Our family moved a lot when I was young. Sometimes we moved out of one place before we found the next place. Late summer of 1967, we spent a week at the Thunderbird Motel.
Built in 1956, the Thunderbird wasn't designed to be a Chronic Nuisance Property, a drug den, a haven for prostitution or a canvas for graffiti. At one time, it was a landmark of sorts. I'm sure many have photos of Seattle's historic Thunderbird Motel in their photo albums.
My sister, Adrienne, was going to go to Interlake Elementary School, which became Wallingford Center in 1985. My youngest brother, Gregor, was getting ready for kindergarten.
Every day I gave Mom a break by taking Adrienne and Gregor out somewhere, like the playfield near Interlake Elementary School. Our family had only one car, so we walked.
The first day, I gripped Gregor and Adrienne's hands, gritted my teeth and braved the traffic across Aurora. That evening, Mom carefully pointed out the pedestrian overpass. Mom gave me that look, the one that said I must be deliberately stupid, nobody could accomplish that by accident. Adrienne still remembers that and holds it against me that I tried to get them killed.
I thought it was cool that we were staying at the Thunderbird. It seemed more like a cosmopolitan lifestyle instead of like being homeless. It was certainly better than the week we spent living out of the sedan when we were between houses. Mom and Dad did soon find an affordable place to rent that was even closer to the school, and we didn't have to cross Aurora. This was, after all, over 40 years ago. It was easier to find an affordable place then.
It is good that low-income housing will be built on that lot. It may make it easier for families to find a home. Fewer children will spend time living out of the back of the sedan, or in a motel, or in a friend's basement. Still, there will always be some families "between houses" just for short times, for one reason or another. I am still worried about those children. A cheap hotel with a colorful sign is a better temporary home than the back of the car.