I recently took a stroll through the Lockhaven grounds. Hadn't been there in a while, having been displaced like most other residents, and the changes are striking. Most of the buildings are now brown and taupe, the underlying rot covered with layers of paint. Some gardens cultivated by my neighbors have been removed and replaced with the kind of hardy ground cover favored by developers who want to reduce maintenance costs. There are now fancy wooden gates over some walkways, and where once there were picnic tables and funky brick planters there's now outdoor furniture of the kind you might find at poolside at a Marriott Inn.
Among all these cosmetic renovations that seek to give Lockhaven the kind of image that Goodman hopes will attract tenants willing to pay upwards of twice the previous rents, none struck me quite as much as the bicycles on the new building number signs. Bicycles! Trendy symbol of walkable, bikeable, sustainable communities. What could be more bitterly ironic than the appropriation of this symbol by a group of men who destroy those very qualities for a living? In their quest to add to the billions they already have, John Goodman and his cohorts break the law, lie, endanger the health of their tenants, and retaliate against those who dare oppose them.
I happened to see Goodman employee and investor Josh Obendorf on my walk-though. I almost wanted to compliment him. Most of the renovations are bland and generic, but some of them look pretty nice. But we have a message for Josh and all of Goodman Real Estate: There are too many of us. Too many of us who know the truth about what you're doing, and see through the shiny surface of your gentrification efforts. We see the rot underneath, and we aren't going to stop talking about it. Most of us may be gone from Lockhaven, but we will keep fighting you. Don't mistake your shameless new bicycle signs for flags of victory.
Oh, also they're also apparently changing the name. from Lockhaven to Cadence Apartments. Maybe because this blog is one of the top results when you search "Lockhaven." Don't worry, Goodman, we'll make sure potential new tenants know all about you, no matter what you call the place.
Good work, David!
ReplyDeleteThe "hardy ground cover" you mention is of course impervious concrete, which will increase run-off of water, carrying pollutants into the storm sewers and thence into Puget Sound. . .
But of course it will never rain on "Cadence", which is why the owners have put in a sprinkler system for the remaining strips of grass. Some of the new sprinklers work; others don't.
Did you notice the rooms now designated as game room and bicycle repair shop? Did you also notice the absence of bicycle parking racks? The laundry room in my building at Lockhaven formerly housed bicycles of the residents, but if (as longstanding rumor has it) laundry rooms will become exercise rooms, perhaps only exercise bicycles will be welcome there.
Lived at Lockhaven for about 20 years, and failed to meet the requirement(s,) whatever they were, of those known as the Protected Tenants (PT's.) Moved out a few months ago. David, you were my neighbor across the hall. Miss what the Lockhaven was, but not what it is becoming. IMHO, the same can be said for Seattle. Family has lived there for over 100 years, and since the late 1980's the changes have been radical. In attempting to understand the logic behind this, and the federal funding necessary, the only template that makes any sense is that proposed, and being implemented by the United Nations. It's known as Agenda 21, and for those interested more info can be found on the UN website.
ReplyDeleteA reliable and experienced property management firm has everything to be proud of and usually show the testimonials of happy clients on their site. Property that is managed by property management has a higher rate of occupancy, less issue with rent in arrears, more reliable tenants in place and fewer issues concerning damage. And the list goes on.
ReplyDeletepas cher nike air max, combinant un style élégant et une technologie de pointe, une variété de styles de pas cher nike cortez, le pointeur marche entre votre style de goût exclusif.
ReplyDelete