Musings On Redmond And Ballard Suburbia

Downtown Ballard Starbucks / Credit Bob Yoder

Semi-retired and with time on our hands, Pam and I drove out to Ballard to look at its development and see Ballard Community Hospital, one of the hospitals I called on in 80's as a medical salesman. We were shocked and dumbfounded by the neighborhood's growth.

This cute little Scandinavian neighborhood had morphed into a suburban urban center, just like Redmond. According to Wikipedia, starting in early 2007, twenty, (flat-topped, cubed) major apartment and retail projects were constructed, many within a 5-block radius of the downtown. The hospital, now owned by Swedish, takes up a whole city block.  We visited the Nordic Museum (a must see.) A Ballard native volunteering there loathed its growth noting light rail is planned.  Difficult to decipher, the population of greater Ballard is 43,935 and not as diverse as Redmond. It's supposedly 83% white.

Needing some mojo, we found this Starbucks.  Located in a high crime district, we noticed four homeless people, several oddballs, a few sophisticates chatting, and some with computers. The Starbucks motto here was "to create a culture of warmth and belonging for all those who enter our door." Surprisingly, the clean transgender bathroom with entrance code had a sparkling mounted sharps container!  The barista said this Starbucks "respectfully required" no drugs, no sleeping, or other improper uses of their restrooms. They were looking out for their customers and the addicts.

In some ways, Ballard appears more innovative than Redmond in planning. In 2004: 1) future growth was evaluated by the community from a "Blueprint for every town in the USA."  2) Gore recognized Ballard for their work towards being the first carbon neutral community in the nation. 3) The community organized a "Sustainable Ballard" group.

Both communities have energetic historical societies.  They have parallel histories in many ways. The Salish (Ballard) and Snoqualmie (Redmond) indigenous Indians lived off of salmon. Logging and milling were early industries. Gambling rollicked.  Redmond raised crops; Ballard fished. Railroads played a vital role.

Our visit to this old neighborhood was really amazing!

-- Bob Yoder