An ad includes a collage of two clinking wine glasses, a construction crane, dumplings and a cocktail glass. The title reads:
Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmember Rob Saka unexpectedly skipped a housing committee meeting Wednesday, holding up 14 appointments to the shorthanded Seattle Renters Commission. Councilmember Alexis Rinck sharply criticized the "disrespectful" move, as did several nominees.

Redmond Supportive Housing Project Advances After Appeals Thrown Out

The pair of appeals focused on alleged impact from providing too few off-street parking stalls, but the Hearing Examiner upheld City's decision to permit the project. Plymouth Housing's long-planned project can now advance toward construction.
Attendees fill seats in long tables at Teku Tavern two members of House Our Neighbors present to the group.

Campaign Volunteer Training Sessions Headline The Urbanist’s August Events

Join The Urbanist for a Campaign Volunteer Training Session to support our endorsed candidates. We have two dates in August: one in Seattle and one in Redmond.

Sneak Peek: New Airo Trains Coming to Amtrak Cascades in 2026

A part of a major Amtrak order in 2022, the sleek new Siemens trains will be rolling out in the Pacific Northwest ahead of other parts of the country. The new Airo trainsets come at an uncertain time for Amtrak funding.
A group of pedestrians that raced the Route 8 with two buses in the background.

Bus Advocates Race Route 8 to Bolster Case for Improvements

On July 10, more than 200 transit advocates raced a Route 8 bus on foot from Dexter Avenue to Stewart Street, and came out on top. They're demanding bus lanes to make the bus faster than walking.
Tenants hold signs criticizing RUBS in front of Cornell and Associates office

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Ban Ratio Utility Billing

Landlords have used ratio utility billing systems as a backdoor to jack up rents. It’s time to ban the practice in Washington State.
Nelson stands at a lectern with a row of providers standing behind her.

Seattle Council Targets Nuisance Properties, Graffiti, and Safety-Themed Sales Tax Bump

Last Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted 7-1 to pass changes to the city’s 16-year-old nuisance property ordinance that will expand the powers of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to declare a business or residence a “chronic nuisance.”  As Council ramps up criminalization and weighs funding more addiction treatment services, do their plans add up to a cohesive strategy?

Seattle Councilmembers Push to Expand District Privileges

Since the 2023 Seattle council elections, a new dynamic has been taking shape in which extra deference is given to policy decisions made by the seven district-based councilmembers within their own district. If that shift continues, it could have dramatic impacts on how projects and programs are prioritized.

More recent posts »

More features posts »

Newsletter Signup

Signup today and receive our weekly and monthly newsletters sent to your inbox. Keep up-to-date on our latest stories, events, and progress.

Attendees fill seats in long tables at Teku Tavern two members of House Our Neighbors present to the group.

Campaign Volunteer Training Sessions Headline The Urbanist’s August Events

Join The Urbanist for a Campaign Volunteer Training Session to support our endorsed candidates. We have two dates in August: one in Seattle and one in Redmond.

Meet The Urbanist’s Endorsed Candidates at Our August 17th Party

Tickets are limited. Get yours now to meet our newly announced endorsed candidates at our summer garden party. Mingle with urbanists from across the region and prepare for the election fight ahead.
The six panelists sit at a table with the Urbanist U logo on it and Ryna Packer is off to the side moderating.

Urbanism on the Eastside Panel Hints at Suburban Sea Change

At The Urbanist's “Urbanism on the Eastside” panel earlier this month, panelists discussed a sea change happening in the suburbs that are beginning to urbanize and break free of car dependence. Check out this recap of the discussion.

More events posts »

Support Our Work

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.

Redmond Supportive Housing Project Advances After Appeals Thrown Out

The pair of appeals focused on alleged impact from providing too few off-street parking stalls, but the Hearing Examiner upheld City's decision to permit the project. Plymouth Housing's long-planned project can now advance toward construction.
The six panelists sit at a table with the Urbanist U logo on it and Ryna Packer is off to the side moderating.

Urbanism on the Eastside Panel Hints at Suburban Sea Change

At The Urbanist's “Urbanism on the Eastside” panel earlier this month, panelists discussed a sea change happening in the suburbs that are beginning to urbanize and break free of car dependence. Check out this recap of the discussion.
A six story apartment building in Sammamish next to a roundabout

Sammamish Council Pursues Denser Town Center Vision Amid Backlash

Sammamish will study increasing the upper limit on housing in its Town Center to 4,000 units, after nearly two decades of anemic growth under a previous growth framework. The 6-1 vote came after a significant amount of community opposition and misinformation.

More Eastside Coverage posts »

A woman jogs down Wallingford Avenue on a block of single family homes with Lake Union and the Seattle skyline in the background.

Op-Ed: Seattle Council Should Scale Up Neighborhood Centers in Growth Plan

On Monday, June 23, the Seattle City Council is holding a public hearing on the One Seattle growth plan. Housing advocates must defend the 29 neighborhood centers in the plan and push to add more. Jazmine Smith lays out the case for these eight additions.

Harrell Official Minimizes Cuts to Housing Growth Centers as ‘Very Small’

After dozens of blocks were dropped from the One Seattle housing growth plan, planner Michael Hubner downplayed the changes as minimal. The Seattle Planning Commission painted the move as pushing the city is headed in the wrong direction.

Judge Dismisses Last-Ditch Challenges of Draft Seattle Growth Plan

Quick decisions by a King County Superior Court ruled that two separate challenges to the One Seattle Plan's environmental review will have to wait until the Seattle City Council makes a final decision on the growth plan.

More One Seattle Plan posts »

Transportation

More transportation posts »

Land Use/Housing

More land use/housing posts »

Commentary

More commentary posts »

A line forms out the door into the plaza at El Centro de la Raza.

An Audio Recap of The Urbanist’s ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel

Want a deep dive on the latest in Seattle housing policy? The Urbanist has you covered. Check out this recording and transcript of our April housing panel with experts.

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 in a bike helmet along a bike path with an autumn-colored tree behind

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.

More podcast episodes »