Crosscut Wants Seattle to Do Density Right
For a newsource that has made some pretty wacky statements on urban growth in Seattle, like this, and this, and this, and this, and this, I was delighted to read this lead story on Crosscut today, suggesting a dense and innovative revision for the T. T. Minor property in Capitol Hill. Park space! Limited parking! Amsterdam!
But the debate comes down to, as it usually does, what is the right height—this time a choice between four or six stories—for neighborhood-scale density. Seems like a ridiculous argument to suggest that there is a uniform answer, although some folks have tried to suggest that six (not four) stories is the way to go, while others think more than four causes insanity.
How about we actually look at context? Or is that too crazy and innovative? How about yes, in the Amsterdam-inspired rethinking of T. T. Minor with narrow single lane streets, four stories would be appropriate, pleasant even. But when there is a wider right of way, like Eastlake Avenue, or NE 65th St, or NW Market St, six (or seven, maybe eight?) works better and gets us the long-term pattern that we need.