people?

At first glance, I was fascinated by your article on all of the new development that was happening along Market Street in Ballard. However, as I read through the description of each of the housing developments, I found myself asking, "Are any of these developments going to be affordable for low- to middle-income persons?" Except for the Ballard Landmark Inn, a 146 unit senior-living development, all of the descriptions (whether condominiums, apartments, or a hotel) of these developments presumably are market-rate housing.

If any of these developments offers below market-rate housing for low- to middle-income persons, that information would be important for the general public to know. Otherwise, we are left with the impression that Ballard is becoming a place for those who are privileged and can afford market-rate housing, and is slowly pushing those who cannot afford such expense out of our community. (Thank you for your editorial "Beware of Black Clouds" in this regard)

As a community, we have a responsibility to ensure that Ballard remains a place where people of all economic strata can afford to live. In order to do so, we must press those who are developing market-rate housing to price 10 percent of their units for low- to middle-income persons. If that is not possible, then these developers ought to be persuaded to contribute 10 percent of the cost of their development to a common pot from which organizations committed to developing affordable housing in Ballard can draw funds for their developments.

I moved to Seattle from a city on the East Coast where these two options were law. However, in Seattle, where our individual rights too often take precedence over the common good of all, I doubt that we would ever allow these common sense laws to be passed.

That being the case, we must create our own ways and means to ensure that Ballard remains a community for people of every economic stratum. Without ensuring such a possibility, Ballard no longer will be a community for all, but will become a bastion for those who are wealthy, privileged, and unwittingly elitist.

Together, we can prevent this tragedy from happening by requiring those who are developing housing in Ballard to price at least 10 percent of their units for low- to middle-income citizens, or to contribute 10 percent of the cost of their developments for the purpose of building affordable housing in Ballard.

Ron Moe-Lobeda

Ballard