Letter to the Editor: Weed through the mistruths - why I became a REALTOR®
Thursday, November 2, 2017
To the Editor:
During the following years I worked hard and paid off the debt. It was time for a new challenge. Helping people find the right home, especially in Shoreline, called me like no other career. I completed Realtor® training, and knew that my passion would lead to success.
Being an broker is an honor. I am at each client’s side during one of the biggest decisions and stressors of their lives. I coach clients from musing to signing. I’m a hand holder, negotiator, advisor and friend. I am proud to uphold the strict code of ethics required by the National Realtors Association.
My opponent and her supporters are spreading “alternative facts” about my career choice by implying that being a councilmember could somehow lead to personal gain. I have not marketed my business in the rezone areas, and what are the odds that one agent with about 10 annual transactions would have a listing in one of the rezones? Developers will likely build rental units and any increase in housing stock should stabilize or lower prices, possibly reducing commissions.
I urge you to weed through the mistruth and vote for the candidate who brings passion, integrity and honor to the Shoreline City Council.
Keith McGlashan
Shoreline
Posts
5 comments:
Developers will not build anything affordable. They will buy up once affordable single-family homes and use the large lots to build dozens of units that cost around what the home sold for. That is what happened in Ballard. I'm sick and tired of being lied to!
You ruined my neighborhood at 185th!
Mr. McGlashan, would you please provide further explanation on the property you are currently selling in the rezone area? In February of 2015 a Shoreline resident wrote to the Council asking that their block be reconsidered for inclusion in the 185th area upzone, permitting developments of up to 70 feet in height. This property appears to be in an ideal proximity to the future station. In March of 2015 the council approved the 185th area upzone. Now for the past 6 or so months, you have been marketing that same house to developers as the listing broker. These facts together suggest that you stand to personally profit off of the rezone. But perhaps there is more information that you can provide to clarify?
Least readers jump to any assumptions about me, please note that I am not a part of Kim's "camp", I do not live in a rezone area myself, and I can see a benefit in having development at said property this close to the light rail station (3 blocks away). I certainly understand why the homeowner would be interested in selling. What intensely bothers me however is what I see as a conflict of interest. How can we be sure our elected Councilman is acting in our community's best interests going forward when he can personally profit from development projects?
Mr. McGlashan, perhaps you should follow your passion and stick to real estate alone and step away from politics. Or if you continue to serve your community as a Council member, commit to donating all of your rezone based commissions to the school district who will feel the unfair burden of the 12 year tax exemption offered to developers.
Thank you for reading.
"My opponent and her supporters are spreading “alternative facts” about my career choice by implying that being a councilmember could somehow lead to personal gain. I have not marketed my business in the rezone areas, and what are the odds that one agent with about 10 annual transactions would have a listing in one of the rezones? Developers will likely build rental units and any increase in housing stock should stabilize or lower prices, possibly reducing commissions."
If you sell a property in either of the rezone areas, you stand to personally gain. A listing broker who sits on the City Council can be expected to have extensive knowledge of Shoreline land use issues. I would guess the odds are pretty good that smart developers would seek you out.
Also, this concept that building new rental units is going to drop or stabilize prices anytime soon is a fantasy. There are new developments going up all over Seattle and prices are higher than ever. The Seattle Metro is expected to welcome 150,000 newcomers in the next five years (https://www.geekwire.com/2017/study-seattle-nations-top-real-estate-market-thanks-tech-giants-like-amazon-breweries/). How many apartment rental units can Shoreline realistically accommodate with our city’s current infrastructure?
Please note too that new developments don’t tend to be affordable. A craigslist search reveals asking price for the newest apartment units in Shoreline are the most expensive. Even the tax incentive for developers to create 20% of their inventory in affordable units doesn’t seem like it will result in apartments as truly affordable as is needed to keep our city diverse and inclusive. Why do we need to offer these breaks to developers when our immediate neighbor Seattle is currently the hottest market in the nation, and when what we get in return is not good enough for current and future citizens of Shoreline?
Our Council needs to be making decisions about things like this without having a personal interest.
Hi there, I am looking forward to the changes in my neighborhood. I live near 189th and 5th NE, so right in the rezone. I wrote to the council during the time this was being considered. I think the loudest people think theirs is the only opinion that matters, the council has to weigh many considerations and perspectives in making these choices. I thank them all for their service.
When I read that Point Wells is proposing 15 buildings over 90 ft and some at 170 ft, I know that we need a leadership change in Shoreline. Try to deflect this to Snohomish County, but in reality, we should have refused to do business with Snohomish County until a more reasonable proposal for Point Wells was put forth. Sorry Keith, you own this. Time for a new approach.
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