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Plans and Policy

Proposed Tree Protection Ordinance Hopes to Grow Seattle’s Canopy

Councilmember Strauss introduces legislation to regulate 70,000 additional trees – but will the effort to boost canopy coverage to 30% slow down housing creation? After...

The Urbanist Spring Events Calendar

Now that the Vernal Equinox has passed, thoughts here at The Urbanist turn to thinner socks with our Birkenstocks and other rites of spring....

It Is Time For Sound Transit’s Board of Directors Meeting

How to watch and comment at today's system expansion discussion. After a lot of discussion and plenty of competing visions, it is time to hear...

The Legislative Budget Season Begins in Olympia

WALeg Wednesday starts eyeing up the looming disagreements as the legislative session moves to finances. In This Digest: Important Bills At A Glance Weekly Focus: A First...
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Seattle Requests Federal Help in Planning “Low-Emission Neighborhoods”

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has officially requested funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation to figure out how to plan and fund...

Four Generation Defining Megaprojects Seattle Must Start Now

Seattle’s era of small thinking and smaller plans must come to an end. In order to face the combined climate and housing crises, the...

Opinion: Everyone (Especially Urbanists) Should Care About the Crisis Facing Seattle Schools

A public school is an essential part of any community. Here in Seattle, public schools are in crisis.  Last month, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced...

Ballard’s Historic District Board Looks to Blow the Roof Off Street Cafes

The future of wildly popular streateries now rests in a narrow view of the street's past. It’s 9am on a Thursday morning in the multipurpose...