A street with a row of single family homes with one under construction.

Seattle Desperately Needs the GMA to Promote Affordable Housing

When I moved to Seattle from New York City last summer, I was struck by the drastic difference in the housing provided by each...

Africatown Designs Its Future: Part 1

A year has passed since Africatown Community Land Trust acquired a twenty percent ownership stake of the land parcel at 23rd and Union in...

Policy Timeline For The HALA Process In 2016

In Tuesday's meeting of the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning (PLUZ) Committee, Councilmembers heard from City staff on continued outreach and engagement efforts for the...

Sunday Video: American and European Zoning Compared

Dave Amos at City Beautiful looks at how American and European zoning differs and how that has led to very different spatial outcomes. There...

Why Do We Write About Cities?

When we write about cities, sometimes we do best when we take the metrics away.   In 2011, amid a visit to San Francisco and just...
A photo a woman with grey hair wearing a black blazer.

A Conversation on Manufacturing in Cities with “Recast Your City” Author Ilana Preuss

Recast Your City is subtitled “How to save your downtown with small-scale manufacturing,” which gives the impression that it’s a one trick book. But...

Disposition Policy: Let’s Put Underused Public Land to Use as Affordable Housing

Seattle, King County and the Puget Sound Region is in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis, and we must use every available tool...
A small crane move materials to the top of a three story townhome complex where a construction work receives them.

Franz: Mobilize Washington State-Owned Land to Tackle Housing Affordability Crisis

“All Lands, All Hands, All Together” effort could make a dent in housing crisis. Too many people are feeling it right now – that quiet...