Matt Hutchins AIA CPHD
@matthutchins.bsky.social
Principal at CAST architecture, urbanist and Planning Commission Co-Chair advocating for housing options, 15-minute cities and sustainable construction. Passivhaus designer. Former AIA Seattle President
Some sketches from Iceland
November 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Some sketches from Iceland
News of Mamdani has reached Reykjavik.
November 6, 2025 at 9:20 PM
News of Mamdani has reached Reykjavik.
4 case studies in using zoning incentives to design viable stacked flats here in Seattle. Two are market, two are subsidized, two are rental, two are ownership. More pathways to success!
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
4 case studies in using zoning incentives to design viable stacked flats here in Seattle. Two are market, two are subsidized, two are rental, two are ownership. More pathways to success!
Combine affordable housing with child care as a basic template that can be rolled out in just about any neighborhood. It is a slimmed down version of what big affordable housing projects already do, scaled to Neighborhood Residential zoning.
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Combine affordable housing with child care as a basic template that can be rolled out in just about any neighborhood. It is a slimmed down version of what big affordable housing projects already do, scaled to Neighborhood Residential zoning.
Our local Habitat for Humanity is building ownership flats for folks making 80% AMI. We could use way more of those, and now thousands of parcels are in the mix!
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Our local Habitat for Humanity is building ownership flats for folks making 80% AMI. We could use way more of those, and now thousands of parcels are in the mix!
Larger flats around a courtyard, designed using NR incentives for stacked flats, landscape and accessible units. 7 units over 4 stories with an elevator.
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Larger flats around a courtyard, designed using NR incentives for stacked flats, landscape and accessible units. 7 units over 4 stories with an elevator.
Save a Tier 2 tree and unlock an extra story, higher FAR and up to 9 2br/2BA homes! See alt text for more!
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Save a Tier 2 tree and unlock an extra story, higher FAR and up to 9 2br/2BA homes! See alt text for more!
Halloween 2025 may have been busted by the rain, but I love seeing all kids running amok.
November 1, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Halloween 2025 may have been busted by the rain, but I love seeing all kids running amok.
found this old Harrell clip and I wonder where did this earnest guy go?
The Harrell we have is detached, vindictive, entitled. When he went into politics, he had purpose.
now that’s he’s mayor whenever he’s involved he makes whatever it is worse.
His motivation now is stay mayor. Why? He can’t say
The Harrell we have is detached, vindictive, entitled. When he went into politics, he had purpose.
now that’s he’s mayor whenever he’s involved he makes whatever it is worse.
His motivation now is stay mayor. Why? He can’t say
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
found this old Harrell clip and I wonder where did this earnest guy go?
The Harrell we have is detached, vindictive, entitled. When he went into politics, he had purpose.
now that’s he’s mayor whenever he’s involved he makes whatever it is worse.
His motivation now is stay mayor. Why? He can’t say
The Harrell we have is detached, vindictive, entitled. When he went into politics, he had purpose.
now that’s he’s mayor whenever he’s involved he makes whatever it is worse.
His motivation now is stay mayor. Why? He can’t say
We’re bringing them back—here is the first of hopefully many sixplexes we build in Spokane!
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
We’re bringing them back—here is the first of hopefully many sixplexes we build in Spokane!
Our passive house 10plex is looking good—omg it is TIGHT!
@lanefab.com —interior single stair+passive house is not for faint of heart design teams/GCs! Requires lots of troubleshooting when deployed on tiny urban lots!
@lanefab.com —interior single stair+passive house is not for faint of heart design teams/GCs! Requires lots of troubleshooting when deployed on tiny urban lots!
October 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Our passive house 10plex is looking good—omg it is TIGHT!
@lanefab.com —interior single stair+passive house is not for faint of heart design teams/GCs! Requires lots of troubleshooting when deployed on tiny urban lots!
@lanefab.com —interior single stair+passive house is not for faint of heart design teams/GCs! Requires lots of troubleshooting when deployed on tiny urban lots!
DADUs are generally super fun to design. This 1000sf split level design features a big porch, vaulted living and bedroom spaces, plus a garage.
October 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
DADUs are generally super fun to design. This 1000sf split level design features a big porch, vaulted living and bedroom spaces, plus a garage.
A lot less for my e-bike!
October 8, 2025 at 11:43 AM
A lot less for my e-bike!
I see opportunity for stacked flats in NR. It will come when you have the right site, right neighborhood, and aligned development goals. We've already proved the housing type works with our Manito sixplex, which has both workforce and market leading rents.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/03/s...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/03/s...
October 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I see opportunity for stacked flats in NR. It will come when you have the right site, right neighborhood, and aligned development goals. We've already proved the housing type works with our Manito sixplex, which has both workforce and market leading rents.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/03/s...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/03/s...
What I imagine it will feel like next year when I roll off the Seattle Planning Commission.
October 2, 2025 at 4:02 AM
What I imagine it will feel like next year when I roll off the Seattle Planning Commission.
Greeting from Democratic hellhole Seattle! Antifa meeting or a magnificent dinner with friends on a crystal clear fall evening?!?
October 1, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Greeting from Democratic hellhole Seattle! Antifa meeting or a magnificent dinner with friends on a crystal clear fall evening?!?
Oh no! Now my achy back has autism
September 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Oh no! Now my achy back has autism
2015: Mayor Murray touched the stove with HALA recommendations to eliminate single-family zoning (bonus historical Harrell quote!)
2025: We can build 4-story 12-unit stacked flats in NR zones, 75% more lot coverage, 2X the size, without parking.
2025: We can build 4-story 12-unit stacked flats in NR zones, 75% more lot coverage, 2X the size, without parking.
September 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
2015: Mayor Murray touched the stove with HALA recommendations to eliminate single-family zoning (bonus historical Harrell quote!)
2025: We can build 4-story 12-unit stacked flats in NR zones, 75% more lot coverage, 2X the size, without parking.
2025: We can build 4-story 12-unit stacked flats in NR zones, 75% more lot coverage, 2X the size, without parking.
We did a study for the former owners showing that we could configure the site and structures for 72 units + 5000sf+ storefront, fully surface parked by using a series of single stair stacks. Zoning wasn’t issue-cost/time/risk to develop alternative to townhouses was.
September 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
We did a study for the former owners showing that we could configure the site and structures for 72 units + 5000sf+ storefront, fully surface parked by using a series of single stair stacks. Zoning wasn’t issue-cost/time/risk to develop alternative to townhouses was.
Oops, I think someone read my skeet because now Rivera's Amendment 93 makes these buildings impossible!
She revised a bunch of the planting areas, making it harder to use side, front and backyards, or spaces between buildings as planting areas.
She revised a bunch of the planting areas, making it harder to use side, front and backyards, or spaces between buildings as planting areas.
September 17, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Oops, I think someone read my skeet because now Rivera's Amendment 93 makes these buildings impossible!
She revised a bunch of the planting areas, making it harder to use side, front and backyards, or spaces between buildings as planting areas.
She revised a bunch of the planting areas, making it harder to use side, front and backyards, or spaces between buildings as planting areas.
Rivera's Amendment 93, to codify larger tree planting areas, has been revised since Friday, and now:
required planting areas are much bigger (some 200%)
have minimum dimension that don't fit in setbacks
widen distances between buildings
eliminated bonuses for preserving large trees!
Bad faith!
required planting areas are much bigger (some 200%)
have minimum dimension that don't fit in setbacks
widen distances between buildings
eliminated bonuses for preserving large trees!
Bad faith!
September 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Rivera's Amendment 93, to codify larger tree planting areas, has been revised since Friday, and now:
required planting areas are much bigger (some 200%)
have minimum dimension that don't fit in setbacks
widen distances between buildings
eliminated bonuses for preserving large trees!
Bad faith!
required planting areas are much bigger (some 200%)
have minimum dimension that don't fit in setbacks
widen distances between buildings
eliminated bonuses for preserving large trees!
Bad faith!
What should be an exciting program has been reduced to a shrug and an eyeroll. I'm not convinced anything will ever happen. even by 2028.
![Quote by matt hutchins: “Hearing the presentation, the thing that didn’t stand out — there was a lot of talk about community process and trees, but what wasn’t there was: how are we going to eliminate cars?” commissioner Matt Hutchins said. “I feel you’re kind of soft selling [that] the core benefit of the low-pollution neighborhoods is a reduction of internal combustion engines. So, I’m looking for more bold action. I’m looking for it sooner. I’m looking for the pilots to be deployed, not just talked about.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kf4xw6ek5wza4ojpg6gx2e5m/bafkreif5vtc2ygd2pwrrgpp3hkz5pnragsagngskf5d5nttel3a2m6o27a@jpeg)
September 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
What should be an exciting program has been reduced to a shrug and an eyeroll. I'm not convinced anything will ever happen. even by 2028.
Re: Amendment 102
Here is the diagram explaining why when you solve only for trees, unit size and quantity, the result isn't necessarily 'feasible' or equivalent.
The amendment gives SDCI the authority to require a crazy site plan no one would build!
Here is the diagram explaining why when you solve only for trees, unit size and quantity, the result isn't necessarily 'feasible' or equivalent.
The amendment gives SDCI the authority to require a crazy site plan no one would build!
September 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Re: Amendment 102
Here is the diagram explaining why when you solve only for trees, unit size and quantity, the result isn't necessarily 'feasible' or equivalent.
The amendment gives SDCI the authority to require a crazy site plan no one would build!
Here is the diagram explaining why when you solve only for trees, unit size and quantity, the result isn't necessarily 'feasible' or equivalent.
The amendment gives SDCI the authority to require a crazy site plan no one would build!