Clearly a top priority for Democrats this session, legislation to address climate change performed very strongly. The increase in the number of Senate seats held by Democrats after the 2018 election allowed Democrats to push these bills few with very few or no Republican votes. In some cases, they were also able to lose the […]
Seattle Passes Local Green New Deal Resolution Friday, August 30, 2019 in Climate, Uncategorized Comments Off on Seattle Passes Local Green New Deal ResolutionSeattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien introduced a resolution laying out the agenda for a Green New Deal for Seattle and an ordinance creating a Green New Deal Oversight Board. The resolution endorses the Federal Green New Deal and identifies five goals for a Seattle Green New Deal: Make Seattle free of pollutants that have climate […]
Seattle’s Center City Streetcar Gets Green Light to Move Forward Friday, August 30, 2019 in Transportation, Uncategorized Comments Off on Seattle’s Center City Streetcar Gets Green Light to Move ForwardAfter months in limbo, Seattle’s Central City Connector Streetcar line was approved by Mayor Durkan to move forward, albeit with higher cost estimates and a timeline five years later than initially planned. Some design and engineering for the project will have to be redone. The Center City Connector will link Seattle’s two existing streetcar lines […]
Seattle Enacts Mandatory Housing Affordability Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Housing, Uncategorized Comments Off on Seattle Enacts Mandatory Housing AffordabilityThe ordinance will implement MHA in Seattle’s 27 urban villages and all other commercial and multifamily residential areas. All urban villages and multifamily residential and commercial zones will see zoning changes, allowing slightly larger or taller buildings. Additional development capacity will be focused near transit centers. With MHA, developers have two options when creating new […]
Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Speaks to AIA on Housing Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Housing, Uncategorized Comments Off on Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Speaks to AIA on HousingSeattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda spoke as part of AIA Seattle’s City Leaders Breakfast Series on June 12. She spoke about her housing priorities on the Council, including ADUs, allowing more duplexes and triplexes and more upzoning. She also talked about her efforts to engage the community on housing and her work with the business […]
Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan Approved Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Housing, Uncategorized Comments Off on Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan ApprovedOn June 10, the Seattle City Council voted to approve the city’s plan to turn the former military site at Fort Lawton into 237 affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless individuals alongside supportive services, workforce housing and affordable homeownership opportunities. AIA Seattle supported this effort. The city must now submit its plan to […]
Seattle Enacts ADU Legislation Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Housing, Public Policy Board, Uncategorized Comments Off on Seattle Enacts ADU LegislationTwo ADUs will now be allowed on each lot, either two attached ADUs or one attached ADU and one detached ADU. The maximum DADU size will increase from 800 to 1,000 square feet and the minimum lot size for DADUs will be reduced from 4,000 to 3,200 square feet. The legislation will also cap the […]
2019 Northwest Washington Design Awards Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in Uncategorized Comments Off on 2019 Northwest Washington Design AwardsAIA Northwest Washington’s Steering Committee invites you to share your most dynamic, new work! Join us as we celebrate the best architectural designs available from the AIA members in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties for the Northwest Washington Design Awards. These projects represent the finest standards in sustainability, innovation, building performance, and overall […]
Advocacy Update – August 2019 Monday, August 12, 2019 in Public Policy Board, Uncategorized Comments Off on Advocacy Update – August 2019STATE NEWS Residential Energy Code Update Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) is in the process of reviewing proposed amendments to the 2018 residential energy codes as approved by the SBCC’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group. The proposed residential energy code amendments are open for public comment through Sept. 27. The SBCC will take public […]
2019 Northwest Washington Section Scholarship Thursday, August 8, 2019 in Uncategorized Comments Off on 2019 Northwest Washington Section ScholarshipAIA Northwest Washington Section is proud to offer its annual scholarship fund, designed to encourage and assist local residents pursuing a degree in architecture. The scholarship is open to students from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties currently enrolled in an accredited school of architecture, regardless of location. The scholarship is awarded to 2-3 […]
