As Seattle enters an era where fewer builders are lining up to build office towers and residential skyscrapers, the city's permit department is scrambling to catch up. Despite last-minute concerns raised Monday around a 18% permit fee increase, that change is poised to take effect next year.

Already under scrutiny for potential violations of state housing law, the city of Clyde Hill's new restrictions make its middle housing code one of the most restrictive in the state.

Long promised and approved by voters in 2016, the cost to build two deferred light rail stations in Seattle and Tukwila has jumped by more than two-thirds in just a few short years. The two projects are likely to be put under a microscope along with the big-ticket ST3 rail extensions.

As the Sound Transit board approaches the point of grappling with how to rebalance the entire Sound Transit 3 package, transit advocates are urging them to look for new solutions outside of project delays or cancellations.

In announcing his 100-person transition team, King County Executive-elect Girmay Zahilay put housing issues front-and-center. He faces a short runway as the first new leader elected at the county level since 2009, and will take office on November 25.