Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers
Neighborhood groups are pushing back on additional density in Wallingford, West Seattle, and Queen Anne. An amendment from Alexis Mercedes Rinck to restore eight growth centers dropped from the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan at an earlier stage is front-and-center.
New Seattle Clinic to Provide Post-Overdose Stabilization Services
Last week, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) celebrated the grand opening of its new Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic. Included onsite is its Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center, which will provide a safe landing place for people to recover after an overdose.
Sunday Video: Seattle’s Water Hook-up Fees Are Stunting Homebuilding
Civil engineer Donna Breske produced a video digging into the issue of excessive water hook-up costs blocking homebuilding and driving up housing costs. She argues Seattle needs a systemwide plan to upgrade water mains that is not dependent on gouging builders.
King County Restructures School Impact Fees to Comply with State Law
King County is capping school impact fees on multifamily projects, hoping to lessen the burden on homebuilders. The move sparked a debate on how to help overcapacity school districts while avoid undue burdens on builders.
Cities Grapple With ‘Game-Changing’ Impact of Mercer Island Housing Plan Ruling
Cities around the region are starting to grapple with greater accountability for creating more affordable housing, in the wake of a far-reaching decision impacting Mercer Island. Bainbridge Island and Clyde Hill provide an early look at those conversations.
Seattle Social Housing Developer Strives for High Sustainability and Affordability Standards
With a mandate to design its buildings for an ambitious green housing standard called “Passive House” while maintaining affordability, Seattle's newly funded social housing authority has an important point to prove.
Why Shoreline’s Vote to Erase Parking Mandates Is a Big Deal
Parking reform has become a national movement, aimed at reducing housing costs. With a nudge from state law, Shoreline joins the trend to support urban development and a shift toward greener transportation options.
Op-Ed: How Bellingham Can Solve Its Housing Crisis
Bellingham is ranked the fourth most unaffordable housing market in the nation, but it doesn’t have to be this way. The city must embrace pro-housing policies: easing zoning restrictions, cutting red tape, and investing in mixed-income development, writes Bellingham City Council candidate Andrew Reding.