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Even Our Self-Identity Crises Mirror New York's

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"What's left with character in this city is the Pike Place Market and a couple of stores, and that's it."
More classic Seattle grit is closing up shop. Central Loan & Gun Exchange downtown? Exit, stage gentrification.

Seattlest expects another round of the ever-fascinating debate on Seattle identity: Greater Seattle vs. Lesser Seattle, mossback vs. booster, REI vs. Macy's, McQ vs. Singles. Lusty Lady vs. Four Seasons (oh wait -- they struck a balance). Pick your thesis and antithesis.

Thanatos vs. eros? That's nothing compared to "this city used to be cool before people started building condos" vs. "yes, we love this city, but wouldn't it be even better if we ... ?" If cities had a subconscious, Seattle's desire to be more like New York -- while remaining unique, with a rich northwest flavor -- would be hard-wired in ours.

New York is having the same discussions. We're not echoing them, of course. We're riffing on the same tune. We'll sing it again when the Blue Moon Tavern closes, Dick's is bought out by Hardee's, or the Pike Place Market turns into condos.

Gothamist readers seem nostalgic for the NYC of Taxi Driver and The Warriors. How about you, Seattle? Are we soulless yet? Or does Seattle still have true grit to recommend it, even if you have to go to West Seattle, Rainier Beach, or Renton to find it?

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By James in on May 24, 2007 1:40 PM

Comments [rss]

  • Joe

    How hard would it be for NYC to hire some guy in a leather jacket to drive around with coke bottles stuck on the end of his fingers. Darn lazy East Coasters...

  • COMTE

    There are always going to be a contingent of citizens, mostly old-timers (i.e. anyone who's lived here more than 15 years or so), who will complain about the loss of the City's "soul". But, really, pining over a pawn shop? That's just taking things too far.

    Let's put it in another context. 20 years ago, Pacific St. in Tacoma was literally rife with these sorts of sleazy establishments, and the citizenry there couldn't wait to gentrify all of them out of existence, which they've pretty well accomplished. I don't recall many folks bemoaning the loss of that area's "soul" so much as lamenting the fact that it didn't have one in the first place.

    All-in-all, Seattle has actually done a fairly good job in terms of striking a balance between preservation and renewal, IMO. I think what the kvetchers need to keep in mind is that, as a relatively young city, Seattle doesn't really have that many places of historical significance that require preservation. Sure, we've lost a few choice structures over the years to gentrification, but much of what's been torn down wasn't really all that important in the larger scheme of things. Just because a building or establishment is more than 50 years old, doesn't automatically qualify it as being worthy of saving. Of course, we won't be around to see what buildings/structures/businesses will survive into the 22nd Century, but my guess is that whichever do will be the ones that really were worth saving.

  • Marlow

    Pawn shops just reek of desperation, however, I am always sad when a bit of "old Seattle" disappears.

    Bradford Bohonus went into Central Loan and Gun Exchange and created several "virtual tours", to record it for posterity on his website VR Seattle

    Central Loan & Gun virtual tour

    Vanishing Seattle

  • Dan

    Post inspired me to run down there and take a few pictures which I added to the post...

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