Comments on: Design Standards Ordinance FAIL

By: Chuck Wolfe

Chuck Wolfe — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:20:02 +0000

The story goes that the Leavenworth kitsch developed from consultations with UW Planning faculty in the early 60’s. I know from childhood memories, the town was advised to go in a different direction/theme than Bavaria, yet it arguably saved the town. Skip Berger wrote a piece in Crosscut earlier in the Fall about Leavenworth (http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19046/) and I’ve been nudging at this as well with some ultimate Las Vegas of late.

Good job as always, Dan. Keep it up…

By: dan cortland

dan cortland — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:08:56 +0000

If only the gas stations looked like trees, we’d have no need for trees.

The Seattle building community wants to diss Leavenworth’s design standards, and chooses the functionality of balconies as it’s point of contrast? Right.

The Shell lot is free of litter, the building’s exterior is not plastered with posters of golden bimbos astride silver cans of malt liquor (maybe it should be?), the corporate signage is modest for a gas station, though that’s probably by Code. The design is functional: it does not pretend to be something it is not.

But don’t worry, friends, out of Seattle’s superior design minds some cheaply grandiose, monotonously block-long, corner-celebrating addition to our own Leavenworth will eventually congeal on the site. Rumor has it that choice retail–Juliette’s Balcony Boutique–has already committed to moving up from South Lake Union when the project is ready for occupancy.

By: serial catowner

serial catowner — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:48:34 +0000

It has to do with a sense of community- which the Shell company obviously has not got.

Watch a video like “Swiss Rail Travels”. Even areas that are well built up are free from the mind-numbing stupidity of our wretched individualism. Even industrial areas are as soothing to look at as a city park, although the buildings are obviously industrial and meant for business.

The whole country looks like a park because they care what it looks like.

By: Finish Tag

Finish Tag — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:16:23 +0000

That Shell Station parcel sold on August 18, 2009 for $1,351,116

Lot of cash for a shell station.

By: Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA

Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:30:50 +0000

Are you sure that fake balconies are required? My understanding is that all new commercial buildings and any commercial remodels in the commercial zones of Leavenworth must have a Bavarian design that is approved by the design review board. When I first moved to town I couldn’t find the post office because it was hiding so well behind a Bavarian backdrop.

By: Joshua Daniel Franklin

Joshua Daniel Franklin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:27:11 +0000

Lies! Leavenworth is an authentic Bavarian village imported in 1873! Check out the Union 76 photo on that page. They could add planters like the Propel station in South Lake Union (which was also a local company until recently.

By: City Comforts

City Comforts — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:15:33 +0000

I like Jonathan’s perspective: learn to love the Shell Station by seeing it as open space.

As to Dan’s plaintive “Why do we put up with loathsome scars like that Shell station?” — What do you have in mind? What would you have the City do? Force the owner to tear it down and build something you like? I assume that City would provide financing for the project?

By: Max J

Max J — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:07:21 +0000

This is a great post, Dan. That McDonald’s is cheesy, certainly, but the shell station is abhorrent. It can’t be that hard to make a gas station attractive, can it?

Oh wait… nevermind I answered my own question.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:29:16 +0000

Interesting! I am on this corner a lot, but it never occurred to me to hate the gas station.

At least there are open sight lines over the site, providing a feeling of space and a view of the nice old buildings on Pike Street. If it were redeveloped they would probably build a big cube that goes right to the sidewalk.

Also, there is a lot of car traffic at that corner, and I suppose we do need gas stations somewhere.

By: keith

keith — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:21:16 +0000

as much as i’m opposed to driving and eyesores in general, i must admit that shell station is where we refuel our car…

i will, though, join any campaign to slay the shell station.