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The two bills represent two major pillars among a variety of housing measures approved during the 2025 legislative session, with a focus on both housing supply and stability for existing tenants.
Recent Posts
Op-Ed: Seattle Public Schools Enrollment Practices Starve Schools and Harm Students
School board directors Sarah Clark and Joe Mizrahi break down how flawed enrollment practices are harming students, and may ultimately lead to school closures across the city.
Downtown Redmond’s Building Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing
New apartment buildings like Eastline and Polaris have brought hundreds of units close to Redmond's forthcoming downtown light rail station. On the horizon are even bigger projects.
Op-Ed: Ants — Has Seattle Strayed from its Public Art Mission?
For more than 20 years, Paragon has stood as a striking piece of public art along the Duwamish River. But the City of Seattle is moving forward with dismantling it, citing deterioration. Artist Don Fels details how things got to this point.
How Downtown Redmond Grew from Sleepy Suburb to Small City
Redmond's 1993 Downtown Plan led to an urban transformation that saw the construction of over 5,000 new units between 2000 and 2020. This Saturday, light rail arrives to support that urban growth.
Pierce County Republicans Try to Bury Vision Zero Action Plan
The fully completed plan, intended to provide an array of strategies that would advance Pierce County toward a goal of eliminating deaths and serious injuries by 2035, was only approved by a 4-3 vote last week.
Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell Is a Failed Mayor on Homelessness
This fall voters will decide whether to give Bruce Harrell another term as Seattle Mayor. In the third article in a series, Ron Davis argues that Harrell's current term has been a failure on the issue of homelessness.
Washington State Budget Compromise Leaves Many Hoping for More
The final state budget approved by the legislature left many lawmakers disappointed, and eager to start to work on ways to restore painful cuts and reform the state's broken tax code.
Join The Urbanist for Our May Event Socials and Housing Advocacy
May is full of social events and housing advocacy opportunities. Join The Urbanist for opportunities to make your voice heard and to celebrate the Downtown Redmond Link Extension on May 10.
Tickets Going Fast for Seattle Housing Panel and Other Urbanist Events
We've expanded capacity to our "Future of Seattle Housing" panel at El Centro de la Raza. RSVP soon to save your ticket before we run out. And check out our other April events.
The Urbanist to Host ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel April 23
RSVP to save yourself a spot at the Future of Seattle Housing Panel hosted by The Urbanist and Seattle YIMBY from 6pm to 8pm on April 23.
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Downtown Redmond’s Building Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing
New apartment buildings like Eastline and Polaris have brought hundreds of units close to Redmond's forthcoming downtown light rail station. On the horizon are even bigger projects.
How Downtown Redmond Grew from Sleepy Suburb to Small City
Redmond's 1993 Downtown Plan led to an urban transformation that saw the construction of over 5,000 new units between 2000 and 2020. This Saturday, light rail arrives to support that urban growth.
Bellevue Commission Recommends Watered-Down Middle Housing Code
The final recommendation from the commission took sixplexes off the table near neighborhood commercial centers and near frequent bus lines. The final decision rests with the Bellevue City Council.
More Eastside Coverage posts »
Seattle Commission Warns Of Adding ‘Poison Pills’ to Middle Housing Changes
With the Seattle City Council set to consider amendments to required zoning changes this week, the city's planning commission highlighted the danger of adding on additional requirements including affordable housing mandates and changing thresholds for infrastructure upgrades.
Public Meetings Privilege Housing Opponents — Here’s How to Fix It
The way cities conduct public outreach and local elections stacks the deck against homebuilding, tenants, and people of color, research shows. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Op-Ed: Mapping the Missing Housing Opportunities in Seattle Growth Plan
Nat Henry maps out Mayor Harrell's growth plan and finds his transit corridor plan would would upzone fewer than 1 in 10 parcels within a five-minute walk of transit stops. That forces renters onto dangerous, polluted arterial roads, where apartments would be narrowly focused.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
Urbanist Reporters Appear on Hacks and Wonks Podcast
The Urbanist's contributing editor Ryan Packer and reporter Amy Sundberg appeared on back-to-back episodes of the Hacks and Wonks podcast this week. Be sure...
Ryan Packer Talks Vision Zero, Traffic Safety on Hacks and Wonks...
Ryan Packer broke down local "Vision Zero" traffic safety campaigns on a recent episode of the Hacks and Wonks podcast.
Rian Watt Talks Primary Results on Hack and Wonks Podcast
The Urbanist's Senior Advisor Rian Watt discussed primary election results and the latest happenings at Seattle City Hall on a August 9 episode of...
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