Dan Bertolet
@danbertolet.bsky.social
I think it's good when cities are legal, and I work at Sightline Institute to make that happen. My takes on here, though, are no less than 100% mine.
Felt an urge to tap the sign.
(which may or may not have anything to do with recent convos about potential pilot legislation in WA)
(which may or may not have anything to do with recent convos about potential pilot legislation in WA)
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Felt an urge to tap the sign.
(which may or may not have anything to do with recent convos about potential pilot legislation in WA)
(which may or may not have anything to do with recent convos about potential pilot legislation in WA)
Yep, some of WA's housing bills need concurrance and all still need the Gov's signature, but they got over their biggest hurdles and that's cause for celebration...
...so please join us to do that this eve, 5pm at Stoup Brewing on Capitol Hill.
BONUS: ONE FREE DRINK FOR THE FIRST 50 TO ARRIVE!
...so please join us to do that this eve, 5pm at Stoup Brewing on Capitol Hill.
BONUS: ONE FREE DRINK FOR THE FIRST 50 TO ARRIVE!
April 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Yep, some of WA's housing bills need concurrance and all still need the Gov's signature, but they got over their biggest hurdles and that's cause for celebration...
...so please join us to do that this eve, 5pm at Stoup Brewing on Capitol Hill.
BONUS: ONE FREE DRINK FOR THE FIRST 50 TO ARRIVE!
...so please join us to do that this eve, 5pm at Stoup Brewing on Capitol Hill.
BONUS: ONE FREE DRINK FOR THE FIRST 50 TO ARRIVE!
The WA legislature has been racking up the wins on housing abundance bills, and there may even be a couple more to come!
Please join @sightline.org for a happy hour to celebrate, this Friday at Stoup (formerly Optimism) on Capitol Hill.
www.sightline.org/wp-content/u...
Please join @sightline.org for a happy hour to celebrate, this Friday at Stoup (formerly Optimism) on Capitol Hill.
www.sightline.org/wp-content/u...
April 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The WA legislature has been racking up the wins on housing abundance bills, and there may even be a couple more to come!
Please join @sightline.org for a happy hour to celebrate, this Friday at Stoup (formerly Optimism) on Capitol Hill.
www.sightline.org/wp-content/u...
Please join @sightline.org for a happy hour to celebrate, this Friday at Stoup (formerly Optimism) on Capitol Hill.
www.sightline.org/wp-content/u...
The WA Senate just passed HB 1183, the first bill in the US to:
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
April 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
The WA Senate just passed HB 1183, the first bill in the US to:
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
April 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This year WA is trying again on a bill to set a higher REET rate for expensive home sales, but this time around it has a big improvement: it doesn't apply to the sale of rental apartment buildings.
So now it won't tax modest apartments as if they were mansions.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
So now it won't tax modest apartments as if they were mansions.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
March 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This year WA is trying again on a bill to set a higher REET rate for expensive home sales, but this time around it has a big improvement: it doesn't apply to the sale of rental apartment buildings.
So now it won't tax modest apartments as if they were mansions.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
So now it won't tax modest apartments as if they were mansions.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
But the future of housing production in Seattle is looking grim.
Permit apps have cratered from a peak of 20.5k in 2020, to just 4.1k in 2024.
Vacancy rates will fall, and rents will rise.
The antidote is anything that reduces the cost of construction.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
Permit apps have cratered from a peak of 20.5k in 2020, to just 4.1k in 2024.
Vacancy rates will fall, and rents will rise.
The antidote is anything that reduces the cost of construction.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
March 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
But the future of housing production in Seattle is looking grim.
Permit apps have cratered from a peak of 20.5k in 2020, to just 4.1k in 2024.
Vacancy rates will fall, and rents will rise.
The antidote is anything that reduces the cost of construction.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
Permit apps have cratered from a peak of 20.5k in 2020, to just 4.1k in 2024.
Vacancy rates will fall, and rents will rise.
The antidote is anything that reduces the cost of construction.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
When vacancy rates go up, market-rate housing becomes more affordable.
In 2024, Seattle completed a record 14.7k new homes.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
In 2024, Seattle completed a record 14.7k new homes.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
March 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
When vacancy rates go up, market-rate housing becomes more affordable.
In 2024, Seattle completed a record 14.7k new homes.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
In 2024, Seattle completed a record 14.7k new homes.
www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
Though this article is framed around loss of affordable housing, it also reveals an incredible success story of how building more housing helps affordability.
From 2017 to 2022, the number of Seattle rentals affordable to 50 - 80% AMI increased by 44%.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
From 2017 to 2022, the number of Seattle rentals affordable to 50 - 80% AMI increased by 44%.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
March 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Though this article is framed around loss of affordable housing, it also reveals an incredible success story of how building more housing helps affordability.
From 2017 to 2022, the number of Seattle rentals affordable to 50 - 80% AMI increased by 44%.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
From 2017 to 2022, the number of Seattle rentals affordable to 50 - 80% AMI increased by 44%.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
WA's TOD bill is up for a cmte vote tomorrow and there's a striker with some good mods:
- station area increase from 0.5 to 0.75 miles for rail and 0.25 to 0.5 for BRT
- FAR bonus for mass timber
- Family-sized unit affordability bonus
- Impact fee reduction
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
- station area increase from 0.5 to 0.75 miles for rail and 0.25 to 0.5 for BRT
- FAR bonus for mass timber
- Family-sized unit affordability bonus
- Impact fee reduction
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
March 20, 2025 at 11:40 PM
WA's TOD bill is up for a cmte vote tomorrow and there's a striker with some good mods:
- station area increase from 0.5 to 0.75 miles for rail and 0.25 to 0.5 for BRT
- FAR bonus for mass timber
- Family-sized unit affordability bonus
- Impact fee reduction
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
- station area increase from 0.5 to 0.75 miles for rail and 0.25 to 0.5 for BRT
- FAR bonus for mass timber
- Family-sized unit affordability bonus
- Impact fee reduction
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
Great to WA's TOD bill, HB 1491, passed out of committee with a gamechanging amendment that creates a new 20-year property tax exemption for station area projects that provide 10% of homes at 60% AMI or 20% at 80% AMI.
Thank you @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social!
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
Thank you @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social!
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
February 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Great to WA's TOD bill, HB 1491, passed out of committee with a gamechanging amendment that creates a new 20-year property tax exemption for station area projects that provide 10% of homes at 60% AMI or 20% at 80% AMI.
Thank you @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social!
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
Thank you @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social!
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesch...
SB 5613 is modeled after a similar bill Oregon passed several years ago.
It also draws from WA's HB 1293, passed in 2023, that requires clear and objective standards for design review.
Eliminating uncertainty in this way helps people on all sides!
oregon.public.law/rules/oar_66...
It also draws from WA's HB 1293, passed in 2023, that requires clear and objective standards for design review.
Eliminating uncertainty in this way helps people on all sides!
oregon.public.law/rules/oar_66...
February 6, 2025 at 12:54 AM
SB 5613 is modeled after a similar bill Oregon passed several years ago.
It also draws from WA's HB 1293, passed in 2023, that requires clear and objective standards for design review.
Eliminating uncertainty in this way helps people on all sides!
oregon.public.law/rules/oar_66...
It also draws from WA's HB 1293, passed in 2023, that requires clear and objective standards for design review.
Eliminating uncertainty in this way helps people on all sides!
oregon.public.law/rules/oar_66...
SB 5613 is a bill with a few small words that could have a big effect on boosting housing.
The words: "clear and objective"
It requires residential development standards to be clear and objective, to prevent sloppy standards from enabling frivolous legal challenges.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
The words: "clear and objective"
It requires residential development standards to be clear and objective, to prevent sloppy standards from enabling frivolous legal challenges.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
February 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
SB 5613 is a bill with a few small words that could have a big effect on boosting housing.
The words: "clear and objective"
It requires residential development standards to be clear and objective, to prevent sloppy standards from enabling frivolous legal challenges.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
The words: "clear and objective"
It requires residential development standards to be clear and objective, to prevent sloppy standards from enabling frivolous legal challenges.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Landmarking has it's place and not everyone wants to abuse it. But it would be naive to think that some anti-housing activists won't realize it's an easy way to obstruct middle housing from being built in their neighborhoods.
Historic Seattle is not shy about their distatste for middle housing.
Historic Seattle is not shy about their distatste for middle housing.
February 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Landmarking has it's place and not everyone wants to abuse it. But it would be naive to think that some anti-housing activists won't realize it's an easy way to obstruct middle housing from being built in their neighborhoods.
Historic Seattle is not shy about their distatste for middle housing.
Historic Seattle is not shy about their distatste for middle housing.
The chilling effect caused by landmarking uncertainty is especially severe for small-scale middle housing. The small builders who construct it cannot afford to take the risk that anyone could come along and nominate their property and tie up the project for perhaps a year. They won't bother trying.
February 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The chilling effect caused by landmarking uncertainty is especially severe for small-scale middle housing. The small builders who construct it cannot afford to take the risk that anyone could come along and nominate their property and tie up the project for perhaps a year. They won't bother trying.
~3/4s of WA cities require owner consent for landmarking. But a few of the outliers that don't are big ones (hi Seattle!).
HB 1576 would set a state standard that's aligned with most WA cities are already doing.
It's also aligned with Oregon state law, which requires owner consent for landmarking.
HB 1576 would set a state standard that's aligned with most WA cities are already doing.
It's also aligned with Oregon state law, which requires owner consent for landmarking.
February 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
~3/4s of WA cities require owner consent for landmarking. But a few of the outliers that don't are big ones (hi Seattle!).
HB 1576 would set a state standard that's aligned with most WA cities are already doing.
It's also aligned with Oregon state law, which requires owner consent for landmarking.
HB 1576 would set a state standard that's aligned with most WA cities are already doing.
It's also aligned with Oregon state law, which requires owner consent for landmarking.
As if on cue to create support for the landmark bill, Historic Seattle last month nominated for landmark status a run-down 3-story apartment in Belltown.
Owned by a deep-pocketed developer? Nope. Owned by the YWCA, which was working on redeveloping the property into 83 new homes. Sorry, YWCA!
Owned by a deep-pocketed developer? Nope. Owned by the YWCA, which was working on redeveloping the property into 83 new homes. Sorry, YWCA!
February 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
As if on cue to create support for the landmark bill, Historic Seattle last month nominated for landmark status a run-down 3-story apartment in Belltown.
Owned by a deep-pocketed developer? Nope. Owned by the YWCA, which was working on redeveloping the property into 83 new homes. Sorry, YWCA!
Owned by a deep-pocketed developer? Nope. Owned by the YWCA, which was working on redeveloping the property into 83 new homes. Sorry, YWCA!
~10 years ago the Wayne Apartments and the Mama's Mexican Kitchen building were landmarked, halting plans to build some 200 new apartments.
In both cases the buildings became derelict and ended up getting demolished anyway. Total waste of time and money that only made the housing shortage worse.
In both cases the buildings became derelict and ended up getting demolished anyway. Total waste of time and money that only made the housing shortage worse.
February 5, 2025 at 12:58 AM
~10 years ago the Wayne Apartments and the Mama's Mexican Kitchen building were landmarked, halting plans to build some 200 new apartments.
In both cases the buildings became derelict and ended up getting demolished anyway. Total waste of time and money that only made the housing shortage worse.
In both cases the buildings became derelict and ended up getting demolished anyway. Total waste of time and money that only made the housing shortage worse.
WA's parking bill, HB 1299, has a hearing this morning at 10:30.
Lots of pro testifiers but the usual suspects are also showing up in opposition.
If you want to testify or sign in pro you have until 9:30!
Testify over Zoom:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Sign in:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Lots of pro testifiers but the usual suspects are also showing up in opposition.
If you want to testify or sign in pro you have until 9:30!
Testify over Zoom:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Sign in:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
February 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
WA's parking bill, HB 1299, has a hearing this morning at 10:30.
Lots of pro testifiers but the usual suspects are also showing up in opposition.
If you want to testify or sign in pro you have until 9:30!
Testify over Zoom:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Sign in:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Lots of pro testifiers but the usual suspects are also showing up in opposition.
If you want to testify or sign in pro you have until 9:30!
Testify over Zoom:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Sign in:
app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...
Historic Seattle's January newsletter tells how they've just nominated for landmark status a structurally obsolete apartment building owned by YWCA, which will stall YWCA's plans to redevelop it into 83 new homes.
This is why the state needs to pass the landmarking reform bill HB 1443 / SB 5332.
This is why the state needs to pass the landmarking reform bill HB 1443 / SB 5332.
January 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Historic Seattle's January newsletter tells how they've just nominated for landmark status a structurally obsolete apartment building owned by YWCA, which will stall YWCA's plans to redevelop it into 83 new homes.
This is why the state needs to pass the landmarking reform bill HB 1443 / SB 5332.
This is why the state needs to pass the landmarking reform bill HB 1443 / SB 5332.
If you think the threat to new housing from landmarking without owner consent is overblown, check out Historic Seattle's Comp Plan letter.
Their own words reveal that they are motivated by their dislike of new buildings, including middle housing.
files.constantcontact.com/e5d61230401/...
Their own words reveal that they are motivated by their dislike of new buildings, including middle housing.
files.constantcontact.com/e5d61230401/...
January 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If you think the threat to new housing from landmarking without owner consent is overblown, check out Historic Seattle's Comp Plan letter.
Their own words reveal that they are motivated by their dislike of new buildings, including middle housing.
files.constantcontact.com/e5d61230401/...
Their own words reveal that they are motivated by their dislike of new buildings, including middle housing.
files.constantcontact.com/e5d61230401/...
WA's bills to require owner consent for historic landmarking, HB 1576 and SB 5554, have a precedent right next door.
Oregon state law requires it, statewide.
oregon.public.law/statutes/ors...
Oregon state law requires it, statewide.
oregon.public.law/statutes/ors...
January 30, 2025 at 6:08 PM
WA's bills to require owner consent for historic landmarking, HB 1576 and SB 5554, have a precedent right next door.
Oregon state law requires it, statewide.
oregon.public.law/statutes/ors...
Oregon state law requires it, statewide.
oregon.public.law/statutes/ors...
Did you know that in Seattle if you own a building 25+ years old, anyone can nominate it for historic landmarking, and then without your consent the city board can give it landmark status that limits what you can legally do with it?
#WAleg has a bill for that.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
#WAleg has a bill for that.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
January 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Did you know that in Seattle if you own a building 25+ years old, anyone can nominate it for historic landmarking, and then without your consent the city board can give it landmark status that limits what you can legally do with it?
#WAleg has a bill for that.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
#WAleg has a bill for that.
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Yes, mobile dwellings are unconventional homes. But they are far less expensive, and far faster to deploy than any other housing type.
If you agree that they should be legal, WA's MDU bill could use your support.
How to take action for HB 1443's hearing tomorrow:
mailchi.mp/sightline/ho...
If you agree that they should be legal, WA's MDU bill could use your support.
How to take action for HB 1443's hearing tomorrow:
mailchi.mp/sightline/ho...
January 27, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Yes, mobile dwellings are unconventional homes. But they are far less expensive, and far faster to deploy than any other housing type.
If you agree that they should be legal, WA's MDU bill could use your support.
How to take action for HB 1443's hearing tomorrow:
mailchi.mp/sightline/ho...
If you agree that they should be legal, WA's MDU bill could use your support.
How to take action for HB 1443's hearing tomorrow:
mailchi.mp/sightline/ho...
New housing is expensive. Even small apartments and ADUs cost in the hundred thousands. That leaves a big gap in the lower end of the income spectrum that standard market housing can't fill.
MDUs can fill more of that gap than any other unsubsidzed housing type. But they need to be legalized!
MDUs can fill more of that gap than any other unsubsidzed housing type. But they need to be legalized!
January 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
New housing is expensive. Even small apartments and ADUs cost in the hundred thousands. That leaves a big gap in the lower end of the income spectrum that standard market housing can't fill.
MDUs can fill more of that gap than any other unsubsidzed housing type. But they need to be legalized!
MDUs can fill more of that gap than any other unsubsidzed housing type. But they need to be legalized!