Driving or walking around Redmond, one gets the feeling our city is in an awkward transition of growth. I remember the days 27 years ago where anytime you walked into a Redmond store or on a sidewalk you would recognize someone — a neighbor, a friend, an acquaintance. Redmond was a small town back then and had that cozy small-town feeling. Oh, have the times changed as Microsoft continues to grow and impact our lifestyle. Thank God for social media where we can stay in touch with those we know, even if it’s virtual.

Of course, the landscape is changing around Redmond. Just look at the “big-box” six-story apartments and their construction cranes all around town. Every new complex has the same one-dimensional flat-topped architecture. It’s kind of boring and confining.

But do you like where the city is headed? The City Council now devotes much of its time to regional transportation issues, regional stormwater pipes and the like. Getting around Redmond especially during commuting times is now horrifying to many. Recently, a reader wrote a popular letter to my blog griping about the nightmare we now have with traffic. It was seconded by many other readers. The rechannelization on 166th Avenue Northeast was constructed for safety reasons, but it turned more into a commuting problem than expected by the city. Just wait until the city turns Cleveland Street and Redmond Way into two-way roads. Traffic and gridlock can be expected there, though it’s intended to revitalize the downtown business district.

Redmond recently was named one of the best city’s to live in by Money magazine. And the mayor is quite proud of this, as he should. Redmond has a lot going for it with our parks, trails, vibrant economy, good schools, low crime and affluent, high-employment characteristics. But no city is perfect and Redmond is proving this. What do you think?

Bob Yoder, Redmond