Comments on: Fred Meyer Greenwood Seattle Expansion – Community Discussion

By: theeBanana

theeBanana — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:57:36 +0000

I can’t wait for this store to open it’s doors, the current buildings(FM & Greenwood Market) have served our neighborhood well, and with no signifigance to either building, time for them to be replaced.
I’ve seen some plans, looks like a nice place to bike to and shop, instead of the current “parking lot of doom”, that is lets face it folks, IT’S SINKING! time for a new building that doesn’t have a huge parkinglot in front of it.
To Katrina Wahler and anyone similarly opinionated, look at the plans, there will be trees, places for PEOPLE not a big slab of cement for cars.
I don’t see how anyone could see the plans put forward as a “big box” store,
and what are the current buildings then, “Non-Boxes”?
No the current buildings are actual BOX STORES, utlitarian, and in need of replacement.

Now if we could get a decent road to ride on to get to this FM project, how about that Mr. Mayor(whoever that will be). Phinney got the most of the tax dollars to repave Phinney Ave, ONLY TO HAVE IT TORN UP AND TURNED INTO PATCHWORK AS BAD AS IT WAS BEFORE, yes the paint wasn’t dry and they dug up the brand new road!
At least by Greenwood Ave(from 73rd northward)being stiffed at least they didn’t see tax dollars wasted on Fixing Greenwood Ave only to have it torn up again.

My only other concerns on this project is DO THEY HAVE THE MONEY? The other Greenwood project that was supposed to be from 1st NW to Greenwood, where the old Mcdonald’s sits empty, that was supposed to be upgraded too!? and they seem to have run out of money to complet the project as originally propossed.
And #2, do they have engineers qualified to build on what used to be a marsh? and keep it from sinking?

By: admin

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:44:19 +0000

We are standing by our research of the expansion and there is community momentum both for and against the project.

As it looks like you may be writing on behalf of the Greenwood Community Council, we would open an invitation to meet with you (or any other community member) to report on all aspects of community members that oppose the project.

Not sure why you would be encouraging us to “stay out of it” as we are working hard to research present all sides of an important story to both the Phinney and Greenwood neighborhoods.

By: Busy at the Bog

Busy at the Bog — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:36:11 +0000

Well, Phinney Ridge Review did the same thing by having someone on the FM team, that time Parsons Public Relations, do the infomercial.

If you don’t have time to research the issues, I’d just stay out of it.

By: Katrina Wahler

Katrina Wahler — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:55:17 +0000

As one of the nearby neighbors – I want this project stopped. Big box stores aren’t appropriate for our neighborhood and people LOVE Greenwood Market. Could we make Greenwood into a co-op like PCC and assist them to make the building viable? I don’t care what design these people propose – big box stores are NOT for Greenwood. I can drive where I need to and don’t want this stuff near me.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:51:45 +0000

I am a Greenwood resident and am completely supportive of this project. Greenwood Market is nice, but soon we’ll have an expanded Ken’s for specialty grocery, and those of us on a budget will appreciate the affordable Fred Meyer prices. I can’t wait until this project is built, it will be a much-needed improvement to Greenwood.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:35:09 +0000

Hi Busy at the Bog – Thank you for reaching out. Our article did share a viewpoint from Fred Meyer on the project – it is certainly a very key community issue for both Greenwood and surrounding neighborhoods such as Phinney. I’m a little unclear as to how posting a viewpoint would constitute advertising, and would offer up the opportunity to any community member with passion around the topic to share it via our discussion.

We’ve been originally focused primarily on Phinney – but as stated above the FM project impacts both neighborhoods in a significant way. Adding Greenwood links is a great idea that we’ll move forward on.

It seems like you are looking for a platform to attack the blog because you disagree with the FM viewpoints that we posted – posted with several caveats that they are not in any way our own position. We’d encourage other opposing positions to be shared and would post them promptly.

Or conversely are you asking “Phinney Blogs” to stay out of Greenwood? Obviously both neighborhoods are closely tied with shared interests. We appreciate the discourse either way.

By: Busy at the Bog

Busy at the Bog — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:21 +0000

I noticed that your About Greenwood Phinney Blog section says you don’t do advertising. I assume you’re implying that staying indie means staying out of paid advertising and maybe it does. However, you just posted this article written by Tom Gibbons the Director of Real Estate Development for Fred Meyer about the Fred Meyer project.

Also, the name is Greenwood Phinney Blog and you don’t have a Greenwood section of links or any Greenwood links.

I assume this is more of a Phinney Blog yet this is a Greenwood issue mostly. I’d say either do your homework or simply don’t have an article on this topic.

Very disappointing.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:15:54 +0000

I feel sorry for Greenwood residents. The idea that a Fred Meyer grocery store would adequately replace a Town and Country market seems pretty ridiculous to me. I don’t consider them in the same category at all.