Staff Biography
Stephen Fesler
Senior ReporterStephen 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.
Recent Articles
Sunday Video: The Housing Tax Crisis
Uytae Lee of About Here dives into development fees and taxes, which contribute to a significant proportion of new housing costs. In many North American cities, housing taxes have been increasing much faster than inflation. But why are they increasing so much, what are they used for, and how does this affect homebuilding?
Sunday Video: In Praise of Trams
Trams get a lot of praise and criticism among urbanists and urban transportation advocates. Opinions vary wildly on their utility in cities, but Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes makes an in-depth case for why he thinks trams help create better streets, mobility, and land use environments than buses and other forms of urban rail systems at the local scale.
Sunday Video: How Big Box Retailers Are Bankrupting Cities
Big box stores are hollowing out North American cities, reinforcing sprawl and driving, destroying local businesses, and financially draining communities. Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes explains all that and more in his latest video.
Fare Hike Proposal Would Increase Seattle Streetcar Rides to $3
A proposed 75-cent streetcar fare increase could bring in $100,000 to $200,000 in additional revenue per year. However, without an extension to connect Seattle’s two short lines, the streetcar system faces a bleak future and the need for millions in annual City support.
Snohomish County Permits Childcare Providers More Places, State May Follow Suit
Snohomish County Council adopted new land use legislation to streamline permitting and remove regulatory barriers to opening more childcare centers and daycares. The state legislature seems to share in that goal and has proposed statewide legislation reducing regulatory hurdles.