Category: Seattle and Beyond

Some thoughts on Seattle’s growth  

Carl Setzer

Lately I’ve been considering growth. Seattle’s been growing in a huge number of ways: jobs, cost of living, rents, population. This growth changes things: traffic, greater economic fragility, more economic stress on nearly everyone. I

I read an article yesterday saying that San Francisco’s poverty line income was a bit above $114k. Seattle is getting close. 

With this growth and pressure on finances, I see this region’s density increasing. I expect the single family home will slowly vanish as land costs continue to climb. Eventually, multi-family will be the only way to earn enough return on land investment for builders. 

I expect well see lots of Seattle neighborhoods becoming predominantly multi-family, actually a region of apartments condos stretching from the center out to the burbs. 

I do wonder if there’s an equilibrium. Will we get to a point where things will stabilize? 

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

Oh. My. God! Northbound I-5 closed all weekend in Seattle, July 14-15

Carl Setzer

This release came into my inbox this afternoon. Holy Smokes! This will be messy!

Short and simple summary: avoid I-5 south of Seattle this weekend. With that, whatever the detour route will be, everything around that route will be torturous.

May the Force be with you if you need to head into this.

 

 

Washington State Department of Transportation – NEWS
Northwest Region – 15700 Dayton Avenue – Shoreline, WA 98133 – 206-440-4000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2018  

Contact:      Tom Pearce, communications, 206-440-4696

Revive I-5 returns: Northbound I-5 closed all weekend in Seattle, July 14-15
Lane reductions begin near Southcenter, all traffic must exit at the West Seattle Bridge

SEATTLE – The second of two full weekend closures of northbound Interstate 5 at the West Seattle Bridge is quickly approaching, which means people to need to plan ahead and avoid the highway again this weekend, July 14-15.

Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews will begin closing lanes on northbound I-5 at 8 p.m. Friday, July 13. This weather-dependent closure will give them room to safely replace expansion joints and repave the roadway as part of the Revive I-5 project. The work will wrap up by 5 a.m. Monday, July 16

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During the first full weekend closure, June 2-3, backups on northbound I-5 were minimal because drivers avoided the highway and used alternatives to get into Seattle.

“What traffic looks like this coming weekend is up to travelers,” said WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Amir Rasaie. “We need people to adjust their travel plans again this weekend so we can minimize backups and keep traffic moving around the Seattle area.”

Lane closure details
Crews will begin reducing northbound I-5 traffic to two lanes at the I-405/SR 518 interchange near Southcenter in order to replace half of an expansion joint on the Duwamish River Bridge. Expect lane reductions to continue all the way up to the West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way/Spokane Street ramp, where all traffic must exit.

West Seattle and Beacon Hill
Those coming from West Seattle or Beacon Hill will be able to enter northbound I-5 from the West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way/Spokane Street on-ramp to head into downtown Seattle. This traffic will shift onto the northbound I-5 collector distributor, where drivers can exit to I-90, James or Madison streets, or continue through to rejoin the northbound I-5 mainline. All lanes will reopen near Olive Way.

Ramp closure details
7 p.m. Friday, July 13 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 16:

  • The southbound I-405 HOV on-ramp to northbound I-5.
  • The Interurban Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5.

9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:

  • The MLK Junior Way/SR 900 on-ramp to northbound I-5.
  • The Boeing Access Road on-ramp to northbound I-5.
  • The northbound I-5 mainline off-ramp to the express lanes.
  • The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Edgar Martinez Drive.
  • The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Seneca Street.
  • The University Street on-ramp to northbound I-5.

10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:

  • The Swift Avenue/Albro Place on-ramp to northbound I-5.

10:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:

  • The Southcenter Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-5.
  • The Michigan Street/Corson Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5.

11:59 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:

  • The southbound I-405 general-purpose off-ramp to northbound I-5.

All northbound I-5 off-ramps between the I-405/SR 518 interchange and the West Seattle Bridge will remain open all weekend.

Southbound I-5 work Sunday morning
In addition to the northbound Revive I-5 work, WSDOT maintenance crews will reduce southbound I-5 traffic to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge between the University District and SR 520 from 2 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 15, to repair parts of the aging bridge deck. The Northeast 45th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will also close during this time.

Closures will affect the entire region
The full closure of northbound I-5 means there will be heavy traffic on all highways and roads around the region. Travelers should expect long backups on northbound I-405, State Routes 99, 509 and 599, as well as on city streets. To limit congestion, people should:

  • Use transit, particularly light rail. 
  • Postpone discretionary trips. Fewer trips means fewer cars and less backup.
  • Travel before 8 a.m., when traffic volume picks up, or after 8 p.m., when it decreases.

Know before you go
Before heading out the door, travelers can get real-time traffic information about Revive I-5 on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app and by tracking #ReviveI5 on the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.

Hyperlinks within the release:

Fourth of July Fun in South Snohomish County

Carl Setzer
Shots from a fireworks show

Though fireworks are illegal in a good portion of the county, there are plenty of events to enjoy. Far more than just fireworks!

What are you most looking forward to? I also enjoy the fun in Edmonds.

I hope you have a safe and fun Fourth!

Death Cab for Cutie: “Gold Rush”

Carl Setzer

Death Cab for Cutie has it’s origins in western Washington. This song does a great job of capturing the current ethos in Seattle and the Puget Sound region, as this song is about Seattle (though this video was filmed in Los Angeles).

Anyway, I’ve had many moments of late like what Ben Gibbard’s lyrics describe. I lived nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill and First Hill. Anytime I’m there, now, I’m struck by how unfamiliar it all is. Yes, I celebrate progress, but also miss what once was.

 

Blogging, Strategy and the Need For Focus

Carl Setzer

​I love to write. I love blogging. Yet there are challenges. Distributing my focus lowers my effectiveness. That troubles me. And yet, though each site has meaning to me. But each site has costs, economic and otherwise. Every time I focus on one, I can’t focus on another.

I haven’t had an objective, much less a strategy on any of my sites. I love to write poetry, about Seattle, about sustainability, geek culture, about so very much. Each site has value to me. I hate the idea of neglecting one at the expense of another. Yet I also hate writing substandard stuff. I prefer to be proud of what I put on the internet.

This time in history has so many choices; a blizzard of potentials and possibilities. And I hate letting go of those potentials. Any of them. Yet I know that must be done to achieve ANY of them. How does one choose which baby to let die?

Perhaps overly dramatic, but it captured the sentiment I’ve been struggling with.

 

Some Strategic Thinking About My Blogging

Carl Setzer

I’m in yet another transition period. Compared to so many of my friends, I seem to spend more time reflecting on transitions than most. I like to think it’s my thoughtful nature, but it quite likely simply stems from my plethora of insecurities.

Today I fit in time for an evening walk. The heat made it a bit less delightful, but otherwise it was fantastic. Walks are times for me to get exercise. My mind gets clear, my head empties of the running rambling commentary echoing about my mental recesses.

While walking (and listening to Debbie Millman’s “Design Matters” podcast), I got to thinking about my different blogging platforms. For some time, I’ve felt I’ve overdone my blogging presence. So I’ve drawn back quite a bit. I’m now down to three sites: this one, Carl Setzer.com and QuestionsAll, my poetry blog. And now I struggle. Each site has cost, with hosting, domains and, of course, upkeep time. Each one has its own success. Poetry gets the most consistent readership, more WordPress followers, and far more “likes”, my main source of engagement. Not Just Seattle gets higher page views, at least for the more popular posts, and has the most subscribers. Then there’s my main site: CarlSetzer.com. It’s not the most well read of my sites, very few subscribers, but it’s my name. I guess that’s the most “me” there is. It’s the highest ranked page for my name on both Google and Bing (note: on Google, this site comes up on page 2, since this other Carl Setzer, who opened a brewing business in Beijing, getting featured in such publications as Forbes and Fortune, has stolen so very much of my SEO).

Each site gives me something, fills me with elements of joy. My personal challenge, though, is to streamline my sites. The goal: one site. I’m starting to think that’s a foolish dream. Yet I would like to lower my spend some. Of course, I could focus ways on making the sites cover their expenses. Hmmm….

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Do you prefer one of my sites over the others?

I do appreciate my readers oh so very much! You all mean the world to me.

Wishing each of you joy and peace.

Not a fan of heat, Seattle?

Carl Setzer

I’m a pretty adaptable person, weather-wise. But Seattle’s temperate nature speaks deeply to me. I struggle with heat. Hate is too strong a word. But these temps approaching 90 are challenging to deal with.

How are handling the heat? Parked in front of a fan? Moving into a mall?

Food Trucks: Making Festivals Better

Carl Setzer

​One thing I noticed about the Edmonds Arts Festival yesterday: food. Once upon a time portable food vendors were, well, mediocre at best. Often times they were dreadful, to the point of promising almost certain food poisoning. Quality was job two. 

We’ve shifted from food trucks to, um, foodie trucks. Better put, food trucks are evolving. They’re becoming exercises is culinary creative excellence. This change is a beautiful thing, which I welcome. They add a new, positive element to our region’s festivals. 

Does this upscaling come at a cost? Are they more expensive, making living in the region tougher for those earning less than the median! Or just uppity, gentrified fare challenging the more traditional palette? It seems we are able to have a blend of costs, foods and styles. So, I’m not concerned. I often wonder about such things, though. I desire the region to be accessible to all. 

Higher quality food enriches the whole experience. I’m pleased at this change, seeing it as progress. 

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Today was a perfect day to be out and about in Edmonds

Carl Setzer1 Comment

It was a fun day down in Edmonds by the Bay. Stunningly beautiful with plenty of sunshine: a perfect day to be outside, with the Saturday Farmer’s Market, the Edmonds Arts Festival and extreme low-tide.

I’ve been dealing, lately, with some foot pain, and my back’s been bugging me, which drug my attitude down some. But it’s hard to be too grumpy when it’s a beautiful, sunny day spent with family and friends.

Highlights:

  • Grabbed groceries and lunch from the Edmonds Farmer’s Market. Today was the first day with the big/full market.
  • Ran into the Bald Fish Guy at Edmonds’ Olympic Beach Visitor Station. I love watching all the folks checking out the touch tank! Oh, he told me there’s a new edition of his podcast, Aquacast,coming out soon. Make sure you check that out.
  • Wandered along the beach from Olympic to Brackett’s Landing, checking out the tide-pools and marine life during our extreme low-tide. You can go tomorrow, too, if you missed today. Or if you just love this! Here’s a tide chart with details.
  • I know it’s kinda silly, but I am very fond of the Edmonds Beach Temperature taker dude (No shirt? No shoes? No problem!). Bill Lindsay is a fascinating guy to talk with. Though I didn’t chat with him today, I have in the past.
  • It’s the Edmonds Arts Festival. Wandered through checking out art, some of the student artists are friends with my son, which is fun. I delight in these person connections. We also had some ideas while exploring the photography exhibit, that we’re looking forward to exploring. It will be going on tomorrow as well.

It was lovely, and I am tired. I took plenty of photos, which I’ll upload tomorrow. Here is my favorite.

I was sitting by this bush with flowers the bees adored. After taking around a dozen photos with my Olympus, but the autofocus hated this. The breeze was bouncing the flowers and the bees were, well, being bees. I gave up on the good camera, pulled out my Samsung S7 and was able to grab this one. I did need to zoom in and crop a bit. A lot of work for this one.

 

IMG_20180616_220411_847.jpg

A Short Post Featuring An Area DJ

Carl Setzer

Just a short post today.

My friend Emanuel is a DJ in the greater Seattle area. I found his most recent Soundcloud post delightful and thought I’d share this with you, good friends.