Do you worry about Seattle becoming sterilized? (Tacoma, Tukwila: transplants, apartment)

[Rcsligar]

I am posting this thread because this topic has been on my mind a bit lately. I moved all the way out here from SW FL because I love the city and all it has to offer as a whole, but at the same time I don't like looking at things through rose colored glasses. And when I think about it, there are certain impending changes that could occur that may not be desirable.

I remember visiting the columbia city and georgetown neighborhoods a couple weeks ago and how enamored I was with them. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I am beginning to think it's because they were stark contrasts to the upscale, pretentious, yuppie/hipster enclaves that are widely considered the "desirable" neighborhoods. I live in Capitol Hill, and the best way I can describe it is that it's a mixed bag. Certain establishments are so pretentious it seems to seep out into the street, while others are divey, and others are rather generic. That isn't to say there aren't really cool hole in the wall places mixed in, but if you were to walk around on a given Friday the crowd wouldn't strike you as much different than any other neighborhood that's been gentrified in recent years.

Ballard and Fremont are also considered "desirable neighborhoods," and while Ballard specifically has blue collar roots, it is beginning to have the ambience as a rather sterile, high dollar yuppie enclave. I ate in the Walrus and the Carpenter the other night and I don't think I've ever been in a more pretentious restaurant in my life outside of NYC. I almost felt like some people in there wanted their asses kissed for being "on top of the game" enough to eat there. I don't see how anyone who is working class could even remotely afford to live there unless they crammed 2+ people into a studio apartment.

Fremont would be considered a hipster enclave except the combination of yuppies and fraternity enthusiasts seeping over from the U-District tends to nullify that aspect a bit. Point being, things are getting to the point where you can predict what kind of people are going to be out at night in various neighborhoods. Unfortunately it seems like the city is moving towards having the same pretentious and trendy attitude as San Francisco.

The vibrant STEM market here without a doubt brings a lot of good things to the table as far as the economy is concerned and I respect that. Part of me is excited about where things are going and am proud that Seattle is beginning to be thought of as a world class city. I just wish that desirable economic development didn't bring about undesirable social development and the nullification of the city's working class.

What are your thoughts on this? I am looking to hear from people that have lived here a while and aren't too emotionally biased. This is NOT a thread to bash Seattle because as I said I do have a lot of appreciation and respect for the city. I'd just like to have a logical discussion about this cultural phenomenon.

[AT-AT28]

One of the reasons I moved to Seattle was that it was becoming a stabile and sterile booming urban city with less issues and stand out problems along with a lot more opportunities. I think you will find that the other transplants will agree with me. I didn't wanna move to a LA, San Diego or God forbid, New York type city.

[mkarch]

Little known fact, but the city attorney Pete Holmes is actively combating this transition by refusing to prosecute the homeless mentally ill hoards roaming the streets.

[Inkpoe]

Been here since the 80s and it's such a stark contrast to now. From traffic to cityscape to even the people now. Seattle already is sterilized and lost that soulness a long while ago. Even Capitol Hill is pretty sterilized, its pretty much lost its identity.

Its why I appreciate cities/places like Tacoma which still has that grittiness and soul-- and it's still mostly under the radar, it gets to dodge under its own bad rap/old reputation and perceptions.

[Steve Bowen]

I've been here since 2006. I used to live in Fremont; I live in Ballard now. I agree with you completely. There's been such a change even in that short a period of time. I plan on moving away in the next year or two because of pretty much exactly what you describe, coupled with my preference for a four season climate.

Seattle is well on its way to being a wealthy, safe, highly educated, massively homogeneous site of consumption for those with the money to afford it.

[Rcsligar]

Originally Posted by Steve Bowen

I've been here since 2006. I used to live in Fremont; I live in Ballard now. I agree with you completely. There's been such a change even in that short a period of time. I plan on moving away in the next year or two because of pretty much exactly what you describe, coupled with my preference for a four season climate.

Seattle is well on its way to being a wealthy, safe, highly educated, massively homogeneous site of consumption for those with the money to afford it.

Where do you plan on moving to?

[kyled]

The people that bring that strong economy you enjoy so much like that sterility and bring it with them wherever they go so you can't really have it both ways. Personally this is actually part of the reason why Seattle is ranked higher than Portland on my list of possible places to move. A lot of the Portland area looks run down, dank and grungy, which some people like, but I feel much more at home in modern, clean and simple, which Seattle seems to resemble. Of course, I'll visit both before I make my decision.

[Rcsligar]

Originally Posted by kyled

The people that bring that strong economy you enjoy so much like that sterility and bring it with them wherever they go so you can't really have it both ways. Personally this is actually part of the reason why Seattle is ranked higher than Portland on my list of possible places to move. A lot of the Portland area looks run down, dank and grungy, which some people like, but I feel much more at home in modern, clean and simple, which Seattle seems to resemble. Of course, I'll visit both before I make my decision.

I don't mean sterile strictly in appearance, but also socially/culturally. Homogenization is essentially what I am referring to. It just happens that neighborhoods with the most character and unpretentious people are typically the most "grungy" looking.

[SaltyDawg]

The appetite for 'grit' is always amusing to me... and I say that as someone who has also used that term.

You can get a ton of grit still if you're willing to visit it, but the truth is that most people want to know it exists rather than live in it. Go to Roxbury in West Seattle, or down in the Interurban neighborhoods, or hell, even in Sodo when the pro clubs aren't playing. Plenty gritty!

And yes, lots to recommend. I've met some terrific people in Roxbury lanes, and gambled in Tukwila, etc. To pretend that's what you want your neighborhood to be like is a bit fanciful. Most people that live there would tell you that they'd prefer fewer sirens and crime concerns.

Sterile? There might be something to that, if sterile = safe and predictable. Not sure that it's the same as soulless though... I can't think of a neighborhood that doesn't still proudly feature some level of soul if you're willing to look, outside of maybe a Laurelhurst or Madison Park.

[Steve Bowen]

Originally Posted by Rcsligar

Where do you plan on moving to?

I'm a fan of the Upper Midwest

I'll probably move to Madison or Milwaukee. There's an outside chance I'd move to Chicago, and a chance that Minneapolis is in the mix as well.