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Taking on an incumbent who has been in office since 2011, Ron Davis is eyeing tax changes, housing reforms, and a more robust state response to federal overreach as major planks of his platform.
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Wilson Rolls Out Bills Expediting Emergency Housing for Homeless Residents
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson rolled out new legislation intended to expedite production of emergency housing and homeless shelter at the Hope Factory in SoDo. She aims to produce 1,000 units in her first year.
Op-Ed: Why Seattle Neighborhood Greenways Is Rebranding as Seattle Streets Alliance
After 15 years fighting for safe streets, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is excited to become Seattle Streets Alliance to more accurately reflect the nature of our grassroots organization’s mission. Here's what this changes means.
WSDOT Advances Plan to Tame I-90 Ramps at Judkins Park Station
WSDOT's concept would remove the northbound ramp from I-90 onto Rainier Avenue and improve safety at the other freeway ramps. A clear step in the right direction, the unfunded plan is not as bold as some transportation advocates would like to see near such an important light rail station.
Seattle Planning Director Says Upzones Within Two Blocks of Transit Inbound…...
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's administration is queuing up housing density increases within two blocks of all frequent transit corridors, planning director Rico Quirondongo revealed at a recent meeting of the Seattle Planning Commission, which pushed for the idea and greeted the plan warmly.
Sound Transit Breaks Ground on Stride S3 Bothell-to-Shoreline Bus Line
When it opens in 2028, the S3 rapid bus line will provide riders across Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline with a more frequent, reliable transit option and extend the reach of Sound Transit's light rail network.
Neighborhood Cafe and Corner Store Bill Fails for Third Straight Year
The failure of HB 1175 to make it to the state Senate floor mirrors a similar fate two years ago. Bill sponsor Mark Klicker placed the decision to let the neighborhood cafe bill die squarely on Local Government Committee Chair Jesse Salomon.
Sunday Video: CityNerd’s Best Transit Cities in North America
Ray Delahanty of CityNerd ranked the top transit cities in North America based on ridership per capita at the metropolitan scale. Seattle narrowly makes Ray's top 15 list. Check out who is above Seattle.
Join Us for February Urbanist Socials and Waterways Presentation March 3rd
The Urbanist is hosting social meetups on February 19 (in Seattle) and February 26 (in Redmond). We're also hosting a talk on the Seattle Waterlines Project on March 3 in Capitol Hill.
Join Us for Our January Socials and North Sound Election Debrief
Join us for our January socials in Seattle and in Redmond, plus a special North Sound event recapping the 2025 election and looking to the political battles ahead.
Two Weeks Until The Urbanist’s Winter Holiday Party
Get your ticket to The Urbanist's annual holiday party while supplies last. Our speaking program on December 9 will feature Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and other urbanist leaders and newly elected officials.
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Eastsiders Pack ‘Save Issaquah Light Rail’ Rally
The crowded community meeting was the first step in an advocacy campaign intended to persuade members of the Sound Transit board about the value of continuing light rail expansion on the Eastside. Issaquah city leaders are bringing ideas to the table they say could cut costs.
Bellevue Adds Hurdles to Old Main Redevelopment to Preserve ‘Cultural Value’
The new regulations, which will stay in place for at least six months, require either façade preservation for older buildings or new façades that match them. Though the goal is to maintain Main Street's pedestrian friendly atmosphere, little remains in place to prevent small business displacement from Old Bellevue.
Issaquah Pitches Case for Keeping Its Light Rail Line on Track
The $5.6 billion to $6.3 billion light rail line between South Kirkland and Issaquah is currently set to open by 2044 but could see further delays. Newly elected Mayor Mark Mullet wants the project to serve as an example of how to get creative in response to funding shortfalls.
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Seattle Planning Director Says Upzones Within Two Blocks of Transit Inbound…...
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's administration is queuing up housing density increases within two blocks of all frequent transit corridors, planning director Rico Quirondongo revealed at a recent meeting of the Seattle Planning Commission, which pushed for the idea and greeted the plan warmly.
OPCD Further Trims Corridor Upzones in Newly Unveiled Seattle Zoning Maps
Zoning maps for 30 new neighborhood growth centers, a handful of urban center expansions, and narrow transit corridor rezones dropped on Thursday. With the patchy current vision driven by Harrell, new Mayor Katie Wilson has pledged to come back and expand the plan once further environmental study is completed.
Op-Ed: Why Housing Abundance is Key to Fighting Climate Change
Building more dense housing within vibrant walkable neighborhoods is a key climate strategy, argues IPCC author Michael Gillenwater. The Seattle Comprehensive Plan could further those opportunities.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability
In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dives into recent headlines including Katie Wilson's State of the City speech, which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legislation, and the Seattle Social Housing Developer's latest moves.
Urbanist Podcast: Crosslake Light Rail + ICE-Triggered Constitutional Crisis
In this episode of The Urbanist Podcast, our newsroom discusses what the crosslake 2 Line opening will means for the region, what removing Claudia Balducci as System Expansion Committee Chair means for Sound Transit, and what the region is doing to address a constitutional crisis created by Trump's illegal campaign of mass deportation.
Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle
In this podcast, The Urbanist newsroom previews Washington's state legislative session and breaks down the huge setback dealt to the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project, a highway boondoggle with a ballooning budget. Plus, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson since she's been installed in office.
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