Mayor Ed Murray

Seattle skyline

Lesson from Seattle: Zoning Is a Political Debate, Not a Policy Debate

The swift rejection of a proposal to upzone residential neighborhoods in Seattle inspired The Urbanist to evaluate the lessons of the episode. One takeaway: don't demonize single-family homeowners.

August 12, 2015 - The Urbanist

Seattle's 'Oh So Human' Hesitations About Change

Seattle's recent Housing and Livability Agenda (HALA) recommendations have created a sensational dialogue about zoning, affordability and neighborhood change. Chuck Wolfe explains how this may create an unprecedented basis for consensus in the city.

August 9, 2015 - Crosscut

Can Seattle Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis With Zoning?

Seattle returns to zoning as a tool to promote the construction of affordable housing.

July 14, 2015 - CityLab

Detaching the Family Car from Single-Family Housing

As parking reform takes to multi-family housing, the detached single family home has largely escaped discussion. Should it? Seattle (of course) is taking the lead. Also, is all of Minneapolis ready to eliminate parking minimums along transit lines?

July 14, 2015 - Streetsblog Network

Suburban Dead End

The End of Single-Family Housing? Seattle Housing Committee Creates a Stir

A draft report, by the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) Advisory Committee created by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, includes language about single-family zoning that has provoked debate.

July 8, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Mayor to Create New 'Office of Planning and Community Development'

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced the creation of a cabinet-level Office of Planning and Community Development to address the city's explosive growth.

June 24, 2015 - The Urbanist

Seattle Searching for Answers on Affordable Housing

The city of Seattle has a stated goal of creating 30,000 new market rate housing units and 20,000 new or newly rent-restricted units in the city in the next 10 years. How to do so is the question currently before local officials.

June 10, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Can Seattle Build 20,000 Affordable Units in 10 Years?

Frank Chiachiere provides some advice on how Seattle can achieve its ambitious goals for affordable housing over the next decade: build transit to places where land is less expensive.

April 10, 2015 - Seattle Transit Blog

Bell Street Seattle

'Move Seattle': a $900 Million Plan to End the 'Multi-Modal Wars'

City officials in Seattle have proposed a levy on property owners that would finance an integrated approach to transportation infrastructure improvements.

March 25, 2015 - Crosscut

Tent Cities Proposed for Homeless in Seattle

The mayor and City Council of Seattle will consider a controversial measure to combat its surging homeless population.

January 26, 2015 - ThinkProgress

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

'Seattle's Greatest Social and Economic Experiment Is about to Begin'

That's how USA Today reporter John Bacon concluded his video on the Seattle City Council's historic vote to increase the city minimum wage to $15/hour in 3-7 years depending on the business. The outcome was never in doubt due to prior deliberations.

June 4, 2014 - USA Today

Seattle DOT to Head in a Different Direction

A change in mayoral administrations means a change at the top of Seattle's Department of Transportation. After almost four years, Peter Hahn will make way for a new director. Lynn Thompson examines his accomplishments and hints at what may be ahead.

November 26, 2013 - The Seattle Times

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