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

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

Marie McKinsey

Mar 18
4 min

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 11
11 min

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

Dec 10, 2022
2 min

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

Nov 25, 2022
3 min

A Few Words About Affiliate Marketing

Lately, I've questioned whether it's worth the trouble to run ads at all. But as I thought about it, I began to realize that I had more of a

Marie McKinsey

Dec 4, 2021
5 min

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.

Three Ways Political Parties Poison Democracy

Marie McKinsey

Nov 20, 2021
6 min

Three Ways Political Parties Poison Democracy

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

Find Out by Zip Code How Much CO2 Your Neighborhood Emits

Marie McKinsey

Sep 24, 2021
2 min

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,

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

Marie McKinsey

Jun 11, 2021
2 min

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 6, 2021
3 min

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

The Alki 11 Row House Project: Density Done Wrong

Marie McKinsey

Jun 5, 2021
2 min

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.

SkyLink: Rising Above It All In West Seattle

Marie McKinsey

May 18, 2021
4 min

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,...

West Seattle's Affordable Housing Crisis

Marie McKinsey

May 14, 2021
6 min

West Seattle's Affordable Housing Crisis

Is "crisis" too strong a word for the state of affordable housing in West Seattle?

2 3