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The Urbanist
@UrbanistOrg
Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life. 
Advocacy journalism and podcasting. 
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Advocacy journalism and podcasting. member. Non-Governmental & Nonprofit Organization Seattle and Puget Sound Regiontheurbanist.orgJoined February 2014
The Urbanist’s Tweets
I AM SUPER EXCITED TO BE PRESENTING AT PEDESTRIANIZE THIS! IT IS MY LIFE’S WORK COMPRESSED DOWN TO A PRESENTATION SIX MINUTES AND FORTY SECONDS LONG.
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Seattle design review boards could never.
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… the architecture seems so much better in Vancouver. @DavidColeAIA I would ask you many questions here about setbacks and code.
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Washington's governor wants to issue bonds to pay for affordable housing, but the legislature isn't on board.
Meanwhile Oregon's legislature wants to issue bonds to pay for its portion of the I-5 bridge expansion, but the governor isn't on board.
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Needs a dozen more towers.
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A developer wants to build a 55-story skyscraper on the historically low-rise westside. The plan promptly drew opposition from S.F. officials.
Now we have an idea of what the proposed condo tower would look like. What do you think?
Read more: sfchronicle.com/realestate/art
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You can pick your favored podcast platform here to subscribe:
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It’s amazing to think we’ve run 46 episodes of The Urbanist Podcast already! And so many wonderful guests have joined — even Governor Jay Inslee!
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Good stuff for Victoria! 🇨🇦
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I’m in love with this building and thankfully so was Council when they approved it unanimously last night at Public Hearing.
To me, it represents the anchor form to enable compact, sustainable neighbourhoods with housing choice.
34 rental homes, focused on multi-modal… Show more
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Maybe there is something to be learned for Puget Sound transit agencies from TransLink.
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It’s impossible to imagine a BRT project being done so inexpensively, quickly, and wisely in Puget Sound. Incredible stuff from Vancouver.
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Construction began today on a $33 million road project for bus-priority measures on Scott Road & 72 Avenue for #TransLink's new R6 Scott Road #RapidBus.
Expect 9 km of bus lanes.
R6 from Scott Road #SkyTrain to Newton will launch in early 2024. #vanpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/r6-s
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Biked through Totem Lake, now swallowed by big mixed use apartments. The streets look more alive (with people walking and kids playing) than it’s ever been to me.
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These wasteful parking garages that buy virtually no ridership could fund so many better things for sure.
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Replying to @UrbanistOrg
Or an enclosed station that doesn’t require standing in the wind blown rain.
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Every parking garage is an infill station or two that we could have bought.
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You really have to wonder if the Sound Transit board is more obsessed with parking than it is with actual transit.
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We don't have a lightrail system as much as a great way to get between parking garages. #SoundParking
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“The city’s current trees and forests are completely at the service of its roads.”
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Seattle’s proposed tree legislation is complex and forgets how much logging stripped native forests. Ray Dubicki writes the subsequent street grid is the biggest barrier to restoring the city’s tree canopy.
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/07/sea
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A cautionary tale for Seattle. Some of these patterns are being repeated the further away from the core. Worse, it’s not even as fast as BART.
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Had BART invested in more
infill stations in the urban core, more urban lines instead of extending far out to the suburbs with one station per suburb and miles in-between it wouldve survived WFH. Part of the problem is how BART is structured as thisd dumb regional senate.
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A crisis care center levy is on the ballot in King County. The Urbanist editorial board recommends a “yes” vote. Vote by April 25th.
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/14/vot
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“Projects that qualify for the builder’s remedy must include at least 20% set aside for below market-rate housing, or are 100% moderate-rate projects.”
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What’s a builders remedy? Ray Dubicki dives into the tool available in California, which is beginning to bear fruit for affordable housing. Washington doesn’t yet have a similar law. #Waleg
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/14/exp
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The people want transit.
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Huge ridership on Link southbound at Capitol Hill this aft. Almost an NYC level of crowding - you are are worried about finding enough standing room to allow doors to close
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Clyde Hill folk will spend thousands of dollars to experience places like this, but there’s no room at the inn back home for it.
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Legislature Scales Back One Pro-Housing Bill While Shelving Another
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Whoa -- looks like Matthew Mitnick has formally withdrawn as a candidate for Seattle City Council in District 4 web6.seattle.gov/ethics/electio
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“With the city keeping its visions for Bell Street incredibly constrained, it’s clear the interest lies with wrapping up this segment of the waterfront revamp with a project that doesn’t upset too many people.”
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Feedback on what to do with a final two block stretch of Bell Street overwhelmingly called for giving space over to people walking, biking, and rolling. That feedback has largely been set aside.
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/12/off
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Clyde Hill is just so built out. Absolutely no room for anything more. Impossible to fit a walkable, vibrant modest density community in it.
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Replying to @typewriteralley
Hey Ryan if you’re going to quote me, use my name OK? For the bozos in your comments: the concept that local zoning decisions should be made locally is fundamental. Clyde Hill is fully built out. No one here wants multi family housing forced on us. We’re a small town.
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40 more homes!
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Betula House TCO unlocked! Move ins start tomorrow. One unit left to be leased. A little close for comfort but the team got it done. So proud.
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Our next fare free day is coming up on Saturday, April 22 for #EarthDay. Can we get even more riders than on our last fare free day in February?
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“Overall, the $1.6 billion general fund is projected to grow slightly in 2023 and 2024 – increasing by $74.4 million this year and $24.7 million next – compared to the figures in the $7.4 biennial budget adopted by the city last fall.”
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We're pleased to announce that along with our partners at and , we have won a technical assistance award from the Thriving Communities Program!
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Good public space requires places to sit and gather. The activation from the patio from Boon Boona Cafe helps give 12th Ave Squire Park an active and safe feeling. Parks with adjacent cafes are a great combo
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What is Just Sustainabilities and what does Copenhagen have to do with it? Zac Fleming explains through the city’s Superkilen park project — a cultural diverse space — among others.
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/13/cop
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“While Santa Monica recently came into compliance with the housing element, there are some 16 projects with over 4,500 housing units that secured their approvals under the builder’s remedy.”
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What’s a builders remedy? Ray Dubicki dives into the tool available in California, which is beginning to bear fruit for affordable housing. Washington doesn’t yet have a similar law. #Waleg
Story: theurbanist.org/2023/04/14/exp
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Seattle Neighborhood Greenways event will imagine 'pedestrian streets in every Seattle neighborhood' seattlebikeblog.com/2023/04/14/sea #SEAbikes
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. 's contract with requires garbage trucks to run on renewable fuel. They don’t--despite what ads on the garbage trucks say.
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And with platform screen doors. #Toronto
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Direct heavy rail connection from the airport to the city? Whodathunkit? #UPExpress
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The Senate just rejected changes that the House made to a streamlined land use permitting bill, SB 5412. #Waleg app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Bi
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Regional transit coordination in the Bay Area is happening!
The transit operators and are working on a regional mapping and wayfinding project that will finally fix all the disjointed signage. We are lucky to be led by
Today I got to build a bus stop!
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The council president said she hopes opioid settlement money is prioritized for treatment beds, housing and medication assisted treatment programs
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Snohomish County’s largest city joined the settlements just ahead of an April 18 deadline. It could see $4 million, @benwatanabe reports.
heraldnet.com/news/everett-f
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Big thanks to for sharing tips on riding transit for my latest article. "I can be working, reading email, or listening to audio books. I can utilize that time in a much better way than I could if I was driving."
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