Construction

A crane lowers the sport car at the edge of the hottub with the Space Needle and uptown view in the background.

Op-Ed: Hoisting ‘Supercar’ 47 Stories Inaugurates Condo Opening, New Gilded Age

A million-dollar McLaren Elva briefly graced the 47th floor rooftop next to the jacuzzi to promote the "First Light" condo tower opening this summer. The housing market is working quite well for the rich, how about for the rest of us?

What You Don’t Understand About Seattle’s Light Rail Expansion May Doom the System

There is no spine. There is no Ballard to West Seattle extension. There is no one coming to save us. By 2042, Seattle should have...
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...
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...
A new triangular shaped six-story apartment building at dusk.

Shoreline Apartment Boom Picks Up Along RapidRide E, Still in Infancy Near Light Rail

Outside its light rail station areas, Shoreline has seen a noticeable bump in apartment planning, permitting, and construction in the past few years. Upwards...
An ironworker stands inside a big rebar column and smiles for the camera.

Concrete Could Flow for West Seattle Bridge and Light Rail Projects as Teamsters Offer...

Last night, Teamster 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks announced an offer to resume to work on behalf of striking concrete drivers at three companies: Cadman...

Melrose Promenade Breaks Ground This Week After Significant Delay

Initiated by urban designer Michael Kent back in 2010, the Melrose Promenade is officially breaking ground this week according to an update from the...

A Skyline by UW – U District Development Spree Part 2

When we last covered highrise development in the U District, there were only eight highrise projects somewhere along the permitting and construction process. That...