What a difference a few blocks make. While downtown Ballard is experiencing furious growth and development, nearby Phinney Ridge is hoping to remain just a quiet backwater with none of those awful condos.

The views of the area were made clear during a recent "Celebrate the Spirit of 65th" event chronicled on Page One by writer Daytona Strong.

"When you go downtown Ballard you kinda know what you're getting - there's a bunch of stuff there," says a Phinney Ridge store owner, "So here, it's just kinda more random, you know, hair salon, bar, tattoo parlor, shoe shop. It doesn't have something to tie it all together."

We think it does have something, and that is the spirit and the strength of the shop owners and operators - and the people who live there.

There is concern that a vacant area on the street might end up being a - shudder - condo. Says a shop owner, "anything other than a three-story condo with retail on the bottom, 'cause it seems like it's always a cell phone store, a tanning salon and a nail place - with Starbucks."

They want to stay small and independent with local stores and no mass marketers with giant parking lots that clog traffic and turn the place into just another part of city jumble.

We have heard similar moans in Ballard, but it is too late to stop the express train of pricey condos and vanilla shops. Ballard just needs to keep the charm it has and try to make the new blend a bit.

Meanwhile, we hope Phinney Ridge can keep its charm and rebuff the steam roller that seems bent on turning Seattle into just another big city.

- Jack Mayne