Staff Biography
Ryan Packer
Contributing EditorRyan Packer lives in the Summit Slope neighborhood of Capitol Hill. They are on the board of the Friends of Pike Place Market and write about transportation issues at Capitol Hill Seattle. They believe in using Seattle’s history to attain the vibrant, diverse city that we wish to inhabit. Follow them on Twitter @typewriteralley or email at ryan [at] theurbanist [dot] org.
Recent Articles
House Committee Waters Down Parking Reform Bill to Placate Local Opposition
Issaquah Rep. Victoria Hunt added long implementation timelines and additional exemptions to Washington's parking reform bill as it passed out of Local Government Committee on Friday. Bill sponsors still tout the policy's significant potential to reduce costs for homebuilding.
City of Seattle Pushes to Dismiss Appeals Blocking Housing Growth Plan
The six appeals against the One Seattle housing plan had been headed toward a lengthy hearing later this spring. But a filing by the City seeks to dismiss the appeals much more quickly, allowing the plan to move forward.
Seattle Council Lifts Ban on Housing in Stadium District
The 6-3 vote ends a long debate which rehashed a dormant fight over the future of Seattle's Stadium District. With the door now open to residential uses, industrial advocates warn of the continued erosion of the city's industrial lands.
Federal Funding Review Jeopardizes $25 Million for Sound Transit Infill Station
Funds for Sound Transit's long-planned Graham Street Station between Columbia City and Othello are swept up in a review of USDOT grants awarded for projects that encourage active transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Who Is Hunter George, Sound Transit’s Newest Board Member?
A longtime councilmember from the small city of Fircrest, George brings a regional perspective on behalf of the South Sound area and an acknowledgement of the strong headwinds that Sound Transit faces, particularly in Pierce County.