Washington

Proposed Water Pollution Rules Await Federal Approval in Washington State

A long and contentious battle, including threats fro the U.S. Environmental protection Agency, could soon find resolution.

August 5, 2016 - The Daily News

Seattle Light Rail Construction

Details of the Seattle's Big ST3 Light Rail Plan

The $54 billion ST3 plan would add 62 miles of light rail over 25 years.

August 5, 2016 - Seattle Transit Blog

Architect Declares the End of Micro-Housing in Seattle

Though housing advocates consider micro-housing units a helpful tool in keeping housing affordable, the city of Seattle has nonetheless produced a series of regulations making such projects harder and harder to build.

July 24, 2016 - Neiman Taber

Alaskan Way Viaduct

Bertha Effect: Tunnel Project Delayed Until 2019, Plus $223 Million in Overruns

The chickens have come home to roost in Seattle, where the state has tallied up the cost and time overruns for the Highway 99 tunnel project.

July 23, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Pac-Man

Friday Funny: Seattle Street to Pay Homage to Pac-Man

The people's choice: Pac-Man.

July 22, 2016 - CityLab

Seattle City Council

Seattle Mayor Proposes a More Inclusive Department of Neighborhoods

The leadership at the city of Seattle has noticed that the people representing neighborhoods on the city's district councils don't reflect the population of the city.

July 14, 2016 - Publicola

Apartments for rent signage

Op-Ed: We Shouldn't Rush to Regulate Airbnb

Is Airbnb a prime target for regulation, or is it just another way to expand the marketplace for bedrooms? Dan Bertolet urges caution. After all, couldn't less Airbnb just mean more hotels?

July 11, 2016 - Sightline Institute

Five State Gas Tax Changes Tomorrow

On July 1, two states will increase gas taxes, one will decrease its tax, and two will be adjusted downwards per state legislation, according to Carl Davis, research director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).

June 30, 2016 - Tax Justice Blog

Seattle

Rezoning Proposed for Seattle's University District

Intended to make the most of a planned light rail station, the city of Seattle has proposed a zoning overhaul for the University District.

June 24, 2016 - The Urbanist

Los Angeles

West Coast Cities Redefining Height With Batch of New Skyscrapers

The title of tallest building west of the Mississippi, property of the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles since 1989, will soon go to another building. What does that say about the post-recession of West Coast cities?

June 22, 2016 - The Architect's Newspaper

Nuclear Reactor Building

University of Washington Prevails in Preservation Battle Over its 'Nuclear Reactor Building'

It's a story of Goliath beating David in a preservationist fight in Seattle, but not before raising questions about how a university fits intot he city's regulatory environment.

June 19, 2016 - Crosscut

Seattle Skyline from Kerry Park

Tracking Airbnb's Growth in Seattle

A recent study of the Airbnb rental units in Seattle shows a growing supply of short-term rental units, which is also cutting into the city's available rental housing stock.

June 17, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Spokane Skywalk

Calling for a Moratorium on Skywalks in Spokane

Despite declining use of existing skywalks in the city and a new appreciation of the importance of a pedestrian-friendly streetscape, developers are moving forward with several plans to add new skywalks around downtown Spokane.

June 15, 2016 - Spokane Rising

Gentrification

Seattle Approves New Tenant Protection Laws

Renters have new protections in a quickly growing city with more and more pressure on rental prices.

June 11, 2016 - Crosscut

Did Amazon Really Just Create a Pop-up Homeless Shelter?

As cities around the U.S. scramble to figure out how to address the housing affordability crisis, one of them has now leaned on the benevolence of what some consider the least benevolent of them all.

June 10, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Portland Transit

Rail Transit: You Get What You Pay For

Seattle Transit blog compares rail investments from five cities around the country.

June 9, 2016 - Seattle Transit Blog

Seattle Apartments

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards

Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

May 30, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Seattle & Mt. Rainier

When Mt. Rainier Blows, What Will Be Left?

As with most natural disasters, it's not a question of 'if' but 'when' when it comes to the eruption of Mount Rainier in Washington state. Scientists lay out a scenario for what to expect when the volcano erupts.

May 28, 2016 - KUOW

Seattle Waterfront

The Why and How of Locating a School in Downtown Seattle

A Seattle writer makes the case for a new school to be located in Downtown Seattle.

May 21, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle Sailboats

Friday Funny: A Scathing Comeback to Seattle's NBA Arena Trolls

Samantha Bee has seen the misogynistic conduct of NBA fans in Seattle after the City Council decided not approve a plan to build a new NBA arena in the city's SoDo neighborhood.

May 20, 2016 - Crosscut

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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.