I have to agree with you Michael. I grew up in one of those strip mall suburbs of NY with a mish-mosh of housing, apartments, and stores with very little walkability. I now live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC in a planned community that is very walkable, with plenty of parks, walking trails and green spaces as well as a variety of housing types. They also require a certain percentage of the housing to be affordable for people making below a certain income level so there are a mix of socioeconomic groups. People are required to maintain their properties and the neighbors look out for each other. It’s so much more aesthetically pleasing than the area I grew up in and has a “real” community feel. I think if you build it with the right values it will attract like-minded people.
Thanks for this article. Really enjoyed reading it and the perspectives you put forward. While Seabrook type communities are interesting, the ability to change the community rules, much like an HOA, condo or co-op Board, is a huge drawback of these communities.
What disturbs me most is the 80% of second-home owners. You can't create community with such a high ratio of part-timers (AKA Airbnb hosts)! They don't really have a stake in the place, other than economically. Why would that change simply by expanding the number of homes? It hasn't happened yet...
It is slowly happening. As I noted, the number of full-time residents is getting near 200, and with that, a growing sense of community. Is it perfect? No. But I think there is a future here.
I grew up in a pioneering planned community, aimed at poor people. Heavily subsidized, spacious, and well-built public housing, loads of cycle paths and walking routes that allowed kids to never have to cross a road on the way to school, lots of neighborhood shopping centers, so no food deserts. Would I ever live there again? Not a chance. Soulless, full of people alienated from family and each other. Your place sounds like the same thing, only with rich people. Even worse. Count me with Team Brent. 😂
We also live in a "new urbanism" community that was modeled after Seaside (Prospect New Town in Longmont, CO). It has some of the same strengths -- and issues - you mention about Seabrook. But to me the strengths far outweigh the negatives -- if you can afford it. It's a close-knit community and architecturally far more varied than most neighborhoods. Our downtown business struggle because there's not much foot traffic, but there are those that hang in there. There has been some attention to housing density (especially important in our area, with high growth and housing costs). Main downside is probably the lack of diversity - economic, ethnic, cultural.
I know Longmont but didn't know they had a "new urbanism" community, but I'm glad to hear about it. The next time I visit Colorado, I'll try to check it out.
It wouldn’t be for me. Having grown up in a planned suburb and hating it, I wouldn’t be able to get over the inauthenticity of such a place. But nowhere in the USA would be for me right now.
This is a great article. I loved hearing both sides of the argument, and I feel like I'm teetering between both of your POVs. Well done! Also the tsunami line was claaaassic Brent.
I think Seabrook looks wonderful, and the fewer people, the better, especially if it has a big fancy grocery store. I will never forget how you described your relationship: you are complete opposites and perfect complements. Thanks! I stole that and repeat it almost daily about me and my husband. ❤️ Somehow that works perfectly, though it’s a wee bit challenging when it comes to buying a home :) sommmmmeday!
There’s plans for another development by them by the John Wayne Marina between 7 Cedars Casino and Sequim. Locals are fighting it as it’ll make the already congested two lane Highway 101 a mess there. Plus the loss of a 2nd Forest and other concerns.
I guess if you're rich and don't mind crappy weather and a large degree of what someone called soullessness...There's a planned community my wife and I considered called Babcock Ranch. We liked its sustainabilty concept, incl. total solar, and affordability. But it's in a state I'm trying to avoid (Florida). Guess no place is perfect.
I really enjoyed reading two opposing perspectives about the same place. Created a more nuanced narrative/review of a place! But I also hope, for the sake of your relationship, you also sometimes agree haha
We've taken several family. vacations at Seabrook, with a large three generation family aged teenage grandkids to 70's grandparents, and everybody had fun.
What I (granma) liked best was parking the car and leaving it parked. And speaking of cars, I love it that all the garages are in alleys behind the houses.
The beach is spectacular at any time of year, but I'm a beach walker, not a sitter-in-a-chair beach goer.
And here's an opinion some might find elitist; there is not a lot of extra parking at Seabrook. This means that the beach is never crowded. I'm from Rhode Island and most of the public beaches there are like Coney Island in the summer.
Also, the Seabrook Gnome Trail is the best Gnome Trail in the PNW.
I love this article. I’d be so curious to see this place! I cannot abide something being expensive and situated as quality and then being made cheaply. Like how dumb do you think I am?
Honestly I actually prefer the Washington and Oregon coasts...especially in the winter! Evergreens crashing into the steely gray water, big rocks, salty air - what's not to love?? 😜
I have to agree with you Michael. I grew up in one of those strip mall suburbs of NY with a mish-mosh of housing, apartments, and stores with very little walkability. I now live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC in a planned community that is very walkable, with plenty of parks, walking trails and green spaces as well as a variety of housing types. They also require a certain percentage of the housing to be affordable for people making below a certain income level so there are a mix of socioeconomic groups. People are required to maintain their properties and the neighbors look out for each other. It’s so much more aesthetically pleasing than the area I grew up in and has a “real” community feel. I think if you build it with the right values it will attract like-minded people.
I like hearing about the mixed housing affordability. Seabrook doesn’t have that…
Thanks for this article. Really enjoyed reading it and the perspectives you put forward. While Seabrook type communities are interesting, the ability to change the community rules, much like an HOA, condo or co-op Board, is a huge drawback of these communities.
Very true. You definitely shouldn't buy in unless you like the vision a LOT.
What disturbs me most is the 80% of second-home owners. You can't create community with such a high ratio of part-timers (AKA Airbnb hosts)! They don't really have a stake in the place, other than economically. Why would that change simply by expanding the number of homes? It hasn't happened yet...
I was going to respond with this! Although it may be closer to 90% second homes. 80% assumes two people per house.
Also if it’s really two people (or one) per house, is the town geared solely towards wealthy couples with no children?
I was told there are currently about forty kids living there.
Out of 600 homes, 40 children. That’s not a community.
The people who live there would beg to differ. And I generally don't pass judgment on how other people live.
It is slowly happening. As I noted, the number of full-time residents is getting near 200, and with that, a growing sense of community. Is it perfect? No. But I think there is a future here.
I grew up in a pioneering planned community, aimed at poor people. Heavily subsidized, spacious, and well-built public housing, loads of cycle paths and walking routes that allowed kids to never have to cross a road on the way to school, lots of neighborhood shopping centers, so no food deserts. Would I ever live there again? Not a chance. Soulless, full of people alienated from family and each other. Your place sounds like the same thing, only with rich people. Even worse. Count me with Team Brent. 😂
Noted!
😂
We also live in a "new urbanism" community that was modeled after Seaside (Prospect New Town in Longmont, CO). It has some of the same strengths -- and issues - you mention about Seabrook. But to me the strengths far outweigh the negatives -- if you can afford it. It's a close-knit community and architecturally far more varied than most neighborhoods. Our downtown business struggle because there's not much foot traffic, but there are those that hang in there. There has been some attention to housing density (especially important in our area, with high growth and housing costs). Main downside is probably the lack of diversity - economic, ethnic, cultural.
I know Longmont but didn't know they had a "new urbanism" community, but I'm glad to hear about it. The next time I visit Colorado, I'll try to check it out.
It wouldn’t be for me. Having grown up in a planned suburb and hating it, I wouldn’t be able to get over the inauthenticity of such a place. But nowhere in the USA would be for me right now.
This is a great article. I loved hearing both sides of the argument, and I feel like I'm teetering between both of your POVs. Well done! Also the tsunami line was claaaassic Brent.
Guilty!
Thanks, Lisa. And your “claaaasic” made me burst out laughing.
Can we talk about how and where we want to die as the biggest driver of later-life moves? Grocery stores are great, but hospitals are better.
Ha! Very very true. (They're in the process of building a medical center, to be fair.)
For reals, if the coastline weren't so gothic horror, I'd be in!
I like the coastline right there well enough.
I agree, and also if the prices didn't exceed those in Seattle.
I live in Switzerland. Every other place feels cheaper!
Truth!
The Swiss beaches are the best! 😜
I’d rather live under a rock in the brackish Copalis estuary, than Seabrook…but to each their own. More a Moclips man myself.
LOL
I think Seabrook looks wonderful, and the fewer people, the better, especially if it has a big fancy grocery store. I will never forget how you described your relationship: you are complete opposites and perfect complements. Thanks! I stole that and repeat it almost daily about me and my husband. ❤️ Somehow that works perfectly, though it’s a wee bit challenging when it comes to buying a home :) sommmmmeday!
Indeed!
Ha! The part about buying a home is very true!
There’s plans for another development by them by the John Wayne Marina between 7 Cedars Casino and Sequim. Locals are fighting it as it’ll make the already congested two lane Highway 101 a mess there. Plus the loss of a 2nd Forest and other concerns.
That’s not great…
It’s the wooded area above JW Marina
Oh wow, that's very interesting!
I guess if you're rich and don't mind crappy weather and a large degree of what someone called soullessness...There's a planned community my wife and I considered called Babcock Ranch. We liked its sustainabilty concept, incl. total solar, and affordability. But it's in a state I'm trying to avoid (Florida). Guess no place is perfect.
(The weather is the killer for me, at least at those prices.)
Pros and cons indeed.
Exactly right. No place is perfect.
You already know how I feel; I’m on the Stepford side.
Hehe.
I really enjoyed reading two opposing perspectives about the same place. Created a more nuanced narrative/review of a place! But I also hope, for the sake of your relationship, you also sometimes agree haha
I’d say we agree on at least 90% of things!
We've taken several family. vacations at Seabrook, with a large three generation family aged teenage grandkids to 70's grandparents, and everybody had fun.
What I (granma) liked best was parking the car and leaving it parked. And speaking of cars, I love it that all the garages are in alleys behind the houses.
The beach is spectacular at any time of year, but I'm a beach walker, not a sitter-in-a-chair beach goer.
And here's an opinion some might find elitist; there is not a lot of extra parking at Seabrook. This means that the beach is never crowded. I'm from Rhode Island and most of the public beaches there are like Coney Island in the summer.
Also, the Seabrook Gnome Trail is the best Gnome Trail in the PNW.
I love this article. I’d be so curious to see this place! I cannot abide something being expensive and situated as quality and then being made cheaply. Like how dumb do you think I am?
Honestly I actually prefer the Washington and Oregon coasts...especially in the winter! Evergreens crashing into the steely gray water, big rocks, salty air - what's not to love?? 😜
This is…not a surprise! LOL