RS
Beachdrivegirl, it is an interesting question and I respect that you did just pose a question and weren’t trying to stir up controversy or criticize people’s home buying choices.
That said, I understand some of the frustration that Shilbaguyz was expressing. As someone who cannot afford to buy a traditional single-family home in Seattle right now, I read the WSB discussions and feel a little bit defensive too. When people state that they own their own single family/”traditional”/”classic”/old/”west seattle style” home and then proceeds to criticize new developments (the only homes I could afford), that makes me feel defensive and less welcome, like a poor relation or something.
I understand people’s complaints are often about the lack of design and poor quality of these places, but that criticism often comes across as a direct or implied judgment on someone who would chose to buy such a house. I appreciate charlabob’s comment about people who bought their houses ten years ago. There is some defensiveness and bitterness among those who can’t afford homes in nicer WS neighborhoods. Bitterness not towards the people who do own those homes, but towards the circumstances that make that dream unaffordable.
It’s all well and good to have opinions on new developments, but we all come to those opinions from different places and different levels of privilege and experience. I just hope people can be aware of their own privilege and good fortune, like being lucky enough to have bought a home here when it was more affordable, when they make negative comments about new construction.