A good word: “Density” can be a good word.
Police reform: Advocates of police reform are pushing dueling initiatives.
Reinvesting in preservation: Real estate firm Unico is buying an historic office tower in Tacoma to turn it into apartments; Unico is owner of Seattle’s Smith Tower, which recently got a major overhaul.
Better buses: Streetsblog explains how all-door boarding could save a lot of time for bus riders if transit agencies would adopt the system.
RFK legacy: A revitalized RFK stadium in Washington, D.C. could bring many community benefits.
Design reviewed: Two major projects (one microhousing, the other mixed-use) near Capitol Hill went to design review this week with Midtown Center getting sent back for another review.
Cozy urban winter: CityLab looks into how the Danish concept of coziness is reframing the urban winter.
Pleading guilty: A local Everett developer, Lobsang Dargey, known for major mixed-use projects in the region has plead guilty in federal court for fraud related to real estate and immigration business practices; Dargey could face 10 years in prison and $24 million in charges.
$15 Now: Seattle workers paid at the minimum wage got a boost this week with some now making at least $15 per hour.
High-speed rail: Morocco is laying down Africa’s first high-speed rail line from Tangiers to Casablanca, but some are concerned about whether or not it really should be a high priority.
Banning housing discrimination: While Seattle has banned source-of-income discrimination against renters, the state could greatly improve the housing search for many renters across the state by banning the practice altogether.
A part of the solution: Tiny houses have been a big help to homeless in Seattle.
“Boom-proofing” legacy biz: Seattle could end up creating a new program designed to maintain “legacy” businesses in local communities.
Cal Anderson plans: All-gender bathrooms have appeared in construction plans for Cal Anderson; construction work is slated for this summer.
Sometimes, but not always: Greater Greater Washington discusses public-private partnerships and says that they work for some infrastructure project but not all.
Converting offices: How abandoned office buildings could be turned into new housing.
Property swap: The City of Tacoma has sold one city-owned parking garage for mixed-use developed and picked up another to market it for future economic development.
Better bikeways: The data suggests that side-street bikeways work best if they come with nearby protected bike lanes on main streets.
Reducing deductions: Congressional Republicans may move ahead with policies to chip away at the mortgage interest deduction on homes.
Expanding permits: King County Metro Transit is expanding its parking permit program to six more park-and-rides.
First victim: On Monday, a woman named Nellie Yelli died in a Greenlake crosswalk after being hit; the person driving initially fled before returning and being arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.