The proposed state House operating budget would zero out the Washington State Urban and Community Forestry program, which cities across the state rely on to leverage federal dollars for trees. The effects of those cuts could be wide-reaching.

Legislation Targeting Ground-Floor Storefronts Gets Overhauled in House

After concerns were raised by city officials around removing flexibility to create vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, the version approved by the House local government committee sets a 40% cap on mixed-use zones where ground-floor retail spaces can be required.

Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability

In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dive 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.

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.
The group stands on a rooftop with the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay in the background.

Apply to Join The Urbanist Election Committee

We’re looking for passionate, locally-engaged volunteers to help guide our political endorsements. Apply to join the The Urbanist Elections Committee by March 6.
The view south toward the Space Needle from Fremont with a misty evening giving the sunset a peach tinge.

Op-Ed: Nobody Wants to Live Next to a Highway

Cities must commit to downsizing their highway networks if they intend to meet climate and livability goals and expand housing in a healthy and equitable manner. Seattle must lead the way.

Tukwila Becomes Latest Puget Sound City to Impede ICE Expansion

The unanimous vote follows a similar moratorium in SeaTac, with Burien, Renton, and Seattle expected to follow suit. As an epicenter of ICE activity in Puget Sound, Tukwila had unique reason to believe a detention center could be coming to their city.

State Senate Signs Onto Billions of New Debt for Highway Upkeep

The $2 billion in new bonding in the Senate's transportation budget would help bolster the state's highway and bridge maintenance spending, which has lagged due to longstanding prioritization of new highway projects. But the debt load could create problems for future budget writers.

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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.
The six panelists sit at a table with the Urbanist U logo on it and Ryna Packer is off to the side moderating.

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.
A reading nook in The Collective includes a mural of a mountain range

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.

More Eastside Coverage posts »

Rico is a Black man with braids and a button up shirt posing in front of the Seattle skyline

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.

Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan

Birds Connect Seattle, Thornton Creek Alliance, and the Orca Conservancy are among the groups trying to send the City of Seattle back to the drawing board on its housing growth plan. They're pushing on behalf of an appeal that has been working its way through the courts since April.

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Transportation

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Land Use/Housing

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Commentary

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Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability

In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dive 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.
An aerial view of the I-90 bridge with a row of westbound cars and a group of construction workers following a light rail vehicle along the center tracks during the tow testing.

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.
An aerial view of a large highway bridge.

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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