Mandatory Housing Affordability

Seattle trails international peer cities in its social housing stock, but there are steps city leaders can take to produce more units and increase affordability.

March 3, 2021 - The Urbanist

Before YIMBY was a household word and before Minneapolis ended single-family zoning, Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) broke the planning status quo.

February 26, 2020 - Sightline Institute

Seattle Councilmember Abel Pacheco writes on opinion piece for The Urbanist to make the case for transit-oriented density on The Ave in the city's University District.

December 10, 2019 - The Urbanist

An article in The Urbanist suggests the ire over new developments is misplaced.

October 31, 2019 - The Urbanist

The corridor along University Way is currently exempt from the wave of upzoning implemented by the city's Mandatory Housing Affordability program, but that exemption is only temporary.

September 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Minneapolis has become an inspiration to other cities about how to successfully challenge NIMBY factions that oppose density and zoning reform.

June 1, 2019 - Grist

Washington's House Bill 1923 is one of a number of bills under consideration this year on the West Coast that attempts to leverage the power of the state for the sake of new development.

May 17, 2019 - The Urbanist

The National League of Cities has a new report surveying local tools for addressing the housing affordability crisis. State partnerships are included.

April 9, 2019 - Governing

An historic moment for planning in Seattle: Density bonuses for affordable housing are now allowed all over the city as Seattle implements a big piece of its long-percolating Mandatory Housing Affordability plan.

March 19, 2019 - The Seattle Times

The mayor and a councilmember both made potentially sweeping proposals to address displacement as the city moves forward with plans to upzone neighborhoods, in keeping with the Mandatory Housing Affordability policy.

March 1, 2019 - The Urbanist

Since a city judge determined the legality of the long controversial Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, Seattle has been able to move forward with the plan to allow new density around the city.

December 6, 2018 - The Seattle Times

A critical analysis of a proposal that would incrementally increase density in parts of Seattle.

March 28, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Seattle has released the long-awaited environmental impact statement for the Mandatory Housing Affordability program—a final step in the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda process launched by former Mayor Ed Murray.

November 12, 2017 - Seattle Met

The vision for Aurora-Licton Springs includes more pedestrian-friendly housing developments—not the drive-in businesses, recycling and solid waste, vehicle sales, and mini-storage business that currently get permitted and built.

October 3, 2017 - The Urbanist

Seattle is planning to add height and density in "urban villages" around the city—part of the growth and affordability goals targeted by previous planning efforts by the city.

June 11, 2017 - The Urbanist

A large swatch of downtown and an adjacent neighborhood can develop taller and denser after the Seattle City Council approved zoning changes this week.

April 16, 2017 - The Seattle Times

The Sightline Institute tackles what may be "our most acute urban public policy challenge."

May 8, 2016 - Sightline Institute

A critical component of the landmark and controversial Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) platform, announced first in July 2015.

April 30, 2016 - The Seattle Times

The Seattle City Council recently took the first legislative step in the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) process.

November 11, 2015 - The Urbanist

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