Yearly Archives: 2025
Op-Ed: Why Seattle’s Housing Future Depends on You
The Urbanist and Tech4Housing are hosting a rally and mega-canvass Sunday in Columbia City for Seattle City Council candidates Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Dionne Foster, and Eddie Lin, City Attorney candidate Erika Evans, and mayoral candidate Katie Wilson. Join us to help put the urbanist slate over the top.
Op-Ed: Seattle’s MFTE Program 7 Widens Access and Participation
One local builder lays out the case for passing the City's Multifamily Tax Exemption Program 7 proposal, which would expand access to a wider pool of renters and encourage participation in the program. The Seattle City Council is set to vote today.
Metro Plans Trolleybus Investments, with Long Implementation Timelines
After pivoting away from an aggressive schedule for battery-bus adoption, King County Metro plans to focus attention on the tried-and-true trolley network. But limited staff, delays obtaining materials and permit timelines mean that trolley expansions will be some time coming.
Sunday Video: Harrell and Wilson Square Off in KOMO Mayoral Debate
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and progressive challenger Katie Wilson have debated many times over the course of the general election, and one of the...
Seattle Street Ends: South Lake Union
Today, John Feit's Shoreline Street End series visits South Lake Union. In previous posts, he's explored street end park spaces all over the city, often hidden gems.
How Ballard and West Seattle Light Rail Became a $30 Billion...
Since voters approved West Seattle and Ballard Link in 2016, the two projects have been caught in a perfect storm of factors that led to the eye-popping cost estimates that we have today. While the path forward looks bleak, there are signs that Sound Transit is learning from its mistakes.
Seattle Poised to Overhaul MFTE Housing Affordability Program, Despite Tenant Concerns
The Seattle City Council is set to greenlight a new iteration of the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program with higher allowed rents and rent hikes. The program trades a property tax break for setting aside a quarter of the units with lower rents, but some advocates say the new rent structure is misaligned and will hurt tenants.
Op-Ed: UW’s Union Bay Hypocrisy: Public Land, Private Fence
The Union Bay Natual Area is 74 acres of public open space with miles of trails, but the University of Washington has rebuffed advocates pushing to remove a fence and add a trail to improve access. Here's why they should reconsider.







