Thrilled that he was chasing his dream, I asked him if he planned to return to Seattle after his travels. He indicated that while he'd lived here for almost a decade, he thought the character of the city had drastically changed with the rash of condos obliterating the skyline. He added that the focus on money and costly dwellings had dampened the sense of community he experienced upon first moving here.
His comments made me think about my own experiences on the Hill and Seattle's current boomtown mentality.
I agree with my friend that density on Capitol Hill has contributed to a mish-mash of building styles, often not taking into consideration the surrounding environment. When condos or townhouses are crammed into alleys or small lots with apartments on one side and single family homes on the other, the effect often is unsightly. Some developments in my neighborhood near Pine and 15th stick out like sore thumbs, too close to the street and overwhelming sight lines.
On the other hand, the established relationships I've built on my street remind me of why I enjoy living in this neighborhood. During the February political primaries I saw many of my neighbors at Seattle Central Community College signing up to participate in the caucuses. We heard pleas on behalf of Democratic heavyweights Hillary and Barack, and elected delegates to represent us at the next level.
Last month, my neighbors gathered for "Night Out," a block party held citywide to promote safety and anti-crime awareness on our streets. We barbecued burgers and sausage, and noshed on potato salad and homemade raspberry cobbler. Familiar faces from surrounding blocks arrived, and we shared our stories of summer vacations and outdoor adventures. In years past, Councilmember Jan Drago would drop by; this year Richard Conlin paid his respects.
My experience as a resident is one of feeling deeply rooted in the neighborhood and still making connections after 21 years. The occupants of my condo building have an interest in getting to know one another enhanced by the common spaces we share, whether the garden courtyard entry, the larger backyard and deck or meeting areas within the interior of the building. These common spaces make living in this community a unique experience because we are not anonymous. Interaction is encouraged by our crossing paths daily. The added bonus of a pet-friendly dwelling also encourages more familiarity with one another and our beloved dogs and cats.
Yet as new-fangled buildings continue to plop down surrounding my home I feel the loss of open space and breathing room that enhances my experience of 16th Avenue. Where I used to see blue sky there are now lofty windows peering over the 10-foot hedge of our backyard. An expansion of a social service agency next to our building will result in a four-story addition. While the agency has done its best to include our residents in its growth strategy, the unintended effects on parking and privacy threaten to make our quiet street a lot busier.
One recent evening I visited the Capitol Hill Trader Joe's. While picking up several dinner items I was surprised by the genuine friendliness of the staff. Not just helpful in directing me toward the correct aisle, they went out of their way to recognize me as an individual. These are the people I think about when I see the increasingly expensive housing built on the Hill. How does someone working at a grocery, or any other service industry or non-profit, afford living in Capitol Hill nowadays?
While the economic vibrancy of our city and the resulting places to spend money and recreate make for an interesting playground, we are slowly losing the egalitarianism that always made Seattle distinct from other American cities. The cavalier attitude toward fashion that overlooked flannel and denim at the opera. The disinterest in careerism that allowed people time to enjoy the outdoors and not worry about expensive cars or digs. And the concern toward those who are less well off, many of whom are now forced to move further out of our city or out of town altogether.
I hope my friend will return to Seattle in several years to discover our economic successes have not erased our social, environmental and community awareness. We are not just any American city.
Jack Hilovsky's column appears in the second issue of each month. Reach him at editor@capitolhilltimes.com.[[In-content Ad]]