r/SeattleWA

I’m a homeowner in a neighborhood proposed to be upzoned to LR3 under the One Seattle plan (allowing 5 story apartments in areas that are currently mostly single-family homes). I’ve lived here a long time, love my home and neighbors, and had planned to stay here permanently.

I understand the broader goal of creating more housing and increasing density in Seattle, especially given how expensive the city has become. But I’m trying to understand what this transition realistically looks like for existing homeowners who aren’t developers or investors. What I’m struggling with is the practical side of remaining in place during and after major redevelopment around us. There would be years of construction, changes to light/pollution/noise, and the financial pressure that can come with rapidly increasing land values.

I worry about property taxes continuing to rise as redevelopment accelerates. For homeowners on fixed or moderate incomes, it feels possible that even people who want to stay in their homes long term could eventually be priced out or forced to sell, regardless of whether they ever wanted to cash out in the first place. I also know some people see increased land value as a major benefit, but for those of us who never planned to move, that “gain” is not a consideration.

I’m curious how other homeowners in areas being upzoned are thinking about this. Are people planning to stay long term? Has anyone lived through a similar transition in another neighborhood or city? Is my only realistic option to sell my home to a Property Developer for tear down?

https://preview.redd.it/6kwva3kfrh2h1.png?width=932&format=png&auto=webp&s=7825b0e316b43aed248e4c2c3e967248e01a0f1b

The move comes just as the Sound Transit board is poised to push the 4 Line, which will run between South Kirkland and Central Issaquah, to 2050. That represents a six-year delay compared to the current timeline, or a nine-year delay compared to the timeline presented to voters in 2016.

The agency's latest estimates put the 4 Line's cost around $6 billion, a range of $5.6 to $6.3 billion to be exact, at least before cost-saving measures are applied.

~ Nine years late, six billion dollars, and Issaquah is the one celebrating.

Meta fired 8,000 employees worldwide Wednesday as CEO Mark Zuckerberg executes the most aggressive workforce reduction in the company’s history, with scores of Puget Sound workers potentially caught in the fallout.

My wife and I rent a single-family home in Seattle. We’re expecting a baby and have been navigating a series of landlord issues that have compounded over several months. I’ll call our landlord Mark.

Issue 1: Mold, water damage, and a slow road to remediation

We discovered significant water damage in the main bedroom: wet staining on walls next to the mini-split, paint bubbling and lifting, streaking and ceiling cracking.

A licensed inspector also confirmed early mold growth in the attic. After formal written notice under RCW 59.18.060, Mark did respond and brought in two independent inspectors. Remediation, ventilation improvements, and insulation work are finally scheduled for next week, but it took weeks of pushing, and we have a newborn coming.

Issue 2: Rent credit reduced based on misleading claim that construction was done

Our lease includes a $400/month credit tied to DADU construction on the property. On April 29th Mark texted that construction was complete and reduced the credit to $200. Workers were back on May 4th using a water saw on countertops, drawing from our electrical panel, with activity continuing into mid-May. His own 4/29 message said there would be “no meaningful additional electrical or water demands” and that is not what happened.

Issue 3: Inspections and work done while we were out of town, against our explicit wishes

We told Mark multiple times in writing that we were away May 12-20 and wanted to be present for any inspections. He proceeded with the second assessment while we were gone anyway. Construction activity also accelerated during our absence. We had to remind him in writing that being away from home doesn’t mean the same expectations don’t apply. We’re still paying rent regardless of whether we’re physically there.

Issue 4: Came home to an unflushed toilet left by Mark or the inspector

When we got back from our trip, either Mark or the inspector had been through the house and left the toilet unflushed with urine. Small thing maybe, but it’s emblematic of the overall lack of consideration throughout this tenancy.

The bottom line

Remediation is finally scheduled, which is something. But getting here required formal written notices, repeated pushback, and a lot of documentation. We’re now at the point where we’re reaching out to the Tenants Union of Washington for guidance. If you’re in a similar situation, they’re a free resource at tenantsunion.org.

The ALA's annual "State of the Air" report ranked the Seattle-Tacoma area 8th worst nationally for short-term particle pollution.

Exposure to smog and fine-particle pollution can harm lung function and contribute to diseases including strokes, heart attacks and diabetes, the group says.

~ Wildfire smoke is the driver and it's getting worse. Pretending otherwise is not a policy. Guess what's driving the wildfire smoke.

Local host committees, private organizations established to stage the World Cup in their areas, find themselves squeezed between two much bigger forces. Soccer governing body FIFA — for whom the quadrennial tournament is a leading source of revenue — significantly constrains local organizers’ ability to raise their own funds. While Congress has approved $625 million in security funding nationwide, local governments still have to find the money to cover other expenses that could run up to $150 million per city.

~ The only real winner of the World Cup is FIFA

Please help 😅

Today at REI, after a very lovely conversation (and me crying over a breakup), the kind worker suggested I join the REI run club on Sundays to meet people and spend more time outside. I recently bought a bike because I’m trying to get outside more beyond just walking and paddle boarding.
My issue is… I do not love running. I love walking of any kind, though. Is this club actually walker-friendly? He said it was, but I’m nervous I’ll show up Sunday and immediately get left in the dust by runners. OR is there maybe a weekend walking club instead? Do I need to create one? (Please say no. I’m so introverted)

Years ago, I worked at Crazy Horse in San Francisco under the name Cherelle. I met a man there who I have never forgotten, but I can no longer remember his name.

All I remember is that he was half Japanese and half something else, and he lived in Washington. He had a business there. He came into Crazy Horse one night while I was working and asked if he could take me out. At first, I told him I didn’t go out with people from the club, but he came back the next day and asked again. I finally agreed to go to dinner with him.

He was staying at a hotel down the street from Crazy Horse, and we went out to dinner. I remember having such a wonderful time with him. He was a gentleman, kind, respectful, and he truly seemed to care about me. He wanted to help me, and he wanted to be with me.

After that, we continued talking on the phone. He used to call me at my mother’s house, where I lived at the time. We got to know each other through those phone calls, and I remember feeling like I really adored him. I honestly thought I could have spent my life with him.

But then I found out I was pregnant by my ex-boyfriend. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, and I stopped answering his calls. My mom would tell me that he kept calling for a long time, but I never responded because I thought, “Why would he want me now?”

I have thought about him many times over the years. I don’t know if he is still out there, if he remembers me, or if life moved on for him in a completely different direction. But if this somehow reaches him, I would just like to say hello and maybe finally close this chapter of my life.

I am not trying to invade anyone’s privacy or disrupt anyone’s life. I just want the chance to reconnect, apologize for disappearing, and let him know that I never forgot his kindness.

If you think this might be you, or if you know someone who may fit this story, please message me privately.
The name I used back then was Cherelle, and this was at Crazy Horse in San Francisco, California.

Astound/Wave bumped up their "Internet Infrastructure Fee" again and it now amounts to a 109.25% fee, since I pay $20 for internet ($30 minus $10 for autopay/paperless billing) and the fee is $21.85 monthly. Or in other words, 52% of my internet bill is fees.

I searched and didn't find any sort of state law that caps junk fees on internet service. I also noticed they don't even tell you what the fees are before you buy a subscription, which is insane. How is that legal?

I would rather there not be any of these junk fees on internet subscriptions, but otherwise it seems like there should at least be some guardrails:

- they should be shown to the customer before subscribing

- increases should be communicated in advance, like 90 days or something

- maybe fees should be capped at like... 5% of the base service cost or something

Like what's stopping Astound from just charging me $100 per month for their junk fee?

E: After a bit of reading on the FTC website, I think this actually might be illegal. It was easy to submit a complaint to the FTC so I did that. Here it is for anyone else who's interested: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us