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Harrell Adds $100 Million to Transportation Levy Proposal, Sends to City...

Responding to pushback that his $1.35 billion levy proposal was too small and car-focused, Mayor Harrell added another $100 million in pedestrian, bike, and transit investment.

Urbanists Rally to Sway Seattle Growth Plan

Comment on the draft Seattle Comprehensive Plan by May 6. Housing advocates have urged the City to adopt the "Housing Abundance Map" rather than keep exclusionary zoning.
I-5 and the Seattle Skyline at sunset looking down Yesler Way to Elliott Bay with Smith Tower peeking out on the left and the car-clogged I-5 trench on the right.

Why Climate Advocates Should Be Urbanists

Land use policy is a powerful tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. So why isn’t it a bigger part of the policy debate? This four-part 'Land Use and Climate Change' series explores that question.

Bicycle Weekends on Lake Washington Blvd To Keep Restrictive Schedule in...

The 10 weekends of Bicycle Weekends for 2024 have been announced, with only 32 hours of opening up the street for walking, biking and rolling each weekend.
A photo of a tent in front of a glass window with exhibiting large portrait style photos of people.

Supreme Court to Rule on Laws Criminalizing Homelessness in Grants Pass...

Seattle and other West Coast cities are pushing for the right to clear encampments without offering shelter. But the U.S. Supreme Court would need to overrule the Ninth Circuit ruling deeming this unconstitutional as cruel and unusual punishment.

Seattle Council, Mayor Not Asking the Hard Questions about Police Recruitment

City leaders are weighing laxer hiring standards rather than improving SPD's culture and accountability systems. But SPD's bad reputation could be the bigger drag on hiring – not to mention safety outcomes.

Columbia City Group Pushes for ‘Town Square’ Festival Street

Following the successful implementation of a pandemic-prompted street patio in Columbia City, a group of community members formed Friends of Ferdinand Festival Street and are trying to find a way to make it permanent.

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Join The Urbanist for an East Link Opening Party

If you’ve been waiting for this as long as we have, please join us to celebrate, ride East Link, and come hang out at our afterparty at Goose Pub for beverages and food with fellow urbanists on April 27.
An Urbanist banner standing in a corner of a brewery with a few dozen people gathered chatting.

Join The Urbanist for Our Monthly Meetup on April 18

Our in-person meetup is at Stoup Capitol Hill every third Thursday of the month from 5:30pm to 7ish. On April 18, we'll again discuss the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
A few dozen people gather at Westlake Park for The Urbanist's Center City walking tour.

Get Plugged In with The Urbanist’s New Local Events Calendar

The Urbanist’s new Local Events Calendar is the one-stop shop for finding events from a variety of organizations across the region. Readers can subscribe to the calendar so they never miss an opportunity to connect.

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The Urbanist is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. We depend on donations from readers like you to sustain our work. Subscribe as a monthly donor or make a one-time donation to help us grow.

Riders Swarm East Link Light Rail on Opening Weekend

After a 90-minute opening ceremony, the 2 Line clocked 35,000 boardings on Saturday. Leaders predicted the line will dramatically transform the Eastside.
The Bellevue transit center is ringed by towers and a construction project adding another.

An Urbanist Guide of Things to Do in Downtown Bellevue

If you're detraining at Downtown Bellevue Station and looking for entertainment and sustenance beyond malls and without burning a crater in your wallet at...
Looking at the microsoft campus from the redmond technology station

East Link TOD: Microsoft Grows Around Redmond Technology Station, If Not...

A huge Microsoft Campus "Refresh" redevelopment is underway next door to Redmond Technology Station. It will add three million square feet of office space, but not much housing and no highrises.

More Eastside Coverage posts »

Urbanists Rally to Sway Seattle Growth Plan

Comment on the draft Seattle Comprehensive Plan by May 6. Housing advocates have urged the City to adopt the "Housing Abundance Map" rather than keep exclusionary zoning.

Op-Ed: Building the Seattle We Want with the Growth We’ll Have

Seattle's proposed 20-year growth strategy could certainly use improvement. Here are suggestions to promote housing abundance, fight exclusion, and curb climate pollution.
An aerial photo of a boulevard with port cranes and Elliott Bay in the distance.

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.

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Transportation

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Land Use/Housing

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Commentary

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A view of a sunset over a lake with a pier in it.

The Urbanist Podcast: Vote Up to the End

It's time to vote for Seattle City Council, a housing levy, and elected positions all over King County. The Urbanist has published its general...

Guest Podcast: Recycling America’s Railroads into Trails

The Urbanist Podcast is on summer break so we thought we'd share with you a guest podcast on a topic near and dear to...
A photo of King County ballot drop box on a sunny day.

The Urbanist Podcast: All About 2023 Primary Endorsements

Primary election ballots are arriving in the mail and due by August 1st. In the run up The Urbanist Elections Committee has been hard...

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