Land Use
Harrell Proposes Design Review Exemption for Downtown Housing Projects
Mayor Harrell is hoping to activate downtown through greater housing development and his administration has proposed a design review exemption for qualifying housing and/or laboratory projects in the downtown core to encourage such growth.
East Link TOD: Housing Growth Picks Up in Downtown Bellevue Ahead of Light Rail
We're starting our transit-oriented development (TOD) series in Downtown Bellevue. Check out how the Eastside's highrise capital has been growing, with 13,000 homes recently added or in development, in anticipation of East Link light rail's arrival on April 27.
Planners Proposed Bigger Upzones Before Harrell’s Team Intervened, Records Show
A paper trail from fall 2023 shows that Mayor Harrell's office overruled his planning department and cut transit corridor upzones and halved the number of proposed "neighborhood centers" before release of the growth strategy.
Sunday Video: Convention Center Madness
Like yours truly, Ray Delahanty of CityNerd is at this year's National Planning Conference in Minneapolis. And like yours truly, Delahanty is spending a...
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...
Harrell Hopes to Fill Downtown Storefronts by Easing Code Restrictions
In a bid to reactivate Downtown Seattle, Mayor Harrell has proposed easing code restrictions in hopes of filling vacant storefronts with newly permitted uses like crafting studios, greenhouses, medical offices, art installations, public restrooms, and research laboratories.
Op-Ed: Six Ways to Improve Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan
Suggestions to improve the One Seattle plan include allow bigger buildings, embrace transit-oriented development, and jettison parking requirements. We can create a Seattle that pulls the working class in rather than pushing them out.
Sunday Video: What’s Happening With American Malls?
Malls have been closing up in America for years now, but remaining malls continue to reinvent themselves and some are seeing wild success. Dave...