Comments on: West Seattle development: Junction ‘micro’ apartments planned

By: wetone

wetone — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:06:57 +0000

Look at the history of these type of projects or any other high density lower rent builds in residential areas and tell me where it has been good for the surrounding areas ? When built in a residential area property values go down from the many issues that come along with these projects. Builders build these for one reason only PROFIT income for investment. Very bad for residential areas like west seattle that were never designed to have it’s population doubled do to the infrastructure we have.

By: Eli

Eli — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:23:18 +0000

Datamuse that’s of course a good possibility. I didn’t mean to omit that. And if indeed they serve that function then that’s great. I should rephrase and say I’m commenting more on the fact that the micro unit concept was developed to facilitate urban infill. I just don’t know how well it will succeed in what I guess you could consider a more suburban area.

By: datamuse

datamuse — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:20:24 +0000

Eli, I wonder if the idea is that people who work locally but maybe can’t afford a larger place will live in them? Not saying that that’s what’ll happen, mind you.
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I’m just thinking of people like, for instance, my neighbors’ daughter, who has a job in WS but it doesn’t pay enough for her to live on her own.

By: Eli

Eli — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:02:46 +0000

I have to say I’m disappointed in seeing the labeling of people using these types of units as transients and somehow less worthy of a home. These are incredibly efficient and cost effective solutions that are great for cities where the cost of living is always rising, but the jobs/wages aren’t following proportionally.

That said, the location of West Seattle isn’t appropriate. In theory the micro unit caters to the recent graduate/low income resident that fits the criteria of a)Little to no income and subsequently b) Fewer “large” possessions, namely a vehicle. By that definition, you want to give them good access to the working center of the city so they don’t have to drive and are close to job potential. Not saying you can’t use transit, but commuting at $5/day is only slightly cheaper than paying for parking/gas if you know where to look. And so, to ease commute, or to reach urban amenities that are now further away, not to mention people tend to own vehicles more often than not anyway, odds are someone moving into these units will have a car. Which has been the chief complaint of Cap Hill residents neighboring these complexes. The sudden influx of vehicles has put a stranglehold on their parking. WS isn’t nearly as bad as Cap Hill, but with the rash of new construction, it’s easy to see fears of things going that way.

Oh and to those who think these are cheaper units, the costs per square foot tend to be equal to or higher than a standard apartment. That’s why developers love them.

@ WSB: I’m curious, NK Architects seems to be the go-to firm for West Seattle, despite having moved out now. With them receiving so many projects here, has anyone asked them if they’ve developed a vision for the area that they are designing to? I know the client’s desire for profit drives the end result, but with their roots here, some members maybe even living here, and the number of projects in key areas, I would expect that they should have design goals in mind to preserve the character of West Seattle.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:05:42 +0000

Re “home ownership is preferable to an island full of renters”
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I am appalled by some comments in this thread, at the outright discrimination against renters, and statements that suggest homeowners are the only people worthy of living in West Seattle
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I am a lifelong renter who is more active in community than 99% of West Seattle
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it’s a fallacy that all renters are transient; many cannot even afford to ever get away on vacation; and btw, the rent I paid for the house I lived in 7 years in Seaview, and now another 6 yrs in apt in Belvidere, has made it possible for the owners of these properties to be the transients, traveling, wintering in 2nd homes, living off the rents we pay in their properties
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I wish I could afford to be a transient; I would much prefer that to ever being a homeowner
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for some, renting is the only choice; some of us rent by preference
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this particular style of apts (micro/pods) is marketing to the not-rich, which is the majority; we need more options like this
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and btw, about half of Seattle’s population are renters already; soon we will be the majority; living here longterm, contributing to community
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sure wish I could afford to rent in Manhattan; I’d move there in a flash
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even better, I would love to rent both, a micro-apt in Seattle and Manhattan; maybe also in Chicago, Miami; all for less than owning a house; and why should I need a big house if most of my time is spent out in community?

By: Ms. Picky

Ms. Picky — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:01:02 +0000

@PJP: I clicked on the link you suggested–thank you for providing it. I can’t believe what I saw there. Not only did the “apodment” look depressing, the cost for the square footage seems high–almost like gouging, actually. Once again those who can afford it the least seem to pay more. Sad.

By: datamuse

datamuse — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:00:01 +0000

“House” does not necessarily equal “homeowner”, Seattlite. Unless those rentals on my block in Highland Park are just figments of my imagination.
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Believe me, it’s brutally evident that this isn’t Manhattan. Manhattanites are way friendlier than much of this thread. (They complain about development about as much, though.)

By: SadWSResident

SadWSResident — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:36:36 +0000

What a sad end to a cute little building! I’m so happy not to live near Alaska Junction as the crowding will make that area unlivable in the next 3-5 years. I’m also happy to own a home and not have to live in 180 sq ft.

By: Seattlite

Seattlite — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:27:52 +0000

The last thing West Seattle needs is more apartments of any size. There are more apartments bringing in more people with cars, and there has been zero change in infrastructure to support any of this rapid ramp up in population. I agree with the person who said home ownership is preferable to an island full of renters. This isn’t Manhattan, after all…

By: fauntleroy fairy

fauntleroy fairy — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:36:42 +0000

The “rack ‘em and stack ‘em” mentality of the city and developers leads to a decrease in quality of living. It’s been proven over and over again.

Everything that was once lovely about WS is going, going……gone.

By: westseattledood

westseattledood — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:19:57 +0000

Oops, the reappeared comment has disappeared once again. Used three browsers to check that, TR. Diane says same for her comments. Something is up with the spam system.

By: jedifarfy

jedifarfy — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:10:31 +0000

I see this (and the ridiculous wine fight) as more West Seattle-ites resisting any change to anything, and yelling at those who don’t fall on their side. I agree there seems to be too much development without the support of transit and roads, but now no matter the project, everything is up in arms. The only exception I have seen is the Whole Foods project. Because the west side of West Seattle needs another grocery store.

By: Bettytheyeti

Bettytheyeti — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:31:57 +0000

@PJP Thank you for including the link to Mayor McGinn .gov post. Yes, I especially found Joe & Susan Corcoran’s post enlightening. I am inclined to agree that this is a developers -work- around. And, I see were the transient concept comes in, no kitchen, bad credit, no parking . . . poorly constructed . . . etc

By: J

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:07:52 +0000

I agree with you JoAnne 100 percent. Just another box development we don’t need.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:18:39 +0000

just looked at this story couple hours ago, and my comment that was posted around noon re moratorium on apodment/micro-apts had disappeared; now it’s back; interesting that westseattledood saw the same thing happen to his comment