Seattle

If Housing Affordability Is Top Concern, Let Metro Regions Sprawl
Research from BuildZoom, a San Francisco-based contractors' website, shows that housing affordability increases with a region's ability to build outwards, as opposed to upwards. Densification largely has not accompanied efforts to curb sprawl.

Sweeping Speed Limit Reductions Proposed for Seattle's Streets
Two Seattle councilmembers are proposing a large, necessary step toward slowing drivers enough to eliminate traffic deaths in the city.

Roads Not Taken: Reimagining a Different Seattle
In 1851 the City of Seattle could have been a vastly different place if alternative development decisions had been made that took the original inhabitants, nature, and topography into consideration.

Seattle's 'Pathway Home' Initiative Seeks Housing First Strategy for Homeless
'Housing first' has become a policy buzzword of sorts to describe an approach to homeless services. A pair of new reports on the homelessness situation in Seattle finds consensus on the need for a housing first policy.

This November, Four Major Transportation Measures at Stake
If you live in Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you have more to look forward to in November than choosing Donald or Hillary. Major decisions concerning regional transportation are on the line.

Critiquing the Implementation of Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan
A status update of the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan leaves a writer wondering if the backlog of pedestrian infrastructure maintenance will grow while only a few planned projects get built.

Reviewing Potential Amendments to the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan
The Seattle City Council is currently considering the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan. The plan could change significantly from Mayor Ed Murray's proposed draft to the final, approved version.

Light Rail Ridership Takes Off in Seattle After Expansion
Besting all expectations, ridership numbers have increased 83 percent since Seattle's Sound Transit light rail system added two new stations, connecting downtown to the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood and the University of Washington.

Debating Seattle's Growth
There's plenty to talk about in a city where rents have increased by 51 percent since 2010.

Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Gets Committee Approval in Seattle
A key component of the city of Seattle's Housing Affordability and and Livability Agenda moved forward earlier this week.

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.

Good News on Car Sharing
Car sharing networks that allow the vehicle to be returned to any location were found to have the impact of removing seven cars for each rented car in San Diego in a three-year study released July 19.
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.

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.

Friday Funny: Seattle Street to Pay Homage to Pac-Man
The people's choice: Pac-Man.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service