Plans and Policy

Has Oregon Ushered in Era of Rent Control with New Law?

Most economists dismiss rent control as a "quick fix" but tenant advocates say immediate relief doesn't sound so bad. As the first US state to...

Council Wraps Up Short-Term Rental Legislation, Conditionally Vacates Property in South Lake Union

On Monday, the Seattle City Council met for their regular legislative agenda meeting. Key decisions were made on short-term vacation rental regulations, conditional right-of-way...

We Need More Chairs

An accidental game of musical chairs at a packed community meeting on the Comprehensive Plan provided a microcosm for Seattle's housing crisis. When you come...

An Affordable Housing Platform for Seattle

Some vocab first: MHA - Mandatory Housing Affordability; Seattle jargon for inclusionary zoning. Inclusionary Zoning - This is the common term for MHA; it...
Someone riding a lime bike across a bike lane in Capitol Hill with a bus behind them

As Development Slows, Seattle Eyes Transportation Impact Fee Projects

The Seattle City Council is closer than ever to tapping a new source of revenue for transportation projects, with councilmembers from opposite sides of...

MHA Draft Rezone Maps For All Urban Villages Are Out

We analyzed the five maps the City of Seattle released last month: Aurora-Licton Springs, Capitol Hill, Crown Hill, Othello, and South Park. We also...

County Advances Billion-Dollar Social Housing Bond Study, Questions Remain

King County Council advanced a motion from Girmay Zahilay commissioning a study of a billion-dollar bond for workforce housing, but questions remain about how to guarantee the bonds and structure the program.

Council Returns Parking Enforcement to SPD, Abrogates 80 Vacant Cop Positions

Facing pressure from the Harrell administration, the Seattle City Council voted to move parking enforcement back to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) after a...