With the upcoming annexation of outlying areas into Kirkland proper come several realities. First, Kirkland needs to balance its housing market. The Reporter issue of Aug. 5 clearly shows why the kingdom of $700,000 tear downs is beginning to look elitist. If we take the real estate sales numbers, toss out the highest and lowest in each category and average the rest, we discover a difference in residential housing prices between the 98033 and 98034 areas of $165,000; for condos and townhouses, it’s even worse.

The difference is $223,000, which is higher than the average price itself in the 98034 area. Hmm, seems Kirkland proper has an image problem when it comes to housing for all income groups. Let’s fix that by bringing in 98033. By the way, bring money but stay within your own confines at night. A possible alternate fix? Low cost housing in downtown Kirkland. Eureka! No annexation needed. Next, we in the 034 area can look forward to an improvement in police activity to the levels often reported often in the Reporter. Kirkland certainly needs the extra revenue stream that the growth in traffic violations will bring in. Just one problem, I don’t recall seeing any “cops walking the beat” in Kirkland but I guess it’s heart-warming when I spot them lurking along Lake Washington Boulevard, anticipating speeders in the late evening hours.

Al Chukitus, Kirkland