I was surprised to see no letters in today's (April 19th) paper, other than the letter from the editor, referencing Tim St. Clair's articles of April 11th about the new development coming to the Alaska Junction.
Maybe it's not too late for me to point something out: the folks quoted in the lead article seem pleased with the coming changes. They are business owners and developers, so it takes no great imagination to see what's in it for them. The single people who will move into these new apartments - the ones with a lot of disposable income - have nothing to lose, either. If they don't live here now, they won't notice any difference.
Today's letter (April 19 editorial) from the editor points out that there are ways to mitigate the impact of projects like these, but come now: more traffic is more traffic. Less parking is less parking. Higher buildings are higher buildings, and a large influx of a new demographic will absolutely have a tremendous impact on our neighborhood. More restaurants and bars will change the atmosphere of California Avenue as much as the physical changes of buildings, traffic, etc.
Yes, the business owners and developers will gain. Those who will lose are the people who enjoy the slower, uncluttered feeling of life here. As these changes force property values up - which I now understand to be the exclusive goal and motivating factor behind every decision made in this city - the lower and moderate income people and renters who can still afford to live here (but not for long, probably) will lose.
I know I won't be shopping at Whole Paycheck - oops, I mean Whole Foods - or QFC; I'll be sticking with the Jefferson Square Safeway, until they renovate it to compete with the new high-end stores of which we apparently need two in the same block.
Today's letter from the editor points out that development is inevitable, but over development is not. Unfortunately, development in this city inevitably spells doom for all but the wealthy. I'm just scratching my head over where I'm going next, after I'm forced out of West Seattle and Seattle in general.
Omak, anyone?
Sue Scharff
Alaska Junction
