Construction

Op-Ed: Save Luma the Giant Cedar from Redevelopment

Tree activists rally, seeking to save a giant red cedar in Wedgwood from the ax. Luma is a healthy old growth Western red cedar in...
A large tree grows along the streets in between powerlines with a new three-story multifamily development next door.

Seattle Council Expands Tree Protections, Pedersen Dissents

Seeking to grow its tree canopy cover, Seattle -- a city originally built on logging and carved out of towering old growth forest --...
Trench cut in dirt with an intersection of iron pipes and a lightly colored stormwater crossing.

The Urbanist Podcast: How to Crush a Housing Project the Seattle Way

In this episode, civil engineer and Urbanist contributing writer Donna Breske discusses her experience with the frustrating hurdles posed by the permitting process in Seattle with...
A red fire hydrant shows a five foot geyser of water on some green grass.

Op-Ed: Seattle’s Water Main Upgrade Policy is Causing Higher Costs and Homebuilding Snags

A City stakeholder meeting on May 25 holds the prospect of improving processes around water system upgrades and permitting. The Urbanist has covered before how...

Sunday Video: Renovating an Abandoned High School into Apartments

Purchasing an abandoned high school for $100,000, three developers carved out a lovely 31 unit apartment building in the Pittsburgh suburb of Homestead, Pennsylvania....

Explainer: What is a Builder’s Remedy and Will It Solve Seattle’s Housing Crisis?

Sometimes there is a concept that pops up out of the blue that sounds like solution to so many problems. Among housing advocates in...
Trench cut in dirt with an intersection of iron pipes and a lightly colored stormwater crossing.

Join for Permitting Impediments Forum on April 26

SPU oversteps their authority per state law and overcharges developments for new water service connections. Here’s how to fight back. It is time to take...

Op-Ed: Proposed Tree Legislation Awaits Its Turn to Add to Seattle’s Housing Woes

There’s a saying that the path of progress doesn’t follow a straight line. This has certainly been what I've experienced in my two decades...