Navigating Kirkland’s Pedestrian Nightmare — And Paradise
Whenever I write an article or series that charts the development of cities and neighborhoods in the Puget Sound, I always make an effort...
Seattle Must Stop Giving A/C the Cold Shoulder
Air Conditioning and Summer Insulation are Necessities, Not Amenities.
After moving to Seattle in 2020 from Southern California, I was surprised to find that the...
Google Planned New Sustainable High-Rise Campus in Kirkland
Update: On January 20th, 2023, the City of Kirkland announced that Google will not be proceeding with the sale of the Lee Johnson site...
Seattle’s Geologic Hazards Can Be Overwhelming, But Preparation Can Start Now
“Seismic” buttons in Seattle’s elevators hide ubiquitously in plain sight. When I was new to the city last year, these buttons were a reminder...
Kirkland Smaller Development Node Spotlight: A Jumble of Car-centric and Smart Density
Having covered developments in transforming Totem Lake as well as the Downtown and Rose Hill corridor, what remains to tally up in Kirkland are...
Seattle Public Utilities’ Drifting Code Interpretation Drives Up Housing Costs
SPU's justification for water main extensions relies on misunderstanding of Seattle Municipal Code. The results can be absurd: $800,000 in water main work for...
Seattle Public Utilities Is Exacting Impermissible Capital Improvement Fees
Project requirements suggest a pattern of double charging, which nearly sunk a 160-unit affordable housing project in Beacon Hill.
Navigating the Seattle permitting system is...
Sunday Video: What Is This “Line” Thing Anyway?
With drone footage showing construction beginning on Saudi Arabia's half-trillion dollar megaproject called The Line, it's useful to ask what's going on in the...