Construction

Sunday Video: What’s So Good About Point Access Block (Single-Stair) Buildings?

Point access block (single-stair) buildings are ubiquitous across the globe, except for North America. Building codes are the big reason why. Debate in recent...
A photo shows a road with a bike lane.

Catch Up on Development in the Roosevelt Station Area

When we last covered new development coming to the Roosevelt Station area, the Link light rail Northgate extension was still over two years away...
SLI's 47+7 building in the U District. (Photo by Shaun Kuo)

The Potential and Pitfalls of Prefabricated Buildings

The City issued permits on January 17th for another new tower in Belltown, but this one was a little different. The developer, Sustainable Living...

Highrises Spread into UW Campus – U District Development Spree Part 3

With highrises emerging from the University District, neighboring University of Washington (UW) is also preparing to join in on the developing skyline. Of the...
A sketch of the Pacific Tower parking lot TOD project showing lots of trees and greenery and the 160 apartment homes at the base of the distinctive orange brick Pacific Tower building in Beacon Hill. Image by Weber Thompson.

Seattle Public Utilities Is Exacting Impermissible Capital Improvement Fees

Project requirements suggest a pattern of double charging, which nearly sunk a 160-unit affordable housing project in Beacon Hill. Navigating the Seattle permitting system is...
Village @ Totem Lake from Totem Lake Park

Totem Lake Shoulders Kirkland’s Transformation and Growth

Yet designing for cars continues to be a problem in the city's fastest growing neighborhood. When cataloging development in Kirkland, it's evident where the City...
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...

The Urbanist Podcast: The Far Reaching Impacts of the Concrete Worker Strike

In this episode, reporter Ray Dubicki and I were joined by Doug Trumm, Executive Director of The Urbanist, to discuss the concrete mixer driver...