Comment from CounZil member Sternoff

Bob Sternoff is a pretty good and mostly reasonable guy, but reading a comment in today's Seattle Times sort of sets me back:
"You get to see big equipment and a house demolished, which you don't get to see every day," said Bob Sternoff, a Kirkland City Council member who viewed the demolition. "It kind of builds a sense of community."

Bob, that's EXACTLY what's wrong about Kirkland today. We see TOO MANY "big equipment" tearing down houses in our neighborhoods. A lot of the new construction is out of touch with the "look and feel" of Kirkland, sacrificing our green areas and trees in the process.

Been debated before, but we need more stringent rules as for when a house can be demolished and not. Many of the houses torn down are prime candidates for remodel, but it is easier/cheaper to just tear down.

That said, in the case surrounding this house, a tear down was in order, and the resident will be getting a brand-new home for FREE - thanks to "Extreme MakeOver - Home Edition".