[mhays]

Seattle has allowed "live/work" units in some locations where it's the most clear that retail won't work. These are often two-level units (fit into 16' perhaps) set back slightly from the street, with a two-level room out front. However there's not much demand for live/works and many aren't in great locations. So they don't rent until the prices are cut substantially. And when they do, they're generally residential only. It turns out that people don't like having living room doors that open right onto commercial, semi-commercial, and/or loud streets.