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Most of the comments regarding the project relate to height (6 stories) and lack of appropriate transition to the much lower scale neighborhood. Other issues include displacing existing retail with none proposed in the new structure (developer indicates this is not required by code) .
While many of the letters acknowledge the need for new housing across all demographics most are concerned with the precedent setting scale and lack of interaction at the street level. What has not been discussed is the developer's use of Shoreline's Deep Green Incentive Program (DGIP) to gain additional height and density.
I am very familiar with a similar program used by Seattle. I feel these programs require a very low bar in terms of cost/impact to the developer in return for a huge upside that provides substantial increase in project size and revenue at the expense of the neighborhood's quality of life. Washington State energy codes already require new projects to achieve many of the requirements.
I believe this program is stacked in favor of developers and does not really add much public benefit in exchange for pounding the neighbors with out of scale projects.If we follow the money we see the developer and city benefitting from more revenue from these maximized projects while the neighborhoods are impacted severely.
At the very least Shoreline should evaluate the true value of this program and for those neighborhoods affected by the city's aggressive pro-developer stance institute a streamlined design review program to allow the public more say in how our city is developed and make Shoreline government more transparent.
Jeffrey Bates
Shoreline
Thank you for Jeffrey Bates’ comprehensive letter to the editor regarding the Acoyo project. The retail space in the 4 corners area of Shoreline could become an even more useful asset to the community with its supermarket, post office annex, shops and restaurants, provided that the City plans accordingly and emphasizes community interests.
ReplyDeleteGov subsidized "affordable" housing has a 20% vacancy rate in Seattle.
ReplyDeleteOne word- NIMBY
ReplyDeleteAll this pushback on an assisted living facility for seniors is baffling to me.
ReplyDeleteno one is against new development or assisted living, it is the height bulk and scale and lack of retail and precedent for future 6 story buildings in an area with 4 story buildings currently.
ReplyDeleteComplaining about senior housing? Come on folks, be better. You'll need to live somewhere too when you're old.
ReplyDeletePlease read the contents of the editorial letter and you will see there is no pushback against new development (NIMBY comment) or any complaint about senior housing. The inablity to thoughtfully consider what others are actually saying without dismissive name calling does not promote positive discussion.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate and concur with Jeff Bates Acoya Assisted Living Project commentary
ReplyDeleteOur community should support various residential options, such as assisted living, that are integrated and harmonious with the community scale and sensitive to building transitions to the existing community.
The inclusion of a ground level retail use would help enhance the streetscape and continue the service provisions of the existing shops of this complex. These retail uses could be supplemental to the assisted living service amenities, shared with the community affording further community support, interaction, and integration.
It's next to a cluster of 3 story condos and there's a 4 story senior housing facility less than 500 feet away. Is 6 stories truly "out of scale" with the surroundings?
ReplyDeleteI do lament the loss of retail space. Hopefully that aspect of the development code can be fixed in the next round of updates, assuming it hasn't been already. That's no excuse for obstructing this project, though. They followed the rules as they existed when they began the project.
yes they did follow the rules and it will be good to not have a derelict bank building and crummy surface parking lot to look at. The issue with the 6 story height is when the Right Aide site and 1 story retail to the south etc., etc. goes 6 stories. The scale of the new apartment buildings along Aurora will then prevail in Richmond Beach. Is that what the community signed up for?
ReplyDelete