Mar 21 2008
Light Rail Update
In a project update from the city this month for the proposed East Link project, which would connect the light rail from downtown Seattle to the Eastside the Sound Transit board is reviewing options on the content and timing of a future Ballard measure.
Why are they doing this, well they believe we will have an additional 1.2 million more residents by 2030. I wonder where all these new residents are going to live. In my opinion if we look at the amount of new construction going on, how can we support this growth. Let say we have 20 more Seattle condo buildings and 20 more apartment buildings go up in Seattle and assume 300 (high?) units in each building. That’s 40 times 300 equals 12,000 more units. Conversions don’t count in the equation because you still have the same amount of units, there just not rentals.Â
If only 5 percent of them live in Seattle, that 1.2 million times .05 equals 60,000 units. If we assume 300 units a building again, then we need 200 more buildings.
Tell a Friend
Well that assumes that only one person will live in each unit. More likely the average capita/unit is likely somewhere between 1.0 and 2.0 but I’m guessing more closer to 2.0. This would actually equate to more like 30,000 to 40,000 units, albiet still short of what would likely be available.
Arman, a very good point you bring up, I totally agree with your thought process. Then again most of the building being constructed right now are now not 300 units but 200 units. I’m making many assumptions here so lets say its 2 people per unit, so we need another 100 buildings. I appreciate the feedback. Mike