The Real Estate Scramble for Lake Washington
A newly opened electric rail line promises to turn the shores of Lake Washington into the next suburban real estate gold rush.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Rainier Avenue Electric Line is now (this New Year’s day) opened for traffic. Its course is northeasterly to Lake Washington. This event makes available, for the first time, a large section unsurpassed for attractiveness. The region along the lake is destined to become extremely valuable on account of its peculiar desirability for suburban homes. This fact will be appreciated when the people become acquainted with it as they now will be able to do. Of course, values will advance. There will be a 'scramble' for holdings.
“Of course, values will advance. There will be a 'scramble' for holdings.”
This 1891 report on the opening of an electric streetcar line to Lake Washington reflects a century-old pattern of transit-oriented development. Just as the Rainier Avenue line spurred a land 'scramble' for suburban homes then, today’s major investments in light rail continue to define Seattle’s housing market and affordability crisis.
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