Monday, January 14, 2008

She Wouldn't Sell at Any Price

A Little Place to Call Home

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

. . .and the developers of the multistory commercial space offered her a million! The 86 year old woman who has owned this older home in the working class Ballard neighborhood of Seattle since the 1960s was a lone hold out. I heard from a friend that the construction manager and the homeowner have struck up an odd friendship where he helps her carry in groceries and get to appointments, looking out for her. As the building grows taller her small lot seems nearly enveloped. For a few other views, please click on my More Seattle Stuff page.

9 comments:

Annie said...

WOW! I have read about this in the news, but not seen a picture yet. AMAZING!

Anonymous said...

There are a number of iconic developments around the region that end up "wrapping around" a hold out.

The Fairmont Olympic has the drive round where a theater once stood, a theater that would not sell, so they built the Olympic around it. Years later, the theater was demolished, and the Westin folks then built a ballroom there. When the Four Seasons beat out the Westin for managing the place, they reduced the rooms by half, combining what had been small rooms into larger rooms, and demoed the add on ballroom, and made the space the drive round it is today.

There is a classic photo of when the city did the Denny Hill regrade, and the hold outs were left literally high and dry as islands in the air.

Kim said...

American Fork, I'm surprised you saw it in your news. . .but I guess its a good human interest story even out of town! Thanks.

Guide Greg,
Hey, very nice to hear from you, and fun to learn of these other examples in Seattle. If you check back, leave an address for your web page or your email. Many visitors to Seattle read this blog and I'd like to include your contact info in my side bar so they can get in touch with your for tours. Thanks,
-Kim

Anonymous said...

This was also a part of a story on KCTS [PBS], the show "Connects" I believe where they spoke about this and other changes in the area that are pushing people out and making some very upset. It was at the beginning of the piece. I added a link to the web site if anyone wants to look.

The Changing Face of Ballard
http://www.kcts.org/productions/kctsconnects/episode_558.htm

Anonymous said...

I loved "The Little House" as a kid...

The Little House

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Good for her!!

Kim said...

Rabbit, Thanks so much for that link. I hope to take a look at it.

Chris, Of COURSE! I was wracking my brain for where I'd seen vivid illustrations of this scenario. I had thought it might be an animated piece I'd seen, but, no, it was this picture book. Thank you, and especially for the link to Powell's.
-Kim

Anonymous said...

Kim, this is just a STUNNING photo. Knowing a relationship has grown from it makes seeing her shrunken space much easier. Thanks for the story!

Episcopollyanna said...

Wow - my hat's off to her, but I'd be so claustrophobic living in that space. Still, I'm glad to see any old single-family homes still standing in that part of Ballard!