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..

Land Use

The Sexiest Part of the Zoning Ordinance

In the dark recesses of the municipal code, between definitions of Electric Vehicles and Entrance Ramps, Seattle’s zoning ordinance turns sexy. It lustily describes...

Sunday Video: Why Don’t Cities Use Hexagon Blocks?

Dave Amos of City Beautiful talks about hexagon blocks and explains how they could offer a better urban form than the traditional gridiron. They...

Sunday Video: Freiburg Is A Lesson In City Building

Freiburg im Breisgau is famous in planning spheres for its high rates of biking, walkable suburbs, and green ways of building. Mike Eliason has...

Appeal Could Force Alki Elementary To Trade Classroom Space for Parking Stalls

An appeal brought by neighbors threatens to delay construction and heap costs on cash-strapped Seattle Public Schools. Construction on a new Alki Elementary School in...

Sunday Video: CityNerd Visits Seattle and Talks Freeway-Adjacent Rail (Hello, Northgate)

In September, Ray Delahanty of CityNerd made a visit to his hometown, Seattle, to ride Link light rail and share some takeaways from the...
Tree-lined street view of 3rd Ave downtown Seattle.

Seattle Council Approves Batch of Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan Rezones

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's pitch to rezone parts of downtown has succeeded. The mayor had made two particular rezones for highrise housing along Third...

Morales Proposes Zoning Boost for Equitable Development

Under the pilot program, up to 35 qualifying projects could get a density boost for adding affordable homes in historically marginalized communities. Workforce housing is...
A construction worker gathers supplies as the light filters through the clouds. One story of the four story building is complete at this point.

Op-Ed: Impact Fees Are Just Another Exclusionary Housing Policy in Disguise

Seattle is misguidedly preparing to levy impact fees on homebuilders amidst a housing crisis. Seattle is in a housing crisis, a direct result of decades-long...