mellaw6565
David – I haven’t seen your place, but the fact that you developed yet another townhome structure in this area makes me lean on the side of those who cry “greed”. You’re not making this area any better by building such structures – instead you have increased your own personal wealth. Call it what it is – plain and simple.
The tearing down of single family homes and conversion of affordable apartments is destroying the “neighborly” feel of W. Seattle and making it a playground for the “haves” as the “have-nots” are chased out somewhere else.
My faith would be restored if your units were available to low income folks (either through purchase or rental), but the “judgments” that you make about others that you stated in your post above sounds like you wouldn’t be open to those that are different from you, especially from a socio-economic status or ethnic standpoint if they don’t dress or look up to your “standards”.
So I don’t have any problem with you individually being a “neighbor” but I don’t want the developers or their townhome monstrosities in my neighborhood and will fight them every chance I get. Density makes it difficult to know all your neighbors, especially when there may be 20 neighbors on either side of your house and you’re choking from lack of sunlight and fresh air as their townhomes tower over your single family home.
So David – if you continue as a developer, then you’re going to have to be tough and expect that your structures are not considered by many to be “neighborly”. Did you ever talk to the neighbor with the signs before you built your multi-person structure? Would it have made a difference to you if he/she had some complaints beforehand? Did you consider the impact on those that live around there or did you just assume that a huge structure would start to “gentrify” the neighborhood and chase out those who may need somewhere reasonably priced to live?
West Seattle is losing it’s character as developers come in, and every neighbor I talk to absolutely hates these townhome structures being built on every corner. Face it David – as a developer do you really care about the neighbors or do you just do what you do for your own wallet and then expect others to accept it?
I’m sure personally you’re a nice guy, but from a business standpoint a developer is a developer – once you’re done building you expect everyone to put up and shut up. Easier said than done when “single” family neighbors increase 10 fold on one lot. I’d put up “no trespassing” signs too!