Christmas in September

We're kinda a pushing it here, aren't we? I mean, it's Sept. 30!

Birds-eye View of SAM-Wamu

THIS JUST IN: We just found a birds-eye view of the project, (which resulted in the ALL-CAPS excitement... ) This is done by Emporis, a company that describes itself as the "most comprehensive information provider with a focus on high-rise buildings." OK, I'm hooked on these guys. Plug in dates early on in the project to get a sense of the development and then plug in dates/times closer to present. It's like a cyber-flip book.

Magnolia's a Changin'

Springing up through ranch houses and '40's and '50's abodes is a sight for sore eyes. This is a single family home, designed by Rhodes Architecture. I guess the only person unhappy with the whole thing is the house behind this pretty one going up.

Rooftop messages

While walking over the Aurora Bridge (Formally known as the “George Washington Memorial Bridge) I saw this message on a roof of a nearby building: “J + J Londo True Love ♥” Awww. For some fascinating reading, I Googled the Aurora Bridge and came upon The Stranger’s “Jumper” article by Charles Meude. A little on the dark side, but interesting.

The “Real” Frasier Property

Fans of Frasier ooh and aah over his swanky penthouse digs, but anyone who lives in Seattle wonders:

Q. “Who the hell in Seattle dresses like Frasier and Niles?
A: No one

Q. If a guy like Niles REALLY lived in Seattle, would he be gay?
A. Yes

Q. Where could an apartment like Frasier’s exist in Seattle?
A. Nowhere

… Except maybe now. Paul Allen’s 2200 is on track to open in Fall of 2006 and it’s pretty slick and Frasier-like. It’s 90% sold, so if you have $740K sitting around, now is the time to do it, because there's only a few left. In addition to granite countertops and floor-to-ceiling windows, you get: Room service 24/7 by neighbor Pan Pacific, pet concierge service, human concierge service and in-residence massage. Sweet. You would never have to leave! And, if you did have to leave, you could take the trolley. Oops, I meant streetcar. They are very touchy about calling it a trolley, so call it a streetcar, OK?

But, Where's Robin Leach?

Our thirst to learn how the rich live is covered nicely by Forbes in a recent online article. For example, did you know, "... (Bill) Gates received a property tax bill for a whopping $1.1 million, because his compound was estimated to be worth nearly $140 million.” Don’t miss the birds-eye view slideshow of the billionaires' houses. (Note all the Walton names you see. That “Price Rollback!” schtick has really paid off.)

Hendrix Home Moves Closer to Jimi

Hi-Land Mobilehome Manor in Renton has a new neighbor: Jimi Hendrix's home. The Seattle Times reports that Pete Sikov, the Seattle real-estate investor who owns Jimi's home, moved it to Hi-Land (he owns that, too), which is across the street from Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery where Hendrix now lies.

Sandwich Boards, Anyone?

Real estate sandwich boards were sprouting up all over Magnolia on Sunday. My first reaction: Is everyone leaving Magnolia? Then I thought: How would I know if everyone left Magnolia? It's always so quiet, anyway.

What Bubble?

The National Association of Realtors, as reported by CNN, released numbers that show existing home sales climbed by 2% in August, although the effect of Katrina won't be know for awhile.

Sign of the Times

A Bainbridge Island investor/entrepreneur/free spirit has found a creative way to sell this Fremont property on the corner of 47th and Fremont: Erect a big-ass sign with the price and a phone number. He said two other homes he owned, priced at $850K and $950K around the corner from this one, sold more quickly – one sight unseen to a man in Hawaii.

Siblings Creating Anti-Suburb

As gas prices continue to soar, the idea of New Urbanism continues to grow. Love the idea from this bro-sis team in Colorado: they're planning an anti-suburb setting in Colorado. Of course, Gregg's Cycles in Seattle had a clever ad in the Seattle Weekly, displaying steep gas prices ($3.12, $3.40, $3.69) on a gas station marquee, then a line underneath: $221.00 (starting cost of a bicycle). Sold me!

Monorail on Life Support

The Monorail is getting one last chance after language was quickly written to make the deadline for the Nov. 8 ballot measure. Whether you loved it or hated it, it doesn't look good for the Monorail.

All Things Green

While flying over Seattle on our way to landing at Sea-Tac, the pilot shared, "There's a reason it's so green down there." Yeah, yeah, we know, but I would just like to point out, thanks to NOAA, we are not the rain capital of the U.S. !

To keep the green thing going, the mayor declared last week, "Two trees planted for every one taken down" and built $170,000 into the 2006 budget to do so. That's cool. He's seeing the bennies from earning the 2005 City Livability Award by beating out all other mayors for having the greenest city. (Yeah, I know... how hard is it to beat Detroit?) Maybe Mayor Nickels can join the Green Day Idiot Club, to keep the green theme going. Not to be left out, a site down in Portland names Seattle one of America's Top 10 Green Cities.

Selling 10,000 Tiny Homes = 1 Real Home

We’re not making this up: Aberdeen's Mikey Cofer was hoping to sell 10,000 "Tiny Plastic Huts," for a down payment on a real home in the Seattle area. Even though she only sold 999, Mikey did buy a house in Hoquim on Aug 19, 2005. Tiny Hut buyers are still welcome to buy… proceeds will go toward remodeling costs.

Hammering Man no Longer Hammers Alone

You won’t see it from the street, but the Wamu/SAM conjoined construction project along 1st and 2nd Avenues will have a 17th-floor roof garden. A hard hat said it will be “a park-like setting, complete with a stream, and full-grown trees.” I wonder if we'll see deer running through.
SAM’s plate is way full these days with three projects underway simultaneously. How do they have time to do their art and stuff when they're in the construction biz?

Buy a Wig for the Wrecker's Ball

That shoebox-size parking lot on 2nd between Pike and Pine Streets, where Pike Place Market tourists and people on society's fringe converge, is finally falling into developers’ hands. Casualties include Wigland (photo above), the Green Tortoise Hostel and some other establishment that is not quite ready for prime time. The folks at the Green Tortoise said they're being relocated around the corner on Pike between 1st and 2nd and think May 2006 is the date they need to vacate. Fifteen Twenty-One will arrive in its place, self-described as “Sky-high international style homes 1,600 to 2,800 personalized square feet floor-to-ceiling water and city views.” This was supposed to be a Monorail stop, but since that's still up in the air (no pun intended), the 1521 project will go on, with or without the Monorail.

Urbanism -- the New Math

After living in the cramped corridor of Baltimore and D.C., I desperately wanted to get off the hamster wheel. Get off the Beltway, where going 80 mph is turtle-speed. Moving to Seattle was logical, because it provides for New Urbanism:

NEW URBANISM promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities. These contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and civic facilities essential to the daily lives of the residents, all within easy walking distance of each other. New Urbanism promotes the increased use of trains and light rail, instead of more highways and roads. Urban living is rapidly becoming the new hip and modern way to live for people of all ages. Currently, there are over 500 New Urbanist projects planned or under construction in the United States alone, half of which are in historic urban centers.

I've been here for three weeks and I've used my car exactly 3 times,which means I haven't had to fill my tank YET! That's a savings of approximately $120, figuring it cost me $40/week on gas. I feel so free.

Seattle is already about new urbanism, but now even moreso. Many projects are taking shape the will hopefully bring people and businesses together: South Lake Union, Northgate, and the Waterfront, to name a few.

Those who live and work in the Sodo section want their neighborhood re-zoned so that it's not only vibrant during games played in the nearby stadiums. I left Seattle for 3 years, but after being back, I can see the changes are worthwhile. The places that were ticky-tacky have gotten a facelift, new places have sprung up and there seem to be great plans for new development. Go boldly, Seattle, go boldly!

Grey's Anatomy Does Kerry Park

Last night, friends from Baltimore and I ventured over to Kerry Park to take the classic Seattle skyline shots when we saw No Parking signs up and down the road, police presence and lots of congestion. It looked like the Fourth of July all over again. Closer still and we saw a huge, lumbering trailer and lots of booms in the air. Sure enough, a film crew and its look-at-me attitude took over the park. It looks like ABC was filming its Grey's Anatomy series, which takes place in Seattle. T.R. Knight was walking up and down the ledge, talking to fellow cast-member Katherine Heigl. Did I spill the beans on something here? Who knows... I don't watch TV.

Sitting on a Slippery Slope

Moving back to Seattle after spending 3 years in Baltimore was a dream-come-true, but believe me, I am well aware of Seattle's vulnerabilities, especially as I watch the horror and massive destruction of Hurricane Katrina. After that disaster, I think we all wonder, "Can that happen here?" Slate (I love Slate) dissects the thought and comes to the conclusion that Connecticut is the safest place to live. Boring. Give me Seattle any day and I will deal with its three risks: earthquakes, volcanoes, and a tsunami (?).
[Roland's photo reveals the tone of Katrina.]

Aquarium Shakin' Rattlin' and Rollin'

Today I took a stroll down near the Seattle Aquarium to check out the waterfront and lo and behold, a construction behemoth was taking apart the wooden structure that was attached to the Seattle Aquarium. It was part of the aquarium. Where have I been? (That's right, I was in Baltimore. Christ almighty). The whole pier was swaying with every dissection and I couldn't help but wonder how the fish were faring inside. I managed to get a buy 1, get 1 free admission pass from the aquarium employees standing nearby. What are they putting in its place? This Seattle Parks page tells a little more.

Life is good

I moved to Seattle from Baltimore about a week ago. Don't ask about the Baltimore thing. It was a move I had to make for my partner's sake. Anyway, we're back, loving life and feeling good.