Seattle

Beware of Energy Rankings for Cities

In a special "Energy for Tomorrow" report, The New York Times looks at "clean city rankings" of energy efficiency and land use. But ranking cities is no easy task—"winners on one list may appears as sinners on another."

December 10, 2015 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Tukwila Intl Blvd Station Park and Ride

King County Metro Looks to the App to Solve the First Mile Problem

An app is helping to bring transit riders from their home to the nearest park-and-ride in King County, Washington.

December 7, 2015 - Crosscut

Demolition

Seattle Is Teardown Town

Mansionization, that conspicuous manifestation of the demand for larger homes, is alive and well in Seattle.

December 3, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Rental Market Trending Toward the Affordable

The Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that landlords and developers are concerned about the effects on the market from a wave of new housing supply ready to come online in the region.

November 24, 2015 - Puget Sound Business Journal

Gum Wall

Seattle's Famous Gum Wall Spiffed Up for the First Time in 20 Years

A unique landmark has been eradicated, at least temporarily. The Gum Wall located in Post Alley of the Seattle Pike Place Market, has been stripped of its sticky essence.

November 17, 2015 - King 5 News

Commercial Linkage Fee Approved—Seattle Moving Forward with Affordable Housing Agenda

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

November 11, 2015 - The Urbanist

More Cities Declaring a State of Emergency Over Homelessness

Seattle is the latest city to declare a state of emergency in response to homelessness in the city. Los Angeles, Portland, and Hawaii took similar steps in recent months.

November 8, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Moves in a Big Way on Election Day

Prop. 1, a $930 million, nine-year transportation levy backed by Mayor Ed Murray, was approved by 54 percent of Seattle voters on Nov. 3 to the delight of bus, bike, pedestrian and good roads advocates. First order of business: Safe Routes to School.

November 6, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Southeast Seattle Sidewalks

Seattle Has a Low-Cost Plan for 250 Blocks of New Sidewalks

Seattle political leadership recently announced an ambitious plan to build more sidewalks with less money.

November 3, 2015 - The Urbanist

Op-Ed Calls Density the 'Mortal Enemy of Trees'—Debate Ensues

A surprising argument from an article in Seattle publication Crosscut this week: density is the mortal enemy of trees.

October 29, 2015 - Crosscut

California Bullet Train

Report: Cost Overruns and Deadline Constraints Plague California High-Speed Rail

At the heart of the financial and deadline challenges facing the $68 billion high-speed rail project are 36 miles of tunneling north of Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Times analysis that includes interviews with experts on mega-projects.

October 28, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Controversial 'Bus and Bike' Ballot Measure on Seattle's November Ballot

Seattle voters will decide on Prop. 1, a $985 million transportation levy known as Move Seattle, unanimously endorsed by the City Council and strongly backed by Mayor Ed Murray. However, the bus and bike priorities attracted a well-funded opponent.

October 27, 2015 - King 5 News

Debunking the Data Behind Seattle's 'Explosion of Demolitions'

According to an article by The Urbanist, some Seattle publications might have been caught telling people what they want to hear, rather than offering clear perspective on the building trends of the city.

October 22, 2015 - The Urbanist

Seattle Apartments

Advocates Push for Affordable Housing on Dormant Public Property

Affordable housing advocates are pushing the city to use underutilized city owned property to build more housing, but it doesn't always pencil out.

October 21, 2015 - Seattle Times

Seatle Skyline

Lawyer Sees the 'Ghost of Seattle's Future'

This favorable profile of Jack McCullough, a Seattle lawyer representing developers, highlights his role as a deal-maker. Recent agreements between his clients and Mayor Ed Murray may preserve a path forward for affordable housing.

October 16, 2015 - The Seattle Times

San Francisco View from Dolores Park

Seattle Looks to San Francisco—For What Not To Do

San Francisco has long been the envy of other cities. But in recent years, as real estate prices have skyrocketed and the city's soul seems on the wane, many cities have begun looking at San Francisco as an example of what not to do.

October 14, 2015 - The New York Times

Seattle Bikeshare Going Public

The city of Seattle is considering a significant public investment in its bikeshare system, treading where some cities have feared to tread.

October 7, 2015 - The Urbanist

Seattle Transit

Major Transit Service Improvements in Seattle

Late last month, the final phase of Seattle's Prop. 1 went into effect, bringing across-the-board improvements to bus and train frequency.

October 7, 2015 - Seattle Transit Blog

Road Diet

Reaching Vision Zero: Road Diets and Wider Lanes?

Slowing traffic by reducing the width of lanes should not be a one-size fits all approach to reaching Vision Zero.

October 5, 2015 - The Urbanist

urban park

Pavement Parks: a Better Parklet Alternative

Too often, street-side parklets become little more than semi-private patios for the businesses that sponsor them. Pavement parks, replacing dangerous intersections, may be a more worthwhile option.

October 4, 2015 - Next City

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

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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.