Civic Square

[CrazyAboutCities]

I agree. I think putting huge park lid on I-5 freeway from Madison street to beyond Denny street would help too. I always wish that Seattle waterfront would add more parks just like Portland's waterfront parks.

[Mr.Blonde]

Originally Posted by citruspastels

we need more of Vancouver's density and Portland's liberalism and urban planning.

Seattle needing more liberals isn't exactly a civic need that springs to mind.

[other page]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blonde

Seattle needing more liberals isn't exactly a civic need that springs to mind.

agreed

[citruspastels]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blonde

Seattle needing more liberals isn't exactly a civic need that springs to mind.

Originally Posted by other page

agreed

Sorry if I offended. I don't mean to start a political flame war here, I'm not talking Democrats vs Republicans. It's more the liberal spirit and DIY attitude in Portland that I enjoy, rather than defined political leanings. I was suprised when I moved here how many people aren't really all that open to change. I mean it's not like it's bad here, but I do notice it more in Portland.

I do like that we fund our schools though.

[mhays]

Also, this board has many more from the left (like me) than it does from the right. I'm a moderate on many issues (welfare, political correctness, business friendliness) but a liberal on others (environmentalism, sprawl, public transit). I like to think my kind of liberalism is very helpful for Seattle.

[uwhuskies]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blonde

Seattle needing more liberals isn't exactly a civic need that springs to mind.

I agree with this attitude. While political persuasion has little impact in building design, some of the main issues that make skyscraper enthusiasts upset arose from ultraliberal movements.

One example of this is CAP (height limits), that was passed by civic vote but initiated by anti-business activists in the community. Maybe some of their sentiments arise from a desire to "be one with nature" but its more likely envy of someone else's success. To these misguided folks, Skyscrapers represent evil bourgeoise capitalist rather than the beauty of achievement and art.

[uwhuskies]

Originally Posted by citruspastels

Sorry if I offended. I don't mean to start a political flame war here, I'm not talking Democrats vs Republicans. It's more the liberal spirit and DIY attitude in Portland that I enjoy, rather than defined political leanings. I was suprised when I moved here how many people aren't really all that open to change. I mean it's not like it's bad here, but I do notice it more in Portland.

I do like that we fund our schools though.

I am not sure if you have read some of the Portland posts in the SSP site, but they lament the Portland City Design Commission that is often cited as pinnacle of city planning. PORTLANDERS skyscraper enthusiasts HATE their building planning process as killing many great projects (which ones I am not so sure).

I would rather have our inept system that gets buildings built than one that celebrates our dysfunctional plan-plan-plan process.

[mhays]

True. Our design review process seems to do more harm than good re the architecture of our buildings.

[Mr.Blonde]

I know what you meant, the "spirit" of liberal idealism rather than the political ideology. It just struck me as funny, seeing as that is one of the defining characteristics of Seattle, right up there with coffee.

I have the bar raised pretty high for what I would consider "offensive" speech.

[bgwah]

I'm not sure he meant "liberal" as in the distorted American political term. People who like the way things are (like abandoned Denny's) and who do not want change could be described as conservatives. And Portland has certainly been more open to change when it comes to things like public transportation, so I don't think it would be inappropriate to say he wants Portland's liberalism on urban planning (minus awful height limits and what not of course).

[Mr.Blonde]

Originally Posted by citruspastels

I was suprised when I moved here how many people aren't really all that open to change.

I've noticed that as well. It's like a contrast to the political liberalism. I think that's a regional trait, that reluctance to stand out or draw attention to oneself.

Funny, huh?

[CrazyAboutCities]

Originally Posted by mhays

Also, this board has many more from the left (like me) than it does from the right. I'm a moderate on many issues (welfare, political correctness, business friendliness) but a liberal on others (environmentalism, sprawl, public transit). I like to think my kind of liberalism is very helpful for Seattle.

I think the same thing as you do on these issues.

Originally Posted by citruspastels

Sorry if I offended. I don't mean to start a political flame war here, I'm not talking Democrats vs Republicans. It's more the liberal spirit and DIY attitude in Portland that I enjoy, rather than defined political leanings. I was suprised when I moved here how many people aren't really all that open to change. I mean it's not like it's bad here, but I do notice it more in Portland.

I do like that we fund our schools though.

I lived in Oregon for almost three years in three different towns. In my experiences, too many Native Oregonians HATE the changes with passions. They never support the growth at all. They hold the grudges against newcomers like Californians. They usually blame on Californians when something bad happen to their communities which is not always Californians' faults. Some native Seattleites I know are supporting the changes but some of them don't really support it at all. I think Seattleites are more open to the changes than Oregonians do to their communities. I don't know about Portlanders since I never lived there before. Few Portlanders I know are very welcoming to the changes as well but they're not native Portlanders.

[BoulderGrad]

Someone pointed this out on SSP

http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Not...D=305&NID=7851

Land Use Application to allow a 42-story building containing 600,000 sq. ft. of office, 12,000 sq. ft. of retail with 150 residential units above and a 3-story building containing 19, 000 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant. Project includes 30,000 sq. ft. of open space over five levels of below-grade parking for 620 vehicles, 120,000 cu. yds. of grading and new access to the existing Metro Bus Tunnel on 3rd Avenue. Addendum to the Downtown Height & Density and Civic Center Master Plan Environmental Impact Statement has been submitted.

[Bond James Bond]

A 42-story office/condo building at that site would be just about perfect for the skyline.

[mokocoko]

It looks good from renderings

[WESTSEATTLEGUY]

Interesting. That's not my favorite rendering above.

[BoulderGrad]

Where is that rendering from?

[seattleist]

The image file source says it came from The Stranger's Slog.

[mhays]

The green outline is way too wide and tall.

[Bond James Bond]

Hmm. Hard to tell from that rendering, but I suppose it looks reasonably "Seattle-esque." And it doesn't have a flat top!