Urbanist Theory

A view of the eastern half of South Lake Union with Capitol Hill and First Hill apartment towers in the background.

Urbanism 101: Solutions to the Housing Crisis and Bad Zoning

Restrictive zoning has contributed to the housing crisis across the U.S. and exacerbated inequality, but solutions exist to undo the damage. Here's an overview.
An aerial shot of cookie cutter houses in a subdivision.

Urbanism 101: Zoning’s History and Role in the Housing Crisis

Originally hatched as a subtler method to promote racial segregation, zoning ended up planting the seeds of our present day housing crisis. This Zoning 101 guide delves into how that history unfolded.
A parent with a toddle in hand on a brick plaza.

Urbanism 101: 15-Minute Cities, Walkability, and Accessibility

What is a 15 minute city and how might Seattle be able to get closer to achieving it? Other cities around the world offer a model.
A box of carrots and other produce with rows of plantings in the background.

Urbanism 101: How Urban Agriculture Can Boost Food Security

Producing food locally boosts food security and self-sufficiency, especially in urban areas. Beacon Food Forest and Tilth Alliance are advancing urban agriculture in Seattle, joining an international trend.

Sunday Video: Should Cities Be Circular?

Dave Amos of City Beautiful talks about some examples of circular cities and the history of circle cities. Whether circle cities are deeply practical...

Urbanism 101: Tactical Urbanism

Street improvements are often long and drawn-out affairs. Pop-up projects can show otherwise. Urban projects can take a significant amount of time and financing to...

In Defense of Little or No Plans

American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham’s famous "make no small plans" imperative is destroying your city and your life. You should get a bingo...

Let the Robots Write the Ordinance

Planners have a lot to wrestle with as ChatGPT comes to code drafting. “In the era of rapid urbanization and evolving urban landscapes, the development...