We need a new level of thinking for COBI | Letter to the editor

To the editor:

We keep hearing our councilmembers state that all we need to do is increase the density in Winslow and all of our problems will be solved: the climate breakdown, excessive energy use, traffic congestion and lack of affordable housing.

If only it were that simple. As we look for answers perhaps we need some new people with broader visions and different perspectives.

We have to ask: Are we accommodating growth as mandated by the Growth Management Act or are we creating a new market for Seattleites as an incentive for high profit and high density development?

The current household on Bainbridge is defined as a family with 2.45 people per housing unit. Harbor Square and BLIS do not reflect this composition. Few children live in the ferry terminal district and not many more in the core.

Yet according to the Estimated New Housing Capacity, the city is proposing zoning for 10,000-plus new units in four- to eight-story structures in downtown Winslow. It is interesting to note that with the “Market Rate Affordable housing” now available in the Winslow core the smaller the unit the higher the profit for the developer. A studio at BLIS is $3.19/square foot, while a studio at the Walk on Madrona Way is $3.90/square foot.

When you add a bedroom the price drops to $2.17-2.70/square foot. The reality is that when you increase the number of small studio apartments you substantially increase the developer’s profit. While this might be good for developers it does little to address our problems. To the contrary; it only adds to our troubles.

Einstein once said: “The problems we are facing today cannot be solved at the level of thinking we were at when we created them.” We need councilmembers who will do the hard work of informing themselves and digging deep, not just use the buddy system of “I believe what they believe.”

When elected officials function as a block it prevents healthy discourse and meaningful debate, something we desperately need to move to a new level of thinking where true solutions can be found.

ANDY AND CHARLOTTE ROVELSTAD

Bainbridge Island