More recent posts »
Development charges, fees, and taxes contribute to a significant proportion of new housing costs. In many cities in the North America, these have been increasing much faster than inflation. But why are they increasing so much, what are they use used for, and how does this affect housing? Uytae Lee of About Here dives into the thorny issue and talks about potential alternatives to the prevailing paradigm.
Recent Posts
Quiz Your Knowledge with The Urbanist Crossword Puzzle for May 18
Take the third installment of The Urbanist's crossword series, which runs every two weeks. If you love to take a contemplative moment with a brain-teasing puzzle, but you’re tired of nationally syndicated crosswords with no local flair or stance on high-capacity transit, you’re right where you need to be.
Turn Out for Housing at Seattle Hearings This Week
There are two important housing fights coming up next week. Public hearings are scheduled on Monday and Wednesday, and advocates need to ensure Seattle's plan for middle housing keeps advancing and long-promised affordable housing gets built at Fort Lawton, despite pushback.
Op-Ed: Seattle Should Ban Employers from Discriminating Against Unhoused Job Applicants
In the middle of a homelessness crisis, Seattle is still allowing employers to reject qualified job applicants simply because they don’t have a permanent address. That’s discrimination, and the Seattle City Attorney should lead the way in banning the practice.
Special Summer Transit Options Increase Multimodal Access Across Puget Sound
Summer in Puget Sound means the return of Trailhead Direct, Bicycle Weekends, Seattle's free Waterfront Shuttle, and the Hurricane Ridge Shuttle.
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.
Seattle Police Want to Add StarChase Car Tracking to Technology...
StarChase consists of GPS tracker launchers attached to police patrol cars that can deploy a GPS tracking tag onto another vehicle. The Seattle Police Department contends that acquiring this technology will help apprehend criminals without dangerous high-speed chases, but critics argue StarChase’s efficacy is low and deployment would expand the scope of warrantless surveillance.
Op-Ed: Five Ways to Lower Rents in Seattle
Here are five things Seattle leaders could be doing to lower your rent, in observance of Affordable Housing Week.
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.
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.
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.
Crowds Come Out to Celebrate Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension
Eastside leaders speechified and cut the ribbon on the Downtown Redmond Link light rail extension on Saturday. Thousands thronged the 2 Line to get their first look at the two new stations that opened, bringing the full line to ten stations.
Everything You Need to Know About Downtown Redmond Link
Light rail finally arrives in Downtown Redmond Saturday, the culmination of years of work by Eastside leaders to bring high-capacity transit to this growth hub.
Redmond Sees New Neighborhood Burgeon Around Marymoor Park as Light Rail...
The 2017 Marymoor Village growth center has led to a number of larger multifamily developments in the area around Marymoor Park in Southeast Redmond. This weekend, light rail finally arrives.
More Eastside Coverage posts »
Turn Out for Housing at Seattle Hearings This Week
There are two important housing fights coming up next week. Public hearings are scheduled on Monday and Wednesday, and advocates need to ensure Seattle's plan for middle housing keeps advancing and long-promised affordable housing gets built at Fort Lawton, despite pushback.
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.
The Deck is Stacked Against Stacked Flats in Seattle
Once plentiful across the city, small apartment buildings with flats stacked on top of one another are incredibly rare in new construction. The reasons behind that are multifaceted, and stemming the tide will take a push on multiple levels of government.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
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 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 »