Aidan T
@buildhomes.bsky.social
For more housing, Seattle #urbanism #Seattle Seattle YIMBY member, Seattle New Liberals member
It's insane that we accept these kinds of timelines. Other cities in Washington don't do this level of staggering, no one is making us take a decade to go through a zoning cycle.
This is just for the Regional Centers, Urban Centers won't be upzoned until Katie Wilson's term is over
This is just for the Regional Centers, Urban Centers won't be upzoned until Katie Wilson's term is over
January 30, 2026 at 7:50 PM
It's insane that we accept these kinds of timelines. Other cities in Washington don't do this level of staggering, no one is making us take a decade to go through a zoning cycle.
This is just for the Regional Centers, Urban Centers won't be upzoned until Katie Wilson's term is over
This is just for the Regional Centers, Urban Centers won't be upzoned until Katie Wilson's term is over
Good to see there's been no bills looking to strengthen rent control/landlord-tenant regs this year in WA. Shows good legislative discipline and gives more regulatory certainty.
January 27, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Good to see there's been no bills looking to strengthen rent control/landlord-tenant regs this year in WA. Shows good legislative discipline and gives more regulatory certainty.
Interesting the lengths developers are going to preserve the existing home. This home is a teardown if I've ever seen one, and yet the proposal is to retain it and build 5 sfhs around it. Why? some regulatory advantage? or maybe they've already remodeled it?
January 23, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Interesting the lengths developers are going to preserve the existing home. This home is a teardown if I've ever seen one, and yet the proposal is to retain it and build 5 sfhs around it. Why? some regulatory advantage? or maybe they've already remodeled it?
Haven't seen too many middle housing proposals in Seattle that absolutely maxing out density & FAR, this one gets the closest
6 unit proposal using the 3ft setbacks for small lots near transit at ~1.45 FAR.
6 unit proposal using the 3ft setbacks for small lots near transit at ~1.45 FAR.
January 23, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Haven't seen too many middle housing proposals in Seattle that absolutely maxing out density & FAR, this one gets the closest
6 unit proposal using the 3ft setbacks for small lots near transit at ~1.45 FAR.
6 unit proposal using the 3ft setbacks for small lots near transit at ~1.45 FAR.
Proposal for 2 1,200 sqft DADUs, legal thanks to AMR’s ADU amendments
January 21, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Proposal for 2 1,200 sqft DADUs, legal thanks to AMR’s ADU amendments
The SSHD has been a disaster because McCoy pushed for an ungovernable board structure, a shame to see her elevated despite the failures so far
Big news at Seattle's Social Housing Developer: Roberto Jimenez has been fired by the board and Tiffani McCoy has been appointed interim.
January 16, 2026 at 7:56 AM
The SSHD has been a disaster because McCoy pushed for an ungovernable board structure, a shame to see her elevated despite the failures so far
Reposted by Aidan T
To celebrate the possibility that SB 6026 will end mandates for apartment buildings to have commercial uses on their ground floors, here's a bunch of pics of empty retail spaces in Seattle's Capitol Hill, the most densely populated neighborhood in WA.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
January 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM
To celebrate the possibility that SB 6026 will end mandates for apartment buildings to have commercial uses on their ground floors, here's a bunch of pics of empty retail spaces in Seattle's Capitol Hill, the most densely populated neighborhood in WA.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
I think Redmond is the only puget sound city that ended up putting IZ on one unit developments in the new middle housing updates.
Building 2 1,000sqft ADUs costs $60,000 in Redmond. Will be interested to see if this policy basically ends up meaning Redmond opted out of HB1110/1337
Building 2 1,000sqft ADUs costs $60,000 in Redmond. Will be interested to see if this policy basically ends up meaning Redmond opted out of HB1110/1337
January 12, 2026 at 5:48 PM
I think Redmond is the only puget sound city that ended up putting IZ on one unit developments in the new middle housing updates.
Building 2 1,000sqft ADUs costs $60,000 in Redmond. Will be interested to see if this policy basically ends up meaning Redmond opted out of HB1110/1337
Building 2 1,000sqft ADUs costs $60,000 in Redmond. Will be interested to see if this policy basically ends up meaning Redmond opted out of HB1110/1337
New council predictions for the YIMBY-NIMBY spectrum
Mega-YIMBY: AMR
YIMBY: Lin
Likely YIMBY: Foster, Strauss
Swing votes: Kettle, Juarez
Likely NIMBY: Hollingsworth, Saka
NIMBY: Rivera
Mega-YIMBY: AMR
YIMBY: Lin
Likely YIMBY: Foster, Strauss
Swing votes: Kettle, Juarez
Likely NIMBY: Hollingsworth, Saka
NIMBY: Rivera
January 9, 2026 at 9:59 PM
New council predictions for the YIMBY-NIMBY spectrum
Mega-YIMBY: AMR
YIMBY: Lin
Likely YIMBY: Foster, Strauss
Swing votes: Kettle, Juarez
Likely NIMBY: Hollingsworth, Saka
NIMBY: Rivera
Mega-YIMBY: AMR
YIMBY: Lin
Likely YIMBY: Foster, Strauss
Swing votes: Kettle, Juarez
Likely NIMBY: Hollingsworth, Saka
NIMBY: Rivera
Does Seattle have any zones where commercial is allowed but residential isn't? Based on the zoning map I can't find any
So the only affect of the 'residential in commercial areas' bill would be to eliminate Seattle's retail requirements seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
So the only affect of the 'residential in commercial areas' bill would be to eliminate Seattle's retail requirements seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
January 9, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Does Seattle have any zones where commercial is allowed but residential isn't? Based on the zoning map I can't find any
So the only affect of the 'residential in commercial areas' bill would be to eliminate Seattle's retail requirements seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
So the only affect of the 'residential in commercial areas' bill would be to eliminate Seattle's retail requirements seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
Unlike Houston's minimum lot size system, Seattle has a parent lot minimum lot size of 5,000sqft and a Unit Lot Subdivision minimum lot size of 1,250.
So a homeowner can't, for example, sell their backyard as a separate 2,500sqft lot and be done with it.
So a homeowner can't, for example, sell their backyard as a separate 2,500sqft lot and be done with it.
January 6, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Unlike Houston's minimum lot size system, Seattle has a parent lot minimum lot size of 5,000sqft and a Unit Lot Subdivision minimum lot size of 1,250.
So a homeowner can't, for example, sell their backyard as a separate 2,500sqft lot and be done with it.
So a homeowner can't, for example, sell their backyard as a separate 2,500sqft lot and be done with it.
First stacked flats proposal under the new code? Taking advantage of the 3ft side setbacks on lots less than 5,000sqft near transit. Extremely tight fit
January 6, 2026 at 4:32 AM
First stacked flats proposal under the new code? Taking advantage of the 3ft side setbacks on lots less than 5,000sqft near transit. Extremely tight fit
I don't believe parking minimums are binding on any kind of development in Seattle, so removing them is a question of
a. if the city council realizes this
b. do they or don't they want the official elimination of them on their record
I'm not sure which is more the case
a. if the city council realizes this
b. do they or don't they want the official elimination of them on their record
I'm not sure which is more the case
January 5, 2026 at 11:33 PM
I don't believe parking minimums are binding on any kind of development in Seattle, so removing them is a question of
a. if the city council realizes this
b. do they or don't they want the official elimination of them on their record
I'm not sure which is more the case
a. if the city council realizes this
b. do they or don't they want the official elimination of them on their record
I'm not sure which is more the case
Reposted by Aidan T
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
2025: The year Edmonton built the missing middle – Jacob Dawang
Edmonton’s zoning reform is working. In 2025, newly legalized eight-home rowhomes drove a record increase in homebuilding, achieved by redeveloping only 0.39% of properties in mature neighbourhoods.
www.jacobdawang.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
MFTE is literally a transfer from every taxing authority outside the city of Seattle to Seattle. If it isn’t being used for every project you’re leaving money on the table for generations
January 4, 2026 at 1:48 AM
MFTE is literally a transfer from every taxing authority outside the city of Seattle to Seattle. If it isn’t being used for every project you’re leaving money on the table for generations
Seattle has a uniparty consensus that we should bankrupt non-profit housing providers to maintain an arbitrary set of landlord-tenant laws.
Also a uniparty consensus that we need MHA to fund non-profit developers because there’s so politically powerful
Also a uniparty consensus that we need MHA to fund non-profit developers because there’s so politically powerful
January 3, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Seattle has a uniparty consensus that we should bankrupt non-profit housing providers to maintain an arbitrary set of landlord-tenant laws.
Also a uniparty consensus that we need MHA to fund non-profit developers because there’s so politically powerful
Also a uniparty consensus that we need MHA to fund non-profit developers because there’s so politically powerful
Bad pre-filed bill. It would give cities more zoning control over unincorporated areas near them
Since Snohomish and King counties are both more YIMBY than the cities in each, this would kill a lot of housing
Since Snohomish and King counties are both more YIMBY than the cities in each, this would kill a lot of housing
January 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Bad pre-filed bill. It would give cities more zoning control over unincorporated areas near them
Since Snohomish and King counties are both more YIMBY than the cities in each, this would kill a lot of housing
Since Snohomish and King counties are both more YIMBY than the cities in each, this would kill a lot of housing
One thing rarely brought up about MHA is that it’s like a reverse impact fee program
We tax housing the most in the parts of the city where housing is the most fiscally sustainable and tax it the least where car usage is higher, fewer sidewalks, longer commutes, etc
We tax housing the most in the parts of the city where housing is the most fiscally sustainable and tax it the least where car usage is higher, fewer sidewalks, longer commutes, etc
January 1, 2026 at 2:38 AM
One thing rarely brought up about MHA is that it’s like a reverse impact fee program
We tax housing the most in the parts of the city where housing is the most fiscally sustainable and tax it the least where car usage is higher, fewer sidewalks, longer commutes, etc
We tax housing the most in the parts of the city where housing is the most fiscally sustainable and tax it the least where car usage is higher, fewer sidewalks, longer commutes, etc
The greater the car dependency, the greater the benefits of congestion pricing! This got lost bc NYC did it first, but metros like Houston, Dallas and Orlando only function with their level of car dependence bc of pricing roads
I find "America isn't really set up for it" to be an annoying rebuttal to any sort of proposal to reduce car dependency. Our leaders used policy to create a system of car dependency and we can sure as hell use policy to undo that. There are absolutely barriers, but do nothing is not a solution.
December 31, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The greater the car dependency, the greater the benefits of congestion pricing! This got lost bc NYC did it first, but metros like Houston, Dallas and Orlando only function with their level of car dependence bc of pricing roads
MHA is just a really small part of office of housing funds. It wouldn’t be a big deal to get rid of it entirely.
December 31, 2025 at 8:06 PM
MHA is just a really small part of office of housing funds. It wouldn’t be a big deal to get rid of it entirely.
Great news. Scissor stairs is useful for both high-rise and mid-rise buildings. Tons of small lots zoned for 5+ stories could use this
A Washington scissor stair bill is about to drop, folks.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
HB 2228 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
December 31, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Great news. Scissor stairs is useful for both high-rise and mid-rise buildings. Tons of small lots zoned for 5+ stories could use this
One fix to the comp plan that would actually generate more housing (i.e. not stacked flat related) would be to uncap number of ADUs per lot, or allow 3 ADUs per lot. ADUs have a bunch of regulatory and financial advantages in both NR and low-rise zones, so allowing more per lot would be helpful
December 28, 2025 at 3:51 AM
One fix to the comp plan that would actually generate more housing (i.e. not stacked flat related) would be to uncap number of ADUs per lot, or allow 3 ADUs per lot. ADUs have a bunch of regulatory and financial advantages in both NR and low-rise zones, so allowing more per lot would be helpful
With the end of the interim code here's a map of most middle housing projects, including SFHs, ADUs, DADUs, since May
will be interesting to see if the makeup of the types changes with the permanent code
aidanthornsberry.github.io/seattle-hous...
will be interesting to see if the makeup of the types changes with the permanent code
aidanthornsberry.github.io/seattle-hous...
December 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
With the end of the interim code here's a map of most middle housing projects, including SFHs, ADUs, DADUs, since May
will be interesting to see if the makeup of the types changes with the permanent code
aidanthornsberry.github.io/seattle-hous...
will be interesting to see if the makeup of the types changes with the permanent code
aidanthornsberry.github.io/seattle-hous...
Project proposal using the 3ft setback on lots less than 5,000sqft near frequent transit amendment from AMR
December 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Project proposal using the 3ft setback on lots less than 5,000sqft near frequent transit amendment from AMR
Middle housing project proposal that’s just slightly over the mayor’s proposal at ~1.25 FAR vs mayors 1.2, 6,000 sqft lot
December 20, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Middle housing project proposal that’s just slightly over the mayor’s proposal at ~1.25 FAR vs mayors 1.2, 6,000 sqft lot