Seattle

A Crowded Future for the Pacific Northwest

Population growth estimates foresee the equivalent of an additional 15 Seattles concentrating in the Pacific Northwest over the next one hundred years. How the region handles this growth is up for debate, but with a distinct sense of urgency.

February 24, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle TOD Bill Needs Work, Critics Say

An ambitious bill encouraging dense, transit-oriented development in the Seattle area has drawn negative responses from residents who criticize its "one-size-fits-all" approach.

February 21, 2009 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle Tunnel Plan's Price Tag Causes Concern

Plans to replace Seattle's aging inner-city freeway with a $4.2 billion tunnel and expanded bus service have many lawmakers concerned about being able to raise enough money to make it happen.

February 11, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Puget Sound Suburbs Could Follow Cities' Tougher Runoff Rules

After a recent state ruling requiring Seattle and other Puget Sound cities to control polluted stormwater runoff, smaller cities and suburbs could be brought on board as well.

February 6, 2009 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Tunnel Picked for Seattle Viaduct Replacement

Officials in Washington have come to a consensus on plans to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle's damaged inner-city arterial. They've decided on a $4 billion tunnel, but the plans still need approval from the state legislature.

January 14, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Troubled Seattle Affordable Housing Plan May Get Rewrite

Seattle has been allowing developers to build higher buildings in exchange for contributing to a fund for affordable housing. But with few units built, officials are hoping to rewrite the legislation to remove restrictions and get more housing built.

December 30, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Seattle's Affordable Housing Plan Blasted For Poor Timing

The Seattle City Council recently approved a new affordable housing plan allowing builders to develop larger buildings if they include a certain amount of affordable units. But developers say the plan is ill-timed and they plan on ignoring it.

December 17, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Freeway Replacement Plans Whittled to Two Options

Planners and officials in Seattle have whittled down the list to just two ideas for replacing the city's damaged inner-city viaduct. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire reportedly wants a final decision by the end of the year.

December 15, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Transit Hero Featured In Seattle Column

This column deals with two Seattle issues: one political - the victory of a transit measure on Nov. 4 that will direct $18 billion to light rail; the other human - a Sierra Club activist who made the campaign for Prop 1 a full time job.

November 26, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Get Public Support for Transportation Projects By Giving Them Jobs

Seattle needs major revisions to its transportation infrastructure, according to local officials. Getting the public behind the expensive projects may be as simple as saying one word: jobs.

November 24, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Area Voters: Yes To Transit; No To Road Measure

Puget Sound voters strongly supported Sound Transit's sales tax measure to expand public transit while Washington state voters overwhelmingly rejected an Eyeman initiative to allow solo motorists to use carpool lanes during off-peak hours.

November 7, 2008 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Quit Playing it Safe, Seattle!

It's time for Seattle to take a few chances with its architecture, according to the author of this article.

November 6, 2008 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Residents Call For Expansion of Seattle Growth Boundary

Residents in the Seattle region are calling on officials to expand the area's urban growth boundary to allow denser development in what is currently outside the border.

October 7, 2008 - The Seattle Times

New Heights for Seattle's Public Art

Going beyond traditional approaches to public art, Washington's transit authority has launched a program that provides the city with art that expresses Seattle's "core identity."

October 3, 2008 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Building Ban to Protect Northwest Salmon

In an effort to protect endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest, the National Marine Fisheries Service is calling for a building moratorium near rivers in the Puget Sound region.

October 1, 2008 - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Secretive Seattle Freeway Replacement Plans Revealed

For the past year, a Washington state legislator has been devising a plan for replacing Seattle's damaged inner-city freeway, the Alaskan Way Viaduct. His plan has mainly been a secret -- until now.

September 29, 2008 - Crosscut

Familiar Name Tops List of Most Sustainable Cities

Portland, Oregon, has again been named the most sustainable city in the U.S. in a recent ranking.

September 23, 2008 - Christian Science Monitor

Seattle's Housing Can't Handle Projected Growth

Seattle is growing, and it's going to have to start thinking about augmenting its single-family neighborhoods with more multi-unit housing if it wants to keep up with the pace of growth.

September 19, 2008 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Unseen City Icons

This piece from Discover looks at the iconic "invisible" things that define cities -- like Seattle's clouds, Houston's air conditioning, and L.A.'s Botox.

September 7, 2008 - Discover

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.