Urban Life

I am not an urban planner. I am an urban dweller. I am not interested in trendy building design. I am interested in quality of life. I believe density is a good idea, but only if it is done right.

Post List

Here's Why West Seattle Needs a Comprehensive Transit Plan

Outside the well served transit hubs, at the Alaska Junction and Westwood Village, West Seattle residents have hit-or-miss transit options.

Marie McKinsey

Mar 24, 202418 min read

Could Amazon Save Westwood Village?

Let's think outside the box. Instead of a big retail anchor at Westwood Village, why not a big tech company? Amazon has all the resources ne

Marie McKinsey

Nov 26, 20235 min read

The Story of the West Seattle Triangle Park - and a (W)hole Lot More

They say that no good deed goes unpunished. My "good deed,"apparently, was volunteering to participate in the Friends of the Junction's plan

Marie McKinsey

Mar 18, 20234 min read

West Seattle's Citizen Urban Planners

Did you know that Seattle's Comprehensive Plan is being updated? Do you even know what the Comprehensive Plan is? If you answered "no" to on

Marie McKinsey

Mar 11, 202310 min read

Chihuly Garden and Glass Seattle

There really is nothing quite like the Chihuly Garden, one half of the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit at Seattle Center.

Marie McKinsey

Dec 10, 20222 min read

Why You Should Have A Commuting Budget

A commuting budget looks at both the amount of time you allocate for going to and from work each week, and what that commute costs you.

Marie McKinsey

Dec 4, 20215 min read

Three Ways Political Parties Poison Democracy

I want to begin by reminding you that the Constitution makes no provision for political parties.

Marie McKinsey

Nov 20, 20216 min read

Find Out by Zip Code How Much CO2 Your Neighborhood Emits

We've heard for decades that increasing population density is good for the environment. The theory is that it discourages suburban sprawl,

Marie McKinsey

Sep 24, 20212 min read

Life at Alki Beach: Pirates and Pole Vaulters - Aaaargh!!

It appears that the Seafair Pirate landing at Alki Beach is cancelled this year because of lingering issues from the pandemic. This photo es

Marie McKinsey

Jun 11, 20212 min read

The New Economy

Despite what the politicians and pundits say, I don't think we are in the midst of an economic "recovery." The word recovery implies going b

Marie McKinsey

Jun 6, 20213 min read

The Alki 11 Row House Project: Density Done Wrong

In 2013, a developer announced plans to replace these three beach houses with an 11-unit row house project in the Alki Beach neighborhood.

Marie McKinsey

Jun 5, 20212 min read

SkyLink: Rising Above It All In West Seattle

Did you know that trains don't run uphill? It's true. On level ground, those smooth metal wheels glide along those smooth metal rails,...

Marie McKinsey

May 18, 20214 min read

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