Seattle’s Land Use Map
Seattle’s Land Use Code Blog- Latest Micro Housing Debate: How Many Sinks Are Enough? May 7, 2013If you went into the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church last night seeking fellowship or edification there was little to be had. Instead it was the scene of the latest set-piece battle in the wider war between NIMBY … Continue reading →
- Urbanism Without Effort? Let It Be! May 6, 2013Anyone who knows Chuck Wolfe, author of Urbanism Without Effort, knows he has an agile mind an encyclopedic knowledge of local land use law and lore. But you’ll also know that he is not one who seeks attention by taking … Continue reading →
- Land Use and Dance: Make Me Feel Weird April 19, 2013Two things happened yesterday that point where we can go as a city when it comes to growth. The first, in the middle of the day, was a public scourging of a housing type, small, affordable apartments. Erica Barnett wrote … Continue reading →
- Supply Isn’t A Four Letter Word Anymore March 11, 2013Something amazing is happening in the discussion about housing and affordability in Seattle: people are starting to talk about how building more housing can lower housing prices. Supply, a word seemingly reserved only for the Master Builders Association, is beginning … Continue reading →
- Is There an Apodment Moratorium in the Works? March 6, 2013The rumors are flying: The Seattle City Council is preparing to consider legislation that would shut down, or at least hinder, more development of apodments,* the small affordable apartment dwellings that have been popping up in town. The arguments against … Continue reading →
- Seattle’s Silent Epidemic: The Ferris Firefighter Fantasy March 2, 2013Hal Ferris, a local developer, has achieved some notoriety of late with his report on incentive zoning, completed at the behest of Mayoral candidate and current City Councilmember Tim Burgess. But maybe Ferris should be known as the inventor of … Continue reading →
- Bismarck to Burgess: Do Affordable Units Mean Fairness, Equity, and Public Benefit? February 25, 2013The basis of social policy is to ensure the welfare and health of a population, specifically the population of a political unit like a country, state, or city. Housing and shelter are commonly accepted as important elements of basic welfare … Continue reading →
- Latest Micro Housing Debate: How Many Sinks Are Enough? May 7, 2013
Category Archives: 4. I don’t understand
Land Use and Dance: Make Me Feel Weird
Two things happened yesterday that point where we can go as a city when it comes to growth. The first, in the middle of the day, was a public scourging of a housing type, small, affordable apartments. Erica Barnett wrote … Continue reading
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Is There an Apodment Moratorium in the Works?
The rumors are flying: The Seattle City Council is preparing to consider legislation that would shut down, or at least hinder, more development of apodments,* the small affordable apartment dwellings that have been popping up in town. The arguments against … Continue reading
Posted in 4. I don't understand, Uncategorized
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Bismarck to Burgess: Do Affordable Units Mean Fairness, Equity, and Public Benefit?
The basis of social policy is to ensure the welfare and health of a population, specifically the population of a political unit like a country, state, or city. Housing and shelter are commonly accepted as important elements of basic welfare … Continue reading
Posted in 4. I don't understand, Uncategorized
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NIMBYism Distillate: What We Get When Council Coddles Growth Opponents
Here we have what someone has called NIMBYism Distillate: Distillate is defined as “a purified form; an essence.” Yes, I think that’s the right word. I need to learn more about the project referenced by this poster, but I already … Continue reading
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Real Incentive Zoning: Extend the Living Building Program!
Simply put, an incentive zoning program would give developers a chance to increase return on their investment and reduce costs in exchange for providing some public benefit the City is unable or unwilling to provide. The City’s Living Building Program … Continue reading
Posted in 2.Local change, 4. I don't understand
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Land Use and Censorship: It’s Time to Speak Up
It is actually harder to nail down a good definition of censorship that one might think. Since the word is so loaded, it means different things to different people. I won’t bother to go through all the different senses of … Continue reading
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Moving from ‘Talk’ to ‘Do’
Here’s my dilemma. I care about this city, Seattle, and what happens to it over the next twenty years. But I feel like we spend more time talking, clearing our throats, and adjusting our clothes in the mirror, rather than … Continue reading
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Facebook Fight! War on Cars edition
This episode of Facebook Fight (TM) started over some comments about a SLOG post authored by transportation guy par excellence, Ben Schiendelman. Update: Dan Bertolet gets all serious about the “War on Cars” at City Tank. A bunch of folks … Continue reading
“Different views on that issue”
Most of the conversation at tonight’s meeting on the Roosevelt Station to be built by Sound Transit revolved around the impacts of construction on the neighborhood and the effects of the functioning station on things like parking and traffic. But … Continue reading
Posted in 2.Local change, 4. I don't understand
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Chapter 23.58A Incentive Provisions
I just wrote about the concept of incentive zoning with an eye toward the regulation and economics of housing affordability. There is a lot to talk and think about on this topic. But I am going to do my best … Continue reading
Posted in 2.Local change, 4. I don't understand, Uncategorized
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