Re: “More concrete, less green: South Park’s cautionary tale” (Jan. 26, Opinion):
Seattle’s housing disaster calls for daring options that increase provide with out micromanaging design or over-prioritizing tree cover. Whereas greenery provides magnificence, strictly limiting new building for uniform cover protection straight opposes affordability and fairness. As a substitute, let’s encourage experimentation.
Excessive-variance zoning means permitting a wide range of housing kinds to flourish underneath fewer constraints. This can decrease prices and create extra choices. Some of us could desire a inexperienced courtyard in a five-unit growth, whereas others could respect the cheaper worth of the home in a six-unit growth. Let’s encourage builders to experiment by eradicating processes like design evaluate and setback discussions. Sure, some builders will revenue, however that’s the worth of welcoming extra neighbors and stopping sky-high rents.
In the meantime, Seattle can preserve beloved parks and proceed to plant avenue bushes with out demanding a one-size-fits-all strategy to greenery. By concentrating on core wants akin to transit, affordability and group well-being, we are able to home our future residents whereas retaining Seattle’s character intact.
Kelly Sutton, Seattle
