Bellevue: Bellevue Downtown Association Office Market Recap
Bellevue's downtown office market is showing signs of recovery, buoyed by the impending full-time return of Amazon employees and ongoing leasing activity. While challenges persist, particularly from Microsoft's consolidation efforts, the city's diverse tenant base and strategic positioning offer hope for sustained growth.
Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan
Redmond, often hailed as "Silicon Valley North," is embarking on an ambitious journey guided by the Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan. This visionary document outlines a roadmap for the city's development over the next quarter-century, emphasizing equity, resilience, and sustainability as its core principles.
At the heart of Redmond 2050 lies a commitment to equity, ensuring that all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to opportunities and resources. This commitment is reflected in the city's efforts to provide affordable housing, quality education, and accessible healthcare. By prioritizing equity, Redmond aims to create a more inclusive and just community where everyone can thrive.
Tacoma: Ord. 28986 and Affordable Housing Zoning
Tacoma, a city often overlooked in the shadow of its larger neighbor, Seattle, is undergoing a significant urban transformation. Ordinance No. 28986, a comprehensive zoning overhaul, is at the heart of this revitalization. This ambitious initiative, part of the Home in Tacoma (HIT) Phase 2 project, aims to address pressing challenges such as housing affordability, urban sprawl, and climate change.
The ordinance marks a radical departure from traditional zoning practices, which often prioritize single-family homes and low-density development. By introducing new urban residential (UR) zones and relaxing restrictive development standards, the city is embracing a more flexible, mixed-use approach. These UR zones, categorized by density and development standards, are designed to accommodate a diverse range of housing types, from single-family homes to multi-unit dwellings.
Seattle: CB 120822 and co-housing
Seattle is poised to further its commitment to innovative housing solutions by easing restrictions on congregate living. This move, driven by both local and state-level initiatives, reflects a growing recognition of the potential benefits of co-living and a desire to address the challenges of affordability and social isolation in urban environments.
At the heart of this shift is the recent state legislation, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1998 (ESHB 1998), which mandates that cities allow co-living arrangements in designated zones. This state-level directive has prompted Seattle to re-examine its zoning code and make necessary adjustments to accommodate this emerging housing model.
Bellevue: 2024 Economic Summit
Bellevue, a city synonymous with technological innovation and economic prosperity, once again reaffirmed its status as a regional economic powerhouse at its annual Economic Forecast Summit. The event, hosted by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, brought together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to delve into the intricacies of the global and domestic economic landscape.
Kirkland: HB 1110 Initial Briefing
The City of Kirkland must comply with new state housing mandates.
The initial focus is on achieving minimum compliance with these mandates.
Public engagement is a priority throughout the process.
A second briefing with draft code amendments will follow in February 2025.
Bellevue: Industry Talks and The Future of Bellevue
Bellevue, once a sleepy suburb, is undergoing a rapid metamorphosis. A confluence of factors—technological innovation, demographic shifts, and ambitious urban planning—is reshaping this city into a dynamic metropolis. The recent event, "The Future of Bellevue," offered a glimpse into the city’s evolving landscape and the challenges it faces.
King County: Development Fee Increase
King County Executive Dow Constantine's hefty 49% increase on development permitting fees proposal, if approved by the County Council, will significantly increase the financial burden on developers. This latest hike comes on the heels of a 13.7% permanent fee increase and a 2.5% temporary surcharge implemented in the 2023-24 budget.
Issaquah: HB 1110 and Planning for Middle Housing
The quiet suburban city of Issaquah, Washington, is grappling with a pressing urban issue: how to increase housing affordability while preserving its small-town charm. Recent state legislation has mandated that cities across the state adopt regulations to allow for more middle housing—duplexes, triplexes, and the like—on residential lots. Issaquah, like many other cities, is now tasked with navigating a delicate balancing act between accommodating state requirements and maintaining the character of its neighborhoods.
Redmond: 2050 Comprehensive Plan and the Transportation Master Plan
The City of Redmond, Washington, is embarking on a comprehensive overhaul of its Transportation Master Plan (TMP), a critical document that will guide the city's transportation policies and investments for years to come. As part of the broader Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan, the TMP update aims to create a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient transportation system that supports the city's growth and development.
Bellevue: HB 1293 and the Permitting Process
Implementing House Bill 1293, a state law that requires cities to adopt clear and objective design regulations for new developments. This mandate, passed in 2023, aims to streamline the permitting process and improve the predictability of development outcomes.
Bellevue: HB 1042 and Residential Conversions
In a bid to address the escalating housing crisis and revitalize its urban core, the City of Bellevue has unveiled a series of proposed land use code amendments designed to encourage the redevelopment of existing commercial and mixed-use buildings into residential units. These changes, aligned with the state's mandate under House Bill 1042, aim to strike a delicate balance between economic growth and urban sustainability.