Planning Commission: Harrell’s Growth Plan Will Worsen Inequities and Keep Housing Unaffordable

New at PubliCola:

publicola.com/2024/04/29/pla…

This debate goes way beyond SLU, with the final outcome set to send an incredibly strong signal about whether the Sound Transit board is ready to take the recommendations of transit experts to heart and stop micromanaging individual decisions.

I had no idea Benaroya was so recent. No wonder Sound Transit was so reluctant to rename the station to Symphony, it might confuse the old-timers, and also what if the Hall doesn’t last? They could tear it down and put up a skyscraper any day now.

The real questions are how is it benefitting those in power who keep opposing any increases to density, and then how do we negate that benefit to push them to consider the greater good, or else wrest power from them to implement it ourselves.

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Again, I will credit the Harrell Administration when they’re doing something good, and this is such a thing. That said, as the article notes, the increased problem is likely due to homeless people seeking shelter and warmth, and the city is still failing to do enough to help.

Oh for fuck’s sake. What is WRONG with businesses that they oppose every single effort to provide decent public transit? How much money do they waste that way, and how do their imagined fears of financial loss compare to that and to any actual loss from transit implementations?

We are governed by cowards beholden to the reactionary, shortsighted, and selfish interests of big business, industry, and wealthy homeowners. Any improvement in this will take a lot of pushback against the Harrell Administration and a majority of the Council.

Nelson’s actions will harm not only the so-called gig workers but all workers in Seattle. She is a corporate business tool who should have no place on the City Council.

A popular idea among some of my friend circles is the concept of grouping together to have some kind of communal living place, which is often expressed as being in a suburban or rural setting. This project right in Seattle is much more what I’d be interested in.

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After following The Urbanist’s reporting for years, I finally became a monthly donor at the start of this year, because it is worth supporting good local journalism that advocates for a better Seattle for everyone.

‘“I don’t know who’s supposed to build our housing, if it’s not developers,” Councilmember Tammy J. Morales’

spot on. developers have built every home we have over the last 100+ years, even the affordable ones.

Cocktail Twins: the lounge-music style Cocteau Twins cover band whose time is THREE DECADES OVERDUE. Someone get on that *now*.

If a city violates state housing law, like HB 1110, it must be held accountable. Every city must play its part in ending the housing crisis.

This is the thing that’s making the Harrell Administration so frustrating—Harrell actually is proposing some sensible good changes for the city, but then undercutting or suppressing so many other good opportunities, like the absurdly inadequate Comprehensive Plan draft.

NEW STORY // Policy Lab: Will the Last Progressive in Seattle Turn On the Lights

via @urbanistorg // 🔗 theurbanist.org/2024/04/18/pol…

Relatedly, during a Land Use Committee vote today, CM Moore voted against an affordable housing density bonus pilot program that has extensive public support. seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDet…

I'm really disappointed. Seattle can't waste any more time failing to provide affordable housing. We were elected to take action. This is not a controversial bill. Cutting red tape to let organizations like Habitat for Humanity build more homes is not controversial.

Conservative whine whine whine abt density under the guise of displacement concerns + then when a progressive finds a way to do density that specifically helps marginalized ppl their true, exclusionary colors show. They care more abt trees + parking + suburban vibes than people