A couple of weeks ago, we asked you, readers, if an op-ed urging residents to return to downtown Seattle had any sway with you (“Tourists are coming back to downtown Seattle. But we need locals, too,” Dec. 5.) The top reasons for not visiting were parking availability/cost and public disorder, while others found their happy places at Pike Place Market or the new waterfront park (can confirm, both of these are worthy). Answers involving public transportation hit on familiar themes: One person’s fantastically convenient trip is another’s pain point.
Here is a sampling of those responses. They have been lightly edited for space and clarity.
— Melissa Davis, deputy opinion editor
First look brought me back
My first look at Seattle was late summer 1980 as I walked from the Greyhound bus terminal to the totem pole at Pike Place Market with my giant backpack. I was on my way from L.A. to upstate New York for my first year of college. I still have that picture in my mind of Elliott Bay and the Olympics. There was also an energy downtown and around the Market.
Seven years later — 1987 — I was working in Detroit and was given three options for relocation as part of a promotion: Atlanta, Boston or Seattle. I picked Seattle.
There were two more moves away from the Northwest, but 15 years ago, when we were able to pick where we wanted to live, we picked the Seattle area and ended up on Bainbridge. A big part of the draw was the easy access to the city — Mariners/Sounders/Seahawks, Seattle Center, the Market, shopping downtown, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Opera and fabulous restaurants all within walking distance, or a short ride on Link or a bus ride from the ferry.
I still love going to the city, and the new waterfront is lovely, but the single biggest impediment coming from this side of Elliott Bay is reliable, predictable, affordable transportation. Between the ferry system and Link, there are too many times when my trip has been delayed 30 to 60 minutes-plus. If you have a babysitter or have to get a dog sitter in case of extended delay, that gets even more expensive. I’ve heard from friends that more are taking their cars because they worry that they can’t count on public transportation and may have to drive around. The cost and lack of dependability dissuade many people from making the effort.
Carolyn Burger, Bainbridge Island
Bikes and boats
I live in Bremerton, and now that we have a two-boat ferry (fast ferry and Washington State Ferries vessel), I use the service to visit downtown Seattle.
I am 75, and I love to bike on our tandem or my recumbent tricycle. Seattle is a much more bicycle-friendly city than Bremerton. My husband and I come to Seattle to see family, for medical appointments and to visit museums and cultural events.
The downtown waterfront improvements are awesome. It is beautiful, and it appears safer than it was. The park on the pier is so family-friendly. I enjoyed seeing people on the swings close to the ferry. All good stuff.
Bremerton and Seattle should partner. We need you, and I think you need us. Those of us who are retired love to take the ferry to downtown Seattle for a day of activities, including eating, of course. A partnership could benefit both of us. Our downtown is improving, but oh-so-slowly. Now that we have a two-boat ferry route, we should see more visitors from Seattle in downtown Bremerton.
Dianne Iverson, vice president, West Sound Cycling Club
From Nordstrom to the Needle
I was born and raised in the Seattle region. I reside near Seattle University and appreciate the ease of travel and taking one bus to visit our lovely downtown a couple of times a month.
I love walking through Pike Place Market, going to MoPOP or the aquarium or Seattle Art Museum. I visit the Space Needle any time I feel like it; I always feel inspired and love the smiles of everyone walking on, or who are afraid of, the transparent floor. (Thank you, Space Needle, for the $99 seven-month pass for us locals!) I have a family pass for the Pacific Science Center, where I take friends and their children to visit the exhibits and the butterfly house. I do purchase items downtown as well. Recently, I shopped at the Nordstrom flagship store for gifts, Pressed Juicery on Queen Anne for healthy beverages and Target for a pillow.
This time of year is always special to me with lights and color and opportunities for small joys, like visiting the Fairmont Olympic Hotel Teddy Bear Suite and the Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village. A walk along the waterfront will invigorate your body and soul this brisk time of year. Take time to stop in the Market for hot cider, hot chocolate or famous Seattle coffee.
Janice Tufte, Seattle
War on cars
We moved to Issaquah from New York City in 1981. We chose it because of easy access to downtown shopping, theaters, dining, museums, etc. Because of Seattle’s war on cars for the past 10 years, we basically have stopped going to downtown, Capitol Hill, Chinatown International District and Pioneer Square. Bike and bus lanes cause congestion, arbitrary loss of street parking makes short-term visits impossible, then there’s the high-priced commercial parking, and the hostile signage makes driving confusing and dangerous. We are in our 80s and the car is the only reasonable mode of transportation.
Robert Quick, Bellevue
While we’re talking about cars …
I’ve visited downtown Seattle a few times this year, for the “No Kings” marches and two birthday parties for friends and relatives. I wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t been able to park free at my cousin’s condo. A solution is obvious and it doesn’t take a genius: Put in free parking! If downtown offered free parking (like Bellevue does), there would be many more people going there.
Louise Lewis, Seattle
I stay up north
I’m a native Seattleite and currently live in Shoreline. I rarely go downtown, which is a bit ironic, as for many years I worked in the tourism industry, both for Argosy and the old Seattle Marine Aquarium at the end of Pier 56. I miss the old Seattle that was a mixture of cafes, regular stores (yes, even a hardware store) and a waterfront that actually had a fisheries supply store. Much of that is gone. I love the waterfront makeover and the new aquarium. But I tire of people trying to sell cheesy T-shirts, pawn off CDs and ask me where I’m from, as if I’m from out of state. Assuming I can navigate the maze of driving downtown, parking rates are through the roof.
For me, sadly, most of my venturing out consists of staying north of the ship canal. Lots of things to see up north: Ballard, Woodland Park Zoo, Golden Gardens, Richmond Beach and Edmonds, where parking is free and whose waterfront is a delight.
Sorry, Seattle. You ain’t what you used to be.
Steve Dudley, Shoreline
A second look
The op-ed has piqued my interest and challenged me to take another look at my city. I have lived here for a long time and have seen a great deal of change over the years. I go to musicals at The 5th Avenue Theatre and sometimes visit the Seattle Art Museum. But when was the last time I strolled and browsed, a thing I just loved to do? I see things opening up, and I am glad for that. I would love to see more retail stores open. Maybe that will happen in time. In the meantime, it might be fun to bundle up and take a stroll, just to see what there is.
Karen Bianchi, Seattle
‘Could not get out fast enough’
I have not visited Seattle in eight years and don’t plan to visit in the foreseeable future. I worked in Belltown for 29 years and another three in South Lake Union. I could not get out of Seattle fast enough after retiring.
The reasons for leaving: homelessness, open drug use, prostitution, and use of city sidewalks/alleys for urinating and defecating. Our building was constantly being tagged with graffiti, and the city told us we had to clean it off or we’d be fined. I found two handguns stashed in the bushes in front of our office building. People used our landscaping as their personal trash cans.
The reasons for not returning: The leadership has not found a way to deal with any of the issues that I noted above, and the political direction they’ve taken is not one that I can support. Leaders continue to get more progressive, wanting to bring in more tax revenue to solve the noted problems, yet we see the problems only get worse. And I really can’t stand the fact that when the city hosted the MLB All-Star Game, crews went out and cleaned the streets so that the country could see a clean Seattle. That is like sweeping the dust under your carpet at home because guests are coming over. I’m sure they’re planning on doing the same thing for the World Cup. How about cleaning it up for the residents and business owners? They’re there every day.
I refuse to spend a dime in Seattle because any tax money the city collects under the progressive leadership will be completely wasted.
Steve Navarro, Oak Harbor
