FALSE NARRATIVES: NOW AVAILABLE IN BOTH WASHINGTONS

The Mayor’s self-proclaimed “NEWS” post leaves out a rather important part of the story.

CB121215 does not build affordable housing. It eliminates a long-standing avenue for Seattle residents to appeal certain land-use decisions to the independent Hearing Examiner. When the Council considered the legislation, then-Councilmember Debora Juarez explained why she could not support it:

“I don’t believe that appeals are holding up housing production. I think it’s a false narrative. I think it’s a false equation.” - CM Juarez

Data provided by City Council Central staff:
28 appeals in 10 years. Fewer than 3 a year.
19 dismissed or withdrawn
5 went the distance and took on average 15 months.
3 appeals resulted in a decision being overturned or sent back for correction.

“I cannot make the connection between, or the unequivocal statement, that the appeals stop housing production. I just don’t believe that that’s true.” - CM Juarez

Juarez called the legislation “a solution looking for a problem” and defended the Hearing Examiner as an independent safeguard. Frivolous appeals would be turned away, and important errors in environmental statements would be taken seriously:

“That’s why we have a Hearing Examiner.” - CM Juarez

And ultimately:

“I have to err on the side of more (people’s voice). Because that’s due process, and that’s what the people want.” - CM Juarez

Mayor Wilson is entitled to support eliminating this appeal right. But Seattle residents are entitled to be told what was eliminated, and to see the evidence for the claim that doing so will accelerate housing construction. Calling this simply a measure to “prioritize affordable housing” does neither.

State Mandate: Build Middle Housing,
not Tower HOMES anD LARGE, EXPENSIVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

HB1110 defines Middle Housing as: “compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses and contain two or more attached, stacked, or clustered homes including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing.” Source: HB1110, lines 32 - 35

What is not Middle Housing? Detached single-family “tower homes” and oversized attached units over 1,250 square feet do not align with the spirit or intent of Middle Housing. When developers replace older, modestly priced homes with luxury units—especially tall, bulky tower homes—they eliminate existing Middle Housing, erase tree canopy, and drive up land values. These projects often attract wealthier buyers relocating from other cities, while long-time residents seeking attainable housing are left with even fewer options.

If we continue down this path, we risk accelerating the destruction of true Middle Housing—ironically, under the banner of creating it.

See whitepaper: Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing

See policy document: Upzoning Is Not the Answer: Why Supply-Side Housing Policy Fails Working Families

CitiES THAT LEGISLATE, NOT JUST HOPE FOR,
THE KINDS OF HOUSING THEY WANT TO SEE

Vancouver “went big” with their plan, and tripled its housing stock in hope of driving down costs. After growing more than any other city in North America, Vancouver is now the 3rd least affordable city in the world, sharing the “most expensive city” podium with Sydney and Hong Kong. Renowned professor and growth strategist Patrick Condon, author of Broken City, shows how foreign investment and speculation, which increased the cost of land, were at the root of the exacerbated affordability problem. Condon now speaks out on how “Abundance” is a fallacy in housing.

Portland literally “went small” with their plan, focusing upzoning with affordable density as the explicit, intended outcome. They did this by only allowing the building of affordable density types (attached, smaller homes). It resulted in affordable density, and on average, housing prices have gone DOWN. Let’s learn from what they did: See article

Bellingham realized that given the choice, developers would build McMansions instead of multifamily housing. They had to issue a one-year moratorium on permits for single family homes within multifamily housing-zoned areas. The details may differ—but the point remains: as with Portland, legislate what you want to see.

NEWS / RESOURCES

Over 30 Seattle organizations and neighborhood groups agree: Seattle can do better. The City’s HB1110 Permanent Legislation, which applies to every single-family lot in the city, unnecessarily shrinks setbacks, raises roof heights, and expands lot coverage—changes that will fast-track demolition and large-scale redevelopment across neighborhoods – to the benefit of developers and investors and to the detriment of affordable Middle Housing, current residents, and the environment. There are many examples of middle housing in Seattle today that respect the scale, character, and tree canopies of their neighborhoods – the true intent of HB1110. Let’s do more of that!

Capitol Hill | Central District | Columbia City | Green Lake | Greenwood | Haller Lake | Madison Park | Madrona |
Magnolia | Maple Leaf | Montlake | Mt Baker | Phinney Ridge | Queen Anne | Tangletown | Wallingford |
Washington Park | Wedgwood | West Seattle – Fauntleroy | West Seattle - Seaview/Fairmount | Whittier Heights

Take action today