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Author: Mike Eliason

Space Needle shrouded in wildfire smoke from Oregon and California in late summer 2020.

Op-Ed: Harrell’s Anemic Growth Plan Is Not ‘Space Needle Thinking’

The mayor's comprehensive plan proposal failed to deliver real solutions on housing abundance, affordability, and climate. It promises only modest zoning changes at the margins and 100,000 additional homes over 20 years.
Looking down a circular staircase

One Stairway is Enough to Reach Housing Heaven

A bill allowing single-stairway "point access block" buildings would enhance housing and neighborhoods. On February 2nd the Washington State Senate held its first hearing on...
RapidRide heads north on SR-99 just after the Aurora Bridge. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Pedersen’s ‘Alternative L’ is a Massive L for Affordability and Climate Action

Seattle Councilmember Alex Pedersen’s latest newsletter contained a small glimpse into his poor understanding of Seattle’s extensive housing and climate crises with his poison...
A photo looking down a multi-level staircase

Seattle’s Lead on Single Stair Buildings

Seattle doesn’t lead on a lot of things when it comes to building codes, land use codes, or even energy codes -- though given...
A modern tram runs along grass in Nice with midrise building and trees flanking.

Envisioning a Car-Free Aurora Avenue

Livability would flourish in surrounding neighborhoods if cars were removed from one of Seattle's deadliest and most polluted streets. Today's Aurora Avenue in Seattle is...

Are Historic Districts a New Variation to Restrictive Covenants?

If Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program set a citywide precedent, then a push by wealthy Wallingford homeowners to turn single-family zoned areas into...

U.S. City Governments, Seattle Included, Not as Left as Reputation

For the last few years, and in the run up to the November election, American cities led by Democratic councils and mayors have seen...
A large lime green seven-story apartment building in Vienna. (Photo by Mike Eliason)

Seattle Must Require Public Buildings Meet Passivhaus Standards to Lead on Climate

The City of Seattle owns a deep portfolio of buildings, while also overseeing a steady progression of new construction—schools, libraries, fire stations, office buildings—it...