Image description: a sketch of a Link light rail train at an elevated station with text reading: Move Redmond 12:00 to 4PM May 10th Redmond 2 Line Opening Celebration - trails 2 transit presented by Sound Transit at Downtown Redmond Station..

Eastside

a path between two townhouses with evergreen trees

Bellevue Initiates Middle Housing Planning, but State May Beat Them to It

With a unanimous vote to conclude Tuesday's meeting, Bellevue City Council initiated planning work that would allow middle housing -- such as accessory dwelling...

Report Highlights Puget Sound’s Housing Deficit and Zoning Reform Potential

On Thursday, Urban Institute released a new report focused on the Seattle metropolitan region that is sure to be of interest to urbanists and...
A photo of a city with light rail under construction, streets, and tall modern buildings in the distance

Bellevue Had a Very Busy and Productive 2022

At The Urbanist, we've been intentionally working to expand our coverage of issues around the Puget Sound because the principals of good urban design,...

Street Cafés Becoming a Permanent Amenity in More Puget Sound Cities

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remember, but prior to the onset of the Covid pandemic, street cafés, sometimes called streateries, were few and far...
Picture take from Kirkland facing downtown midrises and City Hall

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...

Redmond’s Aggressive Code Update Imperils 2,500 Homes Planned Near Overlake Station

Redmond has a grand vision for the Overlake neighborhood, which is set to get light rail by 2025. Redmond land use policies have funneled...
A Stay Housed rally with a "Housing is the Cure" banner at Seattle City Hall with a crowd of about 50.

Housing Coalition Passes Tenant Protections Across King County

In 2022, the Stay Housed Stay Healthy Coalition successfully pushed passage of a suite of renter protections in five cities across King County and...

Mercer Island Abandons Long Legal Fight Against Sound Transit

Municipality will pay transit agency $2.1 million and drop claims surrounding East Link extension. Last week, without public discussion, the Mercer Island City Council approved...