Seattle

Wood, Timber, Forestry, Logging

Why Jay Inslee Should Embrace Cross-Laminated Timber

With a timber rich state and a desire to fight climate change, mass timber and CLT could become Jay Inslee's signature green economy success in Washington State.

August 26, 2019 - ConorBronsdon

Tree Canopy

In the Housing Market, a Few Decades Makes a Huge Difference

"[P]erhaps at this point, this column should include a trigger warning for any young couple traumatized by the current housing market around here."

August 23, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Seattle Residents Wary of Urban Greening Efforts

Parts of the city desperately need more trees, but some residents worry about the long-term effects of tree planting in neighborhoods.

August 15, 2019 - Crosscut

Olympic Mountains

State Law Allows for Local Reform of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act

Reform of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is underway at the local level after a new state bill offered "safe harbor" under the law for a menu of land use and development reforms.

August 13, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle

Floating Train Bridge Arriving in Seattle

The never-before-used design is already being built.

August 12, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Trail

Parks Levy Headed for Approval in Seattle's King County

King County, Seattle spends 80 of its parks operating budget with money generated from a levy imposed on homeowners. After approving the levy most recently in 2013, voters are supporting it again this week.

August 7, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Alaskan Way Viaduct

Congestion Pricing Gains Traction in Seattle

Congestion pricing is a popular subject of conversation in Seattle, even if the idea hasn't yet proven popular with voters. The city is looking for ways to lead on climate change by reducing emissions from transportation.

July 31, 2019 - Crosscut

Seattle Streetcar

Central City Connector Streetcar Inches Forward in Seattle

In the first signs of life for the beleaguered transit project in over a year, Seattle officials found some of the money they need to proceed with the Central City Connector streetcar project.

July 30, 2019 - The Urbanist

The Village

'Community Preference' Housing Policy Under the Microscope on Either Side of the Country

A new study out of New York City reveals the worsening effects of segregation due to the city's "community preference" affordable housing policy, Seattle sets out to craft a policy of its own.

July 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Amtrak Acela

Report Makes Business Case for Vancouver-to-Portland High Speed Rail

Washington State released a report detailing the business case for connecting Seattle to Portland and Vancouver by high-speed rail.

July 19, 2019 - Business in Vancouver

Wildfire Season

Seattle Clean-Air Shelters to Provide Relief to Residents

Wildfires have caused the city’s air quality to plummet in recent years. The new shelters will give residents a break when the air is not fit to breathe.

July 16, 2019 - CityLab

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Feds Release Capital Investment Grants for Three Rail Transit Projects

Three major public transit projects in the western United States received a major infusion of funding from the federal government this week.

July 12, 2019 - Progressive Railroading

Seattle Skyline from Kerry Park

A 'Green New Deal' for Seattle

The city of Seattle has taken the first steps toward creating a "Green New Deal." Now comes the hard part of deciding on specific policies.

July 10, 2019 - The Urbanist

Victorian Architecture

Seattle Sets a New Standard for Residential Zoning

Seattle is the latest in a series of cities, states, and counties to alter the landscape of land use regulation by approving what the Sightline Institute describes as the "most progressive" ADU policy in the United States.

July 2, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Housing Homeless

Disaster Shelters Housing the Homeless in Washington

Structures initially intended to temporarily house disaster victims are serving a new purpose in Tacoma, Washington—sheltering homeless people and getting them on the path to more permanent housing.

July 1, 2019 - Fast Company

Empty Parking Garage

Op-Ed: 'Mammoth' New Parking Garages Belie Seattle's Green Talk

"Seattle is still a car town at heart," Danny Westneat writes, pointing to a number of gargantuan new parking garages like the 2,300-stall complex at Expedia's new headquarters.

July 1, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Construction Worker

Crowdfunding for Affordable Housing

A new experiment in funding affordable housing is underway in Seattle.

June 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Car-Centric Planning

Congestion Pricing: An Expat View

Writing from London in an Op-Ed for Seattle’s Crosscut, Chuck Wolfe argues for a contextual approach to a much-touted search for transportation equity.

June 23, 2019 - Crosscut

Seattle, Washington

Latest Version of the Seattle Bike Plan Restores Some Previously Discarded Bike Lanes

Budget concerns cut some of the planned bike infrastructure included in the Seattle's updated bike plan earlier this year. The city has responded to some of those concerns with its latest version of the draft plan update.

June 15, 2019 - MyNorthwest

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADU Reform Moves Forward in Seattle

A sweeping reform of Seattle's current accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules is currently underway. Proposed legislation sets the stage for an ADU boom to potentially match Vancouver and Portland.

June 11, 2019 - The Urbanist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.