Construction

An aerial image shows an elevated light rail station next to a big staging area and a busy collector road.

Federal Way Link Stations Not Seeing a Housing Boom

Homebuilding activity is anemic near the three Sound Transit light rail stations opening this month in South King County. The Urbanist reviews the 3,000-plus homes in the development pipeline, and explores the obstacles standing in the way.

Urbanist Tours: South Lake Union Boom Recap

The Urbanist hosted a tour of the South Lake Union and Cascade on Saturday morning, offering a glimpse of these booming neighborhoods that most...
An aerial view of a six-story light blue building with a central court and the light rail line just to the west.

Affordable Housing Expands in Seattle, Especially in the Rainier Valley

A handful of new affordable housing complexes in the Central District and South End are providing some welcome relief to apartment-seekers amidst a housing affordability crunch. Leaders from Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and SouthEast Effective Development (SEED) shared what's in store.
A view of a mountain in the distance behind a suburban neighborhood

Seattle’s Geologic Hazards Can Be Overwhelming, But Preparation Can Start Now 

“Seismic” buttons in Seattle’s elevators hide ubiquitously in plain sight. When I was new to the city last year, these buttons were a reminder...

Chinatown and Transit Advocates Push for 4th Avenue Light Rail Station

As Sound Transit lays out 90 miles of new track, 57 new stations, and three new light rail lines over the next 20 years,...
Downtown Bellevue Construction

Downtown Bellevue Anticipates a Wave of Mega-Projects

Among the many projects up for consideration in Downtown Bellevue, a significant faction stands out for the sheer scale of its developments. These projects...
An evening shot of Esterra Park on NE Turing St

East Link TOD: Overlake Takes Shape for Station Opening

More than 8,000 homes have either been completed in the past decade or are in development near Overlake Station, on the southern edge of Microsoft's megacampus.

A Follow-Up on the Living Building Challenge

It is impossible to ignore the construction that is happening throughout the Puget Sound region. Cranes and scaffolding are everywhere. In Q1 2023 alone,...