"I am not anti-progress. I'm in favor of new things," says the Rev. Samuel B. McKinney of Mount Zion Baptist Church. "But I don't want to see people victimized by greed."

As a leader of Seattle's black community, McKinney has urged his congregation for years to stay in the Central Area, recognizing that its proximity to Lake Washington's floating bridges and downtown make it an ideal location.

"Don't sell your property. Don't give it up cheaply," McKinney still preaches.

The Seattle PI has a very interesting feature called Neighbors. It's essentially an interactive map of Seattle's neighborhoods with profiles and links to stories about each.

Our home is on the crux of three different neighborhoods including one of the wealthier neighborhoods in town, and one of the poorest. What kind of neighborhood do we live in? People here haven't taken down their Kucinic signs. You can get ribs, catfish, Ehtiopian fare, and homemade cupcakes within a short walk of our house. The grocery store sells chiterlins by the bucket. Every vacant lot has a land use action sign. Last night I took a walk on my street. There was a fistfight in front of the bus shelter. On my street you can see a Mosque and a Baptist assembly. The spires of Seattle's oldest Catholic Church can be seen from most spots in the valley. In line at the coffee kiosk in the morning I meet nannies walking their charges, construction workers, local businessmen, telecommuting fathers, African Americans who remember when the Black Panthers were active here. The owner of the Kiosk emigrated here from Asia and started a successful small business. A two bedroom house can sell for well over $300,000 here. Con artists come to our door with their sad stories. We know some of them by name. There are three places within walking distance with free broadband wireless for customers.

That's my neighborhood.