Character Steps Aside For Blandification, Again

I agree that there's no need for hyperbole. The coliseum it ain't.

BUT, in a city founded barely 150 years old, the razing of a 50 year-old bowling alley, greasy spoon, or chain restaurant is bound to stir some emotion. Particularly when the tendency is to plant yet another indistinguishable townhouse or four in every vacant lot. After all, what will be left?

It's a shame we don't do more to encourage re-development of existing structures and spaces, rather than tearing everything down to put up yet one more cookie cutter building.

Man, I'm glad I'm not the only one to find the knee-jerk nostalgia on display in this post objectionable. Come on, Seattlest! The Andy's Diner isn't anything like the Coliseum. The latter is an awe-inspiring work of art with an astonishing history. The former serves up horrible, overpriced food in decaying surroundings. See the difference? Same with the Ballard Denny's. (Yeah, I know you were kinda kidding there, but honestly: the place deserves to go under.)

And don't get me started with the whole notion that every time something happens in this city that y'all don't like, you react by saying that the government should Do Something About It.

Just stop. Your personal aesthetic preferences just don't rise to the level of importance requiring the City Council to swing into immediate action.

I realize that not everything about progress is rosy, but why must Seattleites treat every change as if it were the apocalypse?

Whatever you do, don't move to the suburbs. They don't even know where their character is, much less have any.

I don't know why Seattle condo towers are all the rage. Do people really want to pay upwards of half a million for a great view of Harbor Island? Bellevue condos should be where its at. That'd suit both Bellevue and most Seattlites just fine.

Greasy joints are by no means popular but they are increasingly rare and have their place. Coupled with the train car aesthetic, Andy's is rare in the Seattle of 2008 if nothing else.

There are plenty of conservative, semi-healthy budget friendly dining options in Seattle but most of them are called Subway. I can see four right now.

I don't expect grease to become trendy but I can't sit back and watch another original piece of Seattle go without uttering some form of resistance.

Maybe the new landowner can open a Subway in one of the train cars?

Wait -- it's bad to lose a Denny's because it's a victory for Applebee's?

There's a balance that needs to be struck. Obviously, we shouldn't giddily bulldoze every building over 25 years old so that we can put up condos. At the same time, not every building that's been around for a while -- even the funky ones -- is a precious local landmark that deserves to be kept forever. That's how hoarders end up drowning in mazes of their own clutter, unable to throw out a 40-year-old grocery list because of the memories it might spark. (See: grief over the Broadway Taco Bell closing. TACO BELL!)

If Andy's is closing because no one eats there, who's to blame for that?

It seems to me the best efforts are compromises like might be struck with the Denny's building, and was struck with the Coliseum Theater downtown. Sure, it's a Banana Republic now, but it's got character.

I have to add, for balance, that people go out to eat for more than character or local history. They go out to eat food that doesn't nauseate them.

I ate dinner at Andy's just a few weeks ago. The experience was both expensive and repellent. I hear the weekend brunch made for a more edible greasy-spooned excursion, but I wouldn't wish that $20 rib dinner on my worst enemy.

I shit you not, I would put money down this is their problem:

Nobody goes there. Yes, obviously. But I mean, nobody goes to that area of town. Nobody lives there. None of the city that would go there own cars to go there. What would help them is a closer location or... wait... what's that all other major metropolitan areas? An RTS?!

What the fuck is that? Oh.... a choo choo train. Got it. Hahaha, you know what would be funny? A train that runs in the sky. That's crazy shit.