It's good to know that "Sustainable Ballard" and other advisory groups are making AvalonBay developers "warm and happy." They may even manage a tweak or two, like one less vehicle. But 230 "market rent" apartments and 295 vehicles aren't going to lessen the impact of heightened air pollution and traffic congestion in Seattle. Sustainable Ballard, et al are sustaining gentrification while the mayor laughs up his sleeve about a "green" Seattle.

The mayor and his planning department, along with the Building Industry Association of Washington, are in the business of recruiting the wealthy to Seattle while there is no department that advocates for the barista and Social Security recipient. Who but an elite can afford the new condos and apartments that are "green"-lighted into the city? An elite whose baggage inevitably includes an SUV or similar.

AvalonBay, not counting the 10 or so other condo, apartment and retail "projects," with their hundreds of vehicles each, is bringing thousands more vehicles into Ballard. It's sure to be a "modern and fun" place for those who can pay $2,000 monthly rents. That the architect lives in Ballard has nothing to do with anything. That Bill Gates and Paul Allen live "nearby" doesn't mean that more food appears in the food banks or that new low-income housing springs up.

"Design goals center around community, connectivity, sustainability and to encourage walking and gathering" sounds like hype right out of the brochure. What exactly is being connected and sustained? This is the "greenest" Seattle imaginable for developers, the wealthy and Detroit.

While the city laments that their own police, firemen and teachers can't afford the new condo infrastructure they do little to build new low-income housing for all who need it. Seattle is moving to a two-tiered society of those who can pay $2,000 rents and baristas and Social Security survivors.

Bob Miller

Ballard