Debating Seattle's Growth

There's plenty to talk about in a city where rents have increased by 51 percent since 2010.

1 minute read

August 12, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Seattle

Rigucci / Shutterstock

Josh Feit shares, and responds to, a pair of articles detailing the current development environment in Seattle. "Three of our city’s most thoughtful and longtime urbanists, Sightline researcher Dan Bertolet, Stranger writer Charles Mudede, and activist Cary Moon, published in-depth articles on the affordable housing crisis yesterday," explains Feit for context.

According to Feit, Bertolet's article "pushes back against the seemingly self apparent idea that development, which is literally tearing up our city, is the problem rather than the solution."

"Conversely, Mudede and Moon tack more to Seattle’s left wing consensus that demolition is an apt indictment of development," adds Feit.

Feit is genuinely appreciative of the work that went into both articles, and it's clear that Feit is seeking the more accepting political environment that has been advocated by the YIMBY movement: "Yes, we live in a city, like a lot of American cities right now, that seems cursed by new comers and gentrification. But we also live in a city that’s blessed with genuine thinkers who can nudge our populist anger away from a leftist and local version of Trumpism."

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