Harrell Chops Off Dozens of City Blocks from Planned Growth Centers
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has shrunk the dimensions of eight neighborhood centers and six urban center expansions he proposed last year. The move chops dozens of blocks off the growth centers, limiting opportunities for apartments and affordable homebuilding and drawing criticism from housing advocates.
Redmond Sees New Neighborhood Burgeon Around Marymoor Park as Light Rail Arrives
The 2017 Marymoor Village growth center has led to a number of larger multifamily developments in the area around Marymoor Park in Southeast Redmond. This weekend, light rail finally arrives.
Downtown Redmond’s Building Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing
New apartment buildings like Eastline and Polaris have brought hundreds of units close to Redmond's forthcoming downtown light rail station. On the horizon are even bigger projects.
How Downtown Redmond Grew from Sleepy Suburb to Small City
Redmond's 1993 Downtown Plan led to an urban transformation that saw the construction of over 5,000 new units between 2000 and 2020. This Saturday, light rail arrives to support that urban growth.
Sunday Video: CityNerd Rebuts Sprawl Evangelism, Reviews 10 Densest Cities
CityNerd's Ray Delahanty rebutted Conor Dougherty's New York Times pro-sprawl op-ed. Via his spicy top 10 list," Delahanty shows how density generates high-amenity, livable neighborhoods that are far less car dependent than the sprawling suburbs that Dougherty celebrates in his hot take.
Op-Ed: Mapping the Missing Housing Opportunities in Seattle Growth Plan
Nat Henry maps out Mayor Harrell's growth plan and finds his transit corridor plan would would upzone fewer than 1 in 10 parcels within a five-minute walk of transit stops. That forces renters onto dangerous, polluted arterial roads, where apartments would be narrowly focused.
Snohomish County Permits Childcare Providers More Places, State May Follow Suit
Snohomish County Council adopted new land use legislation to streamline permitting and remove regulatory barriers to opening more childcare centers and daycares. The state legislature seems to share in that goal and has proposed statewide legislation reducing regulatory hurdles.
Snohomish County Relaxes Urban Accessory Dwelling Rules Ahead of State Deadlines
The Snohomish County Council has further liberalized accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations in urban unincorporated areas, building on reforms enacted in 2021. Spurred by state reforms, the County will be allowing more bulk flexibility and ending common ownership requirements for ADUs, and allowing two ADUs of any type per lot.