I saw that one coming, and it won't stop - ever. I worked at the Crocodile back when they started building the senior housing right next door. Granted, the Croc is closed now, but those two co-existed for years while sharing a wall.

So I guess my point is that it can work for a while...but over the long term? I don't know.

...yeah, the character of a small college town with a vibrant drinking culture.

Lame - If you buy a condo on Ballard Ave you have to expect noise from the street. If you have a problem with that - don't buy the condo. Case Closed.

Every neighborhood has to have active and passive areas. It is your responsibility - esp. as a new buyer, to select the one that is best with you.

Who's up for some bass drum and tambourine on Ballard ave at 1:00 AM next saturday night?

my mom was one of the first 10 people moving into that building. (i know for a FACT that she is NOT the one who has complained.)

her unit faces leary way/the studio canal condos, not ballard ave, and on the first few days she was in there the air circulation was CRAP (they were some of the rare summerlike days) and she had to open her window - that's when noise (in her case mostly traffic and passersby on the sidewalk one floor below) comes in...when her door/window are shut, it's INCREDIBLE how much noise they shut out.

personally i think that they should have done a better job with the ventilation in the building, as i believe all of the units just have electrical heating (not baseboard but smaller units with fans that can blow the heat) and NO A/C. also there are still a ton of fumes from all the new carpet/paint/etc, and when i go to visit said maternal unit *i* am the one who has to open a door/window to let the "off-gassing" (as they put it at my work when we moved into a new building) happen.

they are STILL ironing out a LOT of details with the units, and i hope everyone can come to live and play nice together...after all, if you think about it, many of the seniors moving in (my maternal unit included) are HARD OF HEARING and noise shouldn't be an issue for most of them!

evan - the units in ballard landmark are NOT CONDOS. they are all rentals.

and if you want to go and bother my mom on purpose, i will personally call the popo to get your ass cited myself.

Ha! This headline is straight out of the Onion!

Ditto to jez's comment. In the 12 years I've lived here I've seen the senior population dwindle from the dominant to the minority. Most of these seniors have been misplaced by developers who build condos for the young, so this building was much deserved. And frankly it was built in one of the only spots left in close proximity to the hospital (for obvious reasons).

So that's the way it is, period. Sure, there will be noise. And we should do what we can to mitigate. Let's not forget these renters are our elders, and they require our respect. Some of them probably fought in foreign wars so that you can have the freedom to express your opinions and bang your bass drum and tamborine at 1:00am.

This reminds me of the race track in Saugus, CA. People started building homes closer and closer to the racetrack and then complained about the noise. They eventually shut it down.

BUYER beware.
duh.

what the f*@# did they expect? in my opinion this was one of the dumbest moves in (new) ballard's history. ballard ave has been the center of drunken rowdiness since the times of willy-b (william ballard).


milo- hilarious

dusty: again - THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING ARE NOT BUYERS.

goddamn what does it take to get some people to understand?

boardbrown: thanks. elders a lot of time do NOT get nearly the respect they deserve.

old ballard: and ballard has been the center of ELDERS in the city since that time too.

as it states in the ballard news tribune article:

"In order to address the noise issue, Mary Shepard said the Ballard Landmark installed state-of-the-art windows to reduce noise. However, those windows have not had a chance to work because they have been kept open during the summer months.

She said she hopes the windows will help keep residents' rooms quieter once the weather turns cool."

i really don't think this will lead to the shutting down of any businesses...no need to jump to exaggerated conclusions, people.

Perhaps 'buyer beware' was not the correct phrase. What I intended was a general statement meant for customers to do their homework.

I am curious what the rent prices are there. That has to be some prime real estate.

I wouldn’t be so sure. Every noise warning goes on a bar’s record which is reviewed every time they are up for the liquor license renewal. I have seen it happen before. Noise warnings lead to the LCB showing up. Even properly run bars can be written up on other offenses if a LCB wants to dig hard enough. All of it goes into the bar’s file and you would be surprised how little is needed not to renew a license.

"goddamn what does it take to get some people to understand?"

relax jezbian. no need for blasphemy. why are you so bent out of shape?

and to address your point, old people have indeed lived here forever and its horribly sad to see them go. this guy loves the old people. they are delightfuly grumpy and have the right to be. but RIGHT ON BALLARD AVE??????? old people have never lived in that area, and if they did they were smoke shop local and did'nt mind the noise anyways. so chiiiiillllllll. find a more constructive way to use that energy of yours.

why is everyone always so angry?

old--you hit a personal nerve.

why do you say that kim?

they should tear down the cornerstore in between the ballroom and nectar in fremont and build a retirement home there.

I've wondered why a developer would even consider this location for a retirement or senior housing, knowing the obvious result.
Will the same complaints come in if/when they start/finish the fancy hotel next to the Ballard Health Club?
What's the story with that place?

CRS One, the answer is simple developers don't care because they're never going to live there. In this case that's why the location is terrible and the HVAC is apparently substandard. They get their cash, dissolve the LLC they built it under and cover their tracks so when the siding falls off and the roof leaks it's the insurance companies problem and the lawyers get rich.

When are builders going to start putting A/C in these places? Geez.... Hjarta has A/C but only on the top floor (aka rich people floor).

I guess they'll get ac when they pay for it like the rest of us.

"I guess they’ll get ac when they pay for it like the rest of us."

These elderly folks HAVE paid their debt to society for MANY years. They deserve more than some AC. They deserve respect and admiration for their wisdom. I guess I do not expect someone like you to understand that though (nor does anyone else on this web site). Go drive your BMW (or whatever European car your bank owns that you feel the need to prove some sort of point) over a cliff. With your AC cranked on...

I think we should invite these ol' farts out for a drink. When I am 80, I WANT to live there so that I can walk home from the bars.

Seriously, they deserve a cold one.

One last thought... I've lived in some very noisy areas. Nothing a set of 2cent ear plugs won't solve. Sleep like a baby with those things in.

"These elderly folks HAVE paid their debt to society for MANY years."

So they should get free AC now even if they can afford to get it themselves?

But anything they demand, they get right? Fred Meyer has plenty of fans for $25.

FYI car was paid in full, cash.

"I think we should invite these ol’ farts out for a drink. "

Apparently they'll only go into bars with free AC.....

"So they should get free AC now even if they can afford to get it themselves?"

I forget that you are never going to get old, Suthii. You are the only immortal on this planet and your entire family must be as well. You have no compassion for anything even yourself in all the words you throw on here. These people probably can not afford it (but sincerely deserve to be comfortable). Living on Social Security. They did not have 401k's in their day. I can easily consider myself a young urban professional but if I have to be in the same class as you I would rather not. You are an absolute embarassment to those that are doing well financially. I am 30. I make good $. I live in a 100 year old house that needs a lot of work. I am proud of my neighborhood, new and old, that work so hard to keep the old houses in tact. They bought them from the folks that could not walk up and down stairs anymore and had to move to a smaller living space. The elderly deserve to be comfortable. Buy anything they demand? They are not asking for much. They are asking not demanding.

"These people probably can not afford it"

Do you know that for a fact? Or are you just making stuff up?

Looking at the building and location, these look like quite well off retirees, hardly impoverished, so don't need tax payer's money. You can't expect to get everything you want in life you know, especially if you can afford to get it yourself.

"They are asking not demanding."

You don't hang around a lot of old people so you?

in some cultures, the two most important groups of people are the old folks (knowledge & wisdom) and the children (the future). they make sure the two spend alot of time together so the future has the wisdom of the past. i love how americans think both are not much more than a burden.

p.s. in honor of this post, i went to the smoke shop last night and drank with some old farts.

i cant believe i am saying this.......but i agree with suthii. this is a HIGH END retirement home no doubt. i live ok for a simple ballard boy and i probably couldnt afford to live there.

move out the average old folks and move in the old folk yuppies. yuck

And what exacly do you know about the financial situations of these people any more than myself? They are all on different programs. Some are on disability so they pay less in these facilities. My 90 year old grandmother lives off of social security. My husband's grandmother had to get a reverse mortgage to get by...I can keep going... His mom pays ONLY $175/month in a BEAUTIFUL retirement community because she is disabled but her neighbor probably has to pay more. Same type of place in Bellevue is $1900/month where my Great Uncle lives. It is not even assited living. A perfect example of different situations. NOT THE SAME. So, yeah, there have been enough elderly people in my life to know that they can be uh "demanding" but they can also be the most amazing people you have ever met. You insult my grandmother by stereotyping the old. I will see you in hell...

We thought it was a practical joke when the sign went up that they were building a senior center on Ballard Ave. There is no way to quiet down that area without shutting down the pubs. Ballard is growing so fast that it will only get noisier, probably a lot noisier on the Ave. Developers, local planners and permit issuers should be held accountable, not the businesses that are already existing. What a blunder.

"what exacly do you know about the financial situations of these people any more than myself?"

Nothing, which is why I'm not going to automatically offer them free AC without checking first if they can't afford it themselves over their in the 'old folk yuppies' home as dork so aptly described it.

It's called common sense. Put your emotions away, and take it for a spin sometime.

"over their"

=

'over there'

Let's see you two settle this over beers somewhere on Ballard Ave...

Just be very very quiet about it.

;-)

"I will see you in hell…"

I'm an atheist.

See you over some noisy beers on Ballard Ave?

I would love to meet this idiot in person... roundhouse kicks can be very very quiet... = P

"I’m an atheist."

Wow. Makes a lot sense now. I will pray for you. That will probably hurt you more than simply kicking your ass.

Big surprise - old people complaining about the noise. Why does it bring out such aggression, Spaghettio? Threatening to kick someone because they don't agree with you? I may not always agree with Suthii (although I often secretly do) violence isn't necessary here.

spaghettio, you have never been in a fight in your life. why are you acting like a child?

"see you in hell" thats pretty corny.

all this over an A/C unit?

how do you people deal with REAL issues?

let me complain some more about the new ballard yuppies. the people that use to live in this neighborhood were salty people that had seen alot and been through alot. they would NEVER waste there time getting so mad over somthing so little. you children need some struggle in your life.

Well Sheila, I am sorry to hear that you are also a closed minded stereotyper of the elderly that are still trying to reside in their stomping grounds. Suthii attacks EVERYONE on this website that voices their opinions and, although that is probably their intentions, it is disturbing that this individual lives among some pretty nice people in this community.

Do I know you O.B.? Nope...You have no idea where anyone on here is coming from. I do not either. I am simply going off of the unkind words (primarily Suthii's) that are being used time and time again. I guess I just have had it with reading their superficial B.S.. This is the elderly for crying out loud...once again, they deserve to be comfortable and regardless of their financial situations, they should not have to pay any more than they already are at this facility to be happy...(with getting A/C, noise is anywhere). And we all lived happily ever after...

Spaghettio, come on now. Set aside your clear passion for the subject of the elderly for a moment. Suthii has said things about long time Ballard residents that have incensed the hell out of me, too. And like you, I have fallen in to his little trap in the past and reacted. But I agree with Sheila that reverting to violence is probably going a bit far! That's all Sheila was saying! Really now, if they guy walked up to you and said "Hey there, my name is John Smith, aka Suthii", would you really smack him? Think about it. I'll bet you're too nice a person for that, and when it comes right down to it, I'm guessing that suthii in real life probably is too. But like you said, we have no idea where each other is coming from.

Man, when a blog comment makes somebody want to hurt somebody, maybe it's time to stop reading.

Thank you, Joel. I was wondering where you were! You are always the voice of reason on this site...it is needed and appreciated...

Well, I pretty much have to be, since I log in under my real name. :-) But I wasn't always. I got pretty pissed off a couple times at some of the trolls up here. Since then, I've tried to go with the flow. It's hard, because I hate being cast as something (like some growth/progress resistant, yuppie (I would be one if I was younger!) hating , car in the front yard, non-shaving, "new ballard sucks" spewing nut case). which I'm not. I tend to be pretty open, so when somebody generalizes me, well it just bugs me. But not to the point of hitting somebody! Cool?

Cool. See now if I met YOU I would give you a hug...

I went blind one day at work. Once my vision returned, I find that the hotter I got... the more blind I got.

I don't have a/c right now but when we buy a house I hope to get a/c.

Going blind is a good reason to have a/c. :)

Buncha knuckleheads on here...again.

Sheesh, now I'm a knucklehead! Oh well, I'e been called worse :-)

First time I've ever been called closed minded, which you based on my comment that old people complain. Not making the connection. Can't wait to tell my friends about this. They'll get a really good chuckle.

suthii offers another side. i find him (sometimes) refreshing. kinda devil's advocate.....but he's not religious. it doesn't mean you have to agree w/him. i also appreciate that he doesn't have a need to use 4 letter expletives reserved for other demographics to get their point across. don't want to generalize here.

Does anyone have A/C at home? We don't. We barely have heat. It's just so mild here that the two or three days each summer that one actually might need A/C don't justify the cost.

I could see how living in an apartment (especially south- or west-facing) might be uncomfortable. But is a $100 window unit such a hardship?

I agree kim

"i find him (sometimes) refreshing"

Like a f*rt in church....?

you might be obnoxious suthii, but at least you dont take this blog as serious as some (cough).

i still dont like you though :)

suthii-

if that's your only analogy, then probably.

pun intented.

I don't think we should have that MyBallard gathering ... there may be fisticuffs.

A think a My Ballard gathering would be enlightening. Things that people write in a blog's comments come off harsher than they really mean...usually.

But would the misunderstood people show up? I would- I think it's a great idea! It does sorta blow anonymity out of the water, though.

i can only imagine THAT face w/THAT name!

MonkeyPilot,

Most of these type of buildings do not allow window a/c units. The free standing a/c units are 400-500 dollars.

Yeah, I'm with you, Joel. I think it would be fun, as well as something along the lines of meeting a blind date. What a hoot.

"The free standing a/c units are 400-500 dollars."

What a great Xmas gift from the kids! All that and no more noise.

If the apartment doesn't allow window units, maybe the residents should take it up with the management, rather than trying in vain to quiet down the city. This headline does sound like it came from The Onion.

Suthii- are you just here to mock people?

He brings the snark. Without the snark, we would be very bored creatures.

Suggesting folks by their loved ones a nice AC unit for Xmas is mocking? Mocking would be to suggest they get someone else to give the Gruppies* free AC.

I hear, except for the gun fire, Kent is quite quiet anytime of year.

*Grand-yuppies

by their loved = buy

I thought old people were mostly deaf. When you walk through the assisted living facility where my parents live, the TV's are all so loud you can't talk to each other in the halls. There ya go - have them all turn up their TV's loud enough to hide the outside noise!

All this obnoxious troll wants is to incite these flame wars.

Formula:
Person A gives opinion.

Suthii "quotes Person A" and derides any opinion other than his, comes back with insensitive elitist comments which obviously are desperate attempts at humor most of the time.

We all cringe, get angry and another fight develops. Personally, I vote to silence this A-hole. Eventually this is going to get to the point where the community vibe of this blog is going to be perverted by any loudmouth like this jerk.

jason et al.

just don't buy into it. there are others that can be just as inflaming. it's not just suthii. move onto the next entry and don't respond.

Ever hear of free speach? Besides, I don't think it was Suthii who caused the ruckus. Threatening to harm someone because their views are different than yours is the real problem.

Yes, I have heard of free speech. I have also heard of forum and blog moderation to prevent these types of situations. In case you are a new reader, this person's consistent trolling is a continuing source of negativity and conflict, and I come here to read about Ballard, not to see what fights can be incited by a small minded childish comment. Someone in question has a different reason to post on this site.

Jason- I have to disagree with you, too. All blogs have their trolls, and the phenomenon is hardly new to the internet, or even to pre-internet online interactivity, and all propering blogs continue to prosper. Show me an example of a blog on which the vibe has been ruined by a commenter. "Moderation" is not the answer.

And I also have to agree with Shelia that really, Suthii has not said anything all that bad in this thread!

I say if they want quiet, they should be in a nursing home. Since when is Ballard ave quiet? They always want special treatment and use the same excuses"I 'm old" I respect elderly people., but when you have a grandmother who is 93, and tells her greatgrandson who is 8 he is fat, and lazy, and a great grand daughter that is 15, tells her she should be like her cousin who is a honor student. Somtimes they need a reality check, and get what they deserve.

All of this makes me want to get drunk and loud in downtown Ballard with all the new condo owners.

Raze ALL the new gentrified condos and townhouses--they're attracting the wrong kind of people to our neighborhood. These people seem to feel that because they can afford to live in these monstrosities they are entitled to move into our communities and destroy anything they see fit, whether it be entire neighborhoods, businesses or cultures. Anything that doesn't fit with their percieved trendy, gentrified lifestyle will just have to go. This should have never been allowed to happen to begin with.

Crank up the noise!

THEY AREN'T CONDOS FOR FUCKS SAKE. They are APARTMENTS.

I think "these people" want someplace to live, and I don't believe "they" have any part in anything being destroyed, Mary. I hate incorrect generalizations about old Ballard folks, but I hate the ones about the new ones, too. Mary I'm sorry, but what you are saying is way off course.

Come on now! Are you really REALLY under the impression people coming here are destroying anything? I think I know you from other blogs, and I think you're better than this, so what has set you off? I know you don't like a lot of the development, and that's fine. Everybody I have met that is "new" has been totally cool. You make it sound like these people are coming here as members of some yuppie club, trying to re-form Ballard in to some evil condo dwelling, Voltaire hanging out, SUV driving haven. All these folks want is someplace great to live! Shouldn't we make it more pleasant for them? We reap the benefits of the changes, but also of just being good people.

If you want to think there are too many condos, then fine, but please don't make this about the people, it's just not.

nina--i think london is calling....for good.

"This should have never been allowed to happen to begin with."

Really? WHO should have stopped it? Your friend Lenin in Fremont? I believe he was quite the statist and opposed private property rights.

Can I make a suggestion Mary, the next time you see some little old Swedish/Norwegian lady putting her run down, 2 bedroom cottage on the market, the one she bought for $25k in the previous century and is now valued at $500k, why not go shake your angry fists at her and tell her she can't sell it, or at least demand that that she sell it for less so the 'common man' can get a fair shake in Ballard.

Go ahead, try, and be sure to let us see the video when she pelts you with lutefisk.

"members of some yuppie club, trying to re-form Ballard in to some evil condo dwelling, Voltaire hanging out, SUV driving haven"

Joel, you've been to my secret club? And what's wrong with Voltaire, without him they'd still be stoning atheists. And you forgot one thing about us yuppies, we put 'Free Ballard' stickers on the back of our Audi SUVs to disguise ourselves from the Natives.

"Raze ALL the new gentrified condos and townhouses–they’re attracting the wrong kind of people to our neighborhood."

Will that cure your virulent case of class envy once and for all?

You said you don't post here for our benefit. Why do you post your drivel here, Suthii?

WOW! And I am the childish asshole on here? Fabulous!

" Why do you post your drivel here, Suthii?"

Someone calls for razing new homes in Ballard but I'm the one who posts drivel? Thanks for the laff mate.

Sigh. Ok, we're shutting down this thread.