April Fools land use signs spark conversations on Seattle development

A Capitol Hill artist made five fake notices of proposed land use signs to place at popular Seattle locations on April Fools Day, to make a statement about the aggressive development he feels is changing the character of the city.

John Tingley, who goes by the moniker Tinglr, said his installation art is called The Jokes On Us.

Each sign declared a different project was underway. Click here to see all signs.

On a sign at Pike Place Market, he wrote that there would be a mixed use condo/retail structure including the first of its kind subterranean Whole Foods/Trader Joes connected with the new SR-99 tunnel named Cash Hole Foods. With a little room left over for a Pike Place Farmers Market Museum!

Tingley said he wanted to make everybody think twice about how much development were approving in this city, how quickly its going up, and whatits really doing to change the city of Seattle, the personality of Seattle, the heart and soul of Seattle.

People stopped along Pike Street to read the sign in front of the Cha Cha Lounge.

The words struck a chord with Nate Berendz.

The sign he read described the new project as another fking concrete box. Maybe well dress it up with some corrugated siding. Whats that you say? Not another boring eye-sore! Thats too bad. This is the most cost-effective way to build and you know were gonna get ours.

Berendz said, I feel like I see a sign, two weeks later I see a hole, two weeks later I see some new condosI think its a statement that this neighborhood is being covered by concrete boxes.

At Cal Anderson Park, a sign announced a project called Entitlement Land, with a Starbucks Frappuccino fountain and Tom Douglas restaurant called Serious Dogg. It would be protected by Amazon.com security drones. Jonathan Ross, who said he reads real land use action signs frequently, said, You know youd always see, like 54 units! No parking proposed.

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April Fools land use signs spark conversations on Seattle development