improvement.
There is no rational for the City to not work with the Poly Clinic on the new building. None. All the bad speed in the world changes nothing.
The Clinic has the bucks, will design to please after the controversy and build - jobs - tax base - did I say jobs - and better Medical on the Hill - did I say jobs in the expansion.
Shame to the lock step naysayers. And stupid too. Will someone take Domenic to the top of that turret and get him really stoned on really good weed .... and decent white French.