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HALA

Photo of a single-story duplex in Wallingford, with three-story townhomes behind it.

The Historic Preservation We Need: Four Floors and Corner Stores

We cannot escape the echoes of history. I live in and own a house in a formerly redlined section of Wallingford. This house was...
Seven-story midrise apartments along a pedestrian plaza.

Growing Social Housing in Seattle

Social housing composes 8.6% of Seattle's housing stock, which is well below many peer cities around the globe. Some standouts are far ahead. In...
Bird's eye view of downtown Bremerton with the marina and some midrise buildings in the foreground.

Bremerton Eases Backyard Cottage Restrictions

Bremerton is allowing an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on every single-family lot and waiving parking and owner-occupancy requirements. The City tabled a measure to...

Kenmore and Kirkland Reform Accessory Dwelling Regulations, Snohomish County Could Be Next

Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reform has been taking off across the Puget Sound region. Seattle, Tacoma, and Burien all approved sweeping changes to ADUs...
Backyard cottage with woman in patio and sunset.

City Launches “ADUniverse” Website for Pre-approved Backyard Cottage Designs

On Tuesday, the City of Seattle rolled out a website called ADUniverse that will offer 10 pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) designs and other...

City Reflects on Seattle’s Affordable Housing Progress in 2019

Our city is facing a housing crisis. Before the onset of the pandemic, when the economy was humming and jobs were bountiful, we had...

City’s Plan for Pre-approved Backyard Cottages Shouldn’t Require Uncompensated Labor

It has been nearly two years since Mayor Jenny Durkan directed the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to fast-track pre-approved designs of backyard...
Even a few miles from Downtown, single family homes start taking over. Madrona is not an urban village. (Photo by author)

SCALE Thwarted Again in Latest Appeal of MHA Rezones

Last week, the Growth Management Hearings Board issued a ruling denying an appeal of recent zoning changes brought by a coalition of homeowner groups...