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Opinion

Op-Ed: Monuments Teach Important Historical Lessons… If We Don’t Hide Them Away

Monuments can help cities tell their history and forge a culture. But to do a good job of it requires telling the whole story of the region, not just elites and colonizers. And the monuments need to be front and center.
The spring district light rail station with public art

An Urbanist Guide to Things To Do in Bellevue’s BelRed

BelRed combines a nascent South Lake Union, SoDo, and the International District. Spring District Station has a South Lake Union feel with tech offices emerging from a large light industrial presence. Both have some hidden gems.
Aerial view of houses near Lake Washington at sunset.

Op-Ed: The Case for Accessory Dwelling Units

Accessory dwelling units like backyard cottages and basement apartments support sustainable development plans as they typically require fewer resources during construction, are energy-efficient, and minimize urban sprawl. They are one effective way to add density to single family areas.

Op-Ed: Don’t Delay Light Rail Expansion with SLU Dithering

Send a letter to the Sound Transit Board to urge them to avoid delay in South Lake Union and advance the highest ridership Ballard Link light rail alignment possible.
An aerial photo shows Tacoma's waterfront separated from its downtown towers by its elevated I-705 freeway.

New Tacoma Waterfront Park Begs for I-705 Freeway Removal

Melanie LaPlant Dressel Park opened on April 11 as a beautiful park far away from the rest of the city. An elevated, wide ribbon of concrete — the roaring I-705 freeway — separates the park from its users. Tacoma should remove this barrier.
A crane lowers the sport car at the edge of the hottub with the Space Needle and uptown view in the background.

Op-Ed: Hoisting ‘Supercar’ 47 Stories Inaugurates Condo Opening, New Gilded Age

A million-dollar McLaren Elva briefly graced the 47th floor rooftop next to the jacuzzi to promote the "First Light" condo tower opening this summer. The housing market is working quite well for the rich, how about for the rest of us?
A view down Denny Way shows a row of cars. The Amazon campus towers are in the background.

Op-Ed: Chamber Campaigns to Save SLU from Timely Light Rail

The Seattle Chamber of Commerce spend most of their time saying they shouldn’t have to pay higher taxes because the government is inefficient and wasteful. Meanwhile, they are spending a bunch of resources on trying to make the government inefficient and wasteful. South Lake Union light rail decisions are the latest example.

Will Seattle Embrace Multiplexes in Single Family Zones Despite Weak Proposal?

Seattle needs to allow more housing in today's single family zones if it's serious about its housing crisis. Strict multiplex size restrictions need to go from the Mayor's growth plan.