You'd think something as fun as a Ferris Wheel would get most people in Seattle excited, right?

Not so much according to some opinions expressed on my last post. Some folks call the new Seattle Great Wheel a "steel beast" and an "eyesore that spoils the view of Elliott Bay." A commenter went as far as saying that the view it will offer is not worth it: "Rain and clouds!"

But others had really positive reactions. "I can't wait to take the whole family on it. Cheers to the developer for thinking big," wrote one person. "It adds a little bit of light-heartedness to the skyline," added another commenter.

I think the polarizing response underscores one thing: The city's waterfront is a precious space. The stakes are high as the viaduct comes down and its real transformation, of which the Great Wheel is just the tip of the iceberg, begins.

The debate, in my opinion, is not so much about the merits of the Great Wheel. It's about the future of the waterfront.