Comments on: Escala Is Latin For Embarrassment

By: Time Passages (They Grow Up So Fast) | hugeasscity

Time Passages (They Grow Up So Fast) | hugeasscity — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:30:24 +0000

[...] 3.18.08: 4th and Virginia [...]

By: EscortsSeattle.com | hugeasscity

EscortsSeattle.com | hugeasscity — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:33:47 +0000

[...] Classy! [...]

By: A Criminally Unfair, One-Sided, Amateur Blog-Style Q&A With (Or Without) David Miller | hugeasscity

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:57:26 +0000

[...] I do not believe density is… automatically environmentally sound.” While there are examples of high-density housing that is not as green as it could be, in the vast majority of cases [...]

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:46:09 +0000

Topping off of condo tower marks end of high-rise boom (the PI)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/404919_ESCALA08.html

I saw it from my dentist’s office and it actually looked pretty cool. Those old towers on the other hand…

By: michael

michael — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:19:37 +0000

I’m not a LEED enthusiast or expert, but I do want to point out that @42 is wrong to assume that LEED doesn’t address differences in heating and cooling demand across the country. It does in fact address variations among climate zones in several ways, including varying requirements based on climate zone classification and allowing projects to follow local energy codes if they, at a minimum, meet Dept of Energy standards for energy efficiency.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:34:04 +0000

@ 42, 39

I’m kind of with you both too. I’ve never been a fan of LEED mainly because it works more like a check list than a guage and challange. I have heard that the nxt round of LEED coming on line this summer will address some of the short comings we are worrid about. Stay tuned, but keep raising a ruckus to keep LEED improving itself.

By: eric

eric — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:21:47 +0000

I agree with Holz @ 38. LEED is not a performance criteria. You can easily build a LEED certified building that is less energy efficient than one which does not meet LEED standards. The main problem with LEED is that it’s a national standard that tries to create a one size fits all solution. Heating and cooling issues vary greatly across the country.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:50:39 +0000

I for one have no problem with seeing luxury buildings built. Some of the nicest buildings from past eras were intended as luxury apartments, luxury hotels, or high-end office space.

However even at the high end of the market, especially in residential and hotels I can’t say much for what has been built in the past 50 years or so. Is any of it likely to wear as well as a luxury apartment or hotel built in the 20’s or 30’s?

Why must we accept crappy design and architecture? Especially when the developer has clearly spent lots of money on something that is tacky and tasteless?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:51:49 +0000

Hey Dan I’m hoping this post was all about the architecture alone, because you were right about that. But I think the general consensus is that you are out of line in relation to the socioeconomic aspect of this development, which you mentioned in the blog was geared towards the wealthy. This is just one building, remembert, that happens to be close to one the best hotels in the city. There is a LOT of open lots around that area that are in desperate need of developement. You are overreacting big time. Let’s not forget that just across the street from that hotel is a one story McDonald’s occupying one expensive-ass piece of real estate…You call that dense? LOL SEattle ain’t dense AT ALL.

By: Silverstar98121

Silverstar98121 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:02:11 +0000

One of the problems of having buildings like this downtown is that it brings in taxes. And also raises the assessments of all the buildings around them. Which makes taxes unaffordable, which makes people sell buildings, which developers then buy, knock down, and build more upscale condos. Which further prices the poor and lower middle class, the people who would really benefit from living close to work, out of the area.

Seattle Housing Authority is trying to bring it’s buildings into energy efficiency. We just had new windows installed in our apartment building, which lowered our heating costs tremendously. And raised our rent, dammit.

What we could use as part of the stimulus package is money to retrofit some of the lovely old buildings in the Belltown (and probably other areas) with energy efficient windows and doors, and insulation.

P.S. I hate Escala because it has made me cross the street in my wheelchair, and then recross for over a year now. It’s rude, just like most rich people. People with a Lexus will try to run you over in an uncontrolled intersection, people in a beater Honda won’t. They can’t afford the ticket, or to pay your medical bills.