Life In The Pacific Northwest
Just to the north of Lake Ballinger more light-rail work commenced. This started on Monday, July 19th, and stretches to August 12th. It is overnight work (from 8pm to 5am). I expect it will be less than pleasant for the area residents, with overnight noise and traffic issues.
Here’s the link to the City of Mountlake Terrace’s announcement.
Some important intel about area traffic. Here’s the TLDR:
Crews working on the Lynnwood Link Extension will be closing the southbound lanes of I-5 South from 220th Street SW to SR 104 in Mountlake Terrace overnight on Saturday, June 26 for construction that will allow the light rail alignment to cross over the highway. Northbound traffic lanes will remain open.
Follow this link for more details.
Earlier this evening I was considering traffic, while driving home…in traffic. Now, I don’t hate it like some folks do. But I did have a snarky moment today where I thought I’d be clever to text my family saying “I just left Bellevue. I should be home in time for high school graduation”.
Anyway, for me it’s a great opportunity to listen to music or podcasts. So I’m relatively happy. Sure, I’d rather not be stuck, but it’s the way of things, I guess.
With that, as I rolled through Kirkland and looked over all the growth, I was struck by the increasing density. I’ve noted before that we’re watching the greater Seattle area become more dense. Pretty much daily. I’m seeing many lots that held one house hey torn down and reolaced by three. Or more. With Growth Management Act limitations on where we cam build, and our economy continuing to bring new residents here, there’s only one way for things to go. Also, density is the solution to creating affordable housing.
I’m glad to see light rail getting implemented region wide. I drive by the Bellevue and Redmond, as well as the Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace extension construction sites daily. We will have desperate need of tthese as the region continues its growth.
Tis a mixed blessing, clearly. So much has changed in my lifetime. I’m pretty sure my school friends who left the area would find it quite hard to navigate now.
How do you feel about all this? Terrifid? Excited? Bridging the hike between them?
Watching land prices rise around Puget Sound and western Washington, I think I see the future. Land costs extending beyond the reach of all but institutional investors.
Our economic engine will continue to bring people here, demand for housing will continue to rise, the Growth Management Act will limit supply, so we will be forced to move vertically. Up will be all that’s left.
We’re already seeing this in the downtown core. Most housing in the Seattle neighborhoods are multifamily. With exceptions, of course. But I’m sure those will succumb, too.
I don’t view this negatively. More than its simply the way of things, especially in places that people want/need to live. This city won’t be my grandmother’s Seattle, but it will be Seattle.
I’ve been watching the evolution of this building for a few years. Moving from weathered to worn to abandoned to dilapidated and now, finally, getting refurbished.
I love this style of building. When I lived in downtown Seattle I got to live in a couple of similar vintage and style. Watching it come back to life fills me with joy. The only downside for me: I was hoping I couple work directly with that.
Everett has an amazing amount of potential. There’s some great buildings, nice eateries, and a solid arts community. It’s also quite affordable. I firmly believe the city is on the cusp of a rebirth.
The economics of real estate play a key part. Combine the great walkable streets with reasonable prices, it’s just a matter of time. And as light rail expands up here, de-brutalizing the commute (to Seattle, at least), the expansion should grow.
I’m fond of this city and delight in the opportunity to grow. Everett also is in a place to learn from the development mistakes of Seattle, and others. Keeping the city’s unique charm, and liability would be wonderful.
As I’m now working for a construction company, I get to see a new side to the whole housing sector. One piece of that is this little bit, from a surveyor:
*SURVEYOR’s PRAYER*
Almighty God, Surveyor of the Universe and the True Point of Beginning for
all things,
Bless that parcel of time more particularly described as life and guide us
as we traverse through it.
May we accurately follow the courses you have set forth, giving full
measure of our time and talents in a manner that will make our lives worthy
of a place in the record book of eternity.
We submit the sum of our being, less and except those errors by your grace
forgiven.
Witnessed by those present in your Holy Name. Amen.
Quite the lovely day, today, north of Seattle. A wonderful sunny and warm respite in this gloomy spring of our discontent.
We have a project slightly north of Marysville, right off of Centennial Trail. So most of my team took a walk this afternoon. A delightful way to spend an afternoon.
The site’s going to have great views of the Olympics and the valley north of Marysville. It’s a really fun project. Been creative with AutoCAD and laying out lots. Getting to the site and seeing the land, the layout and flow is much more powerful than topographical lines on my computer.
Lots of wins. Though I did spent a chunk of this evening dancing with CAD. In all, a productive day, just in unexpected ways.
I subscribed to Gizmoda ages ago, and enjoy the articles. However, this story both fascinates me, and frightens me a bit.