Is Seattle turning into California? (Tacoma, Renton: real estate, house, income)

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by Bunky39

crowding is not the key.
the key is certain signs that can only mean it is becoming california.
are there a lot of fat people wearing shorts in jeeps driving up and down the freeway?
are the people very rude?
do they fight for parking spaces and hate to walk?
do they consistently fail to greet you or say good morning?
when they finish a conversation do they simply walk away without concluding the conversation?
do they think that all predators (2 and 4 legged) are our misunderstood friends and need a hug?

You didn't describe anyone (or group of people) in CA that I know (with the exception of the parking space stuff), but you just described WA pretty well, with exception of the walking part maybe.

V. =)

[scirocco22]

"...a lot of fat people wearing shorts in jeeps driving up and down the freeway?"





You see a lot of that in California?

[ness]

i think the problem with describing California is that it is such a highly populated, large, and diverse state that you can drive 10 miles one way and be in a part of Cali. that feels like a different planet from where you just were 10 miles ago. Lake Arrowhead is a small rural mountain community with a tourism economy......small town feel....beautiful trees, etc. and you drive an hour and a half and you are in the middle of LA with smog, skyscrapers, and sidewalk vendors. Cali. is a unique and strange place.

[danco]

When the little Hondas are lapping you the rain starts looking pretty good.

[41Willys]

I haven't disiked a person from Seattle/Washington yet!

Im talking about a ton of houses going up, and how do people from the area think it will be in 10+ years. People in S. Cali are rude and careless, I think we are all aware of this.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by ness

Basically everywhere now there is a formula that holds pretty true. New housing developments = smaller lots b/c smaller lots = more units per acre = more $$$ for the developer. Granted some developments have larger lots, but they are NOT the norm.

Sadly, this trend isn't really confined to CA, or WA. It may have started in CA, but I know developers all over the country are pulling these tactics. As ness said, more lots per acreage means more money for them...so yeah, any developer anywhere would understand this; and would try to do it if they could. So, it's definitely spread/spreading all over the country.

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by 41Willys

I haven't disiked a person from Seattle/Washington yet!

Im talking about a ton of houses going up, and how do people from the area think it will be in 10+ years. People in S. Cali are rude and careless, I think we are all aware of this.

I have to say, as a CA transplant, the people in WA are about 1000 times more rude than the people in CA. Every time I greet my neighbor, he grunts at me. You smile at a stranger they give you the death stare.

People in WA are nice if they're in a service capacity (like waiting on you at a restaurant or in a store), but I find on the street, they'd as soon spit on you as greet you. I always thought people in CA were standoffish, but I'll take that to the downright rudeness of the people I've encountered in WA.

At least in CA, when our apartment building was on fire, our neighbors came pounding on the door to wake us up. I get the feeling from my WA neighbors (who generally like to race me up our street to try to get the best parking in front of our townhouses), would as soon let us die in a fire.

Now, I'm told this is because I live on the Eastside, and people in Seattle proper are much friendlier, but from the time I've spent downtown, I've yet to see it.

I continue to smile and say hello to everyone, though, because it seems to throw them way way off. If I can't get them to be friendly, I can take some small comfort in making them uncomfortable.

V. =)

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

"...a lot of fat people wearing shorts in jeeps driving up and down the freeway?"





You see a lot of that in California?

Oh, and no, Rocco, you don't. Not in San Diego or Orange County or Los Angeles. I have to say the people in WA in general are "fatter" than the people in CA (as a fat chick, I can say that, I notice), but I have to say the people in WA seem much less accepting of fat people than in CA. I never had my weight commented on as an adult by strangers until I moved to WA.

V. =)

[LordBalfor]

Develeopment in the Puget Sound region will only become more widespread and with greater density. Lots are indeed becoming smaller and smaller and traffic worse and worse. Though in many ways it's become better in the 30+ years that I've lived here (ie better economy, less run-down areas, better public parks and public planning etc) it is definitely on the same track that Southern California has already pioneered.

Ken

[ness]

one of the reasons why housing is so densely built in Los Angeles area is because as house values rose, so did land values. In addition, construction costs went up. Hence, the developer "needs" to built more units per acre with cheaper materials in order to make his $3 million b/c he had to pay more for the land. As appreciation continues acorss the US (not really happening at the moment--but soon) you will probably see developers continuing along this path. It is up to Cities to regulate zoning so that developers are not allowed to build huge houses on tiny lots. But many cities have good relationships with the developers and let them run the show, regardless of what is good for the city's residents. It's sad.