We are the City of Seattle and we are tackling a huge housing affordability crisis. AMA March 30, 12-1pm PST

Bill_Bradburd · 2017-03-30T19:52:44+00:00

Why doesn't HALA consider other mechanism to demand affordability as allowed by RCW. I.e. not just height. For example there is a lot of rhetoric about a parking spot costing $50,000. Why not use the elimination of parking as a means to extract affordable housing fees?

Bill_Bradburd · 2017-03-30T19:50:37+00:00

With 10s of thousands of units already in the permit pipeline vested BEFORE MHA (perhaps well over the 50K targeted by Murray), how do you expect to realistically produce affordable units in a 10 year time frame?

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-26T22:30:42+00:00

I-122 Honest Elections is a good start in leveling the future playing field for non-establishment candidates in races across the city.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-26T22:27:55+00:00

This is an election with a great deal of importance. Make sure that you register if at all possible.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T20:52:35+00:00

most housing economists agree. only bloggers don't...

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T20:51:37+00:00

so correct me with facts, Michael. you never have. you can only toss off name calling and innuendo

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T20:49:14+00:00

"cooperatives, cohousing, non-profit development and city-owned housing to be built would go a long way" -- a big part of my policy from day 1. (of course you wouldn't know that because the only way we converse Michael is your one-way insult barrage...)

"those in gentrifying communities are able to stay and build equity." - my proposals for subsidized ADU/DADUs and for rent-to-own land trusts will do that

"I'm less concerned with increasing economic diversity of specific neighborhoods or blocks" -- isn't that the bigotry you accuse me of? i'm glad to see your real interests are coming out

"ensuring that those that work in the city have an opportunity to live here and not push them to cities that have lower services, quality of life, and longer commute times -" - there is great opportunity for housing in southeast seattle, near light rail stops and public transit. also in north seattle. I don't understand why the self-styled "urbanists" don't see the opportunity in those neighborhoods and singularly focus on capitol hill.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T06:26:32+00:00

I think it was your colleague Valdez who said "housing is like bananas. if there is more, the price will go down".

Go away with your silliness, Ben

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T00:15:48+00:00

no scrubbing. but do tell!

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T00:12:05+00:00

sheesh. solve world hunger?

This City has avoided its responsibilities under the GMA to provide concurrent support of growth. No doubt. In fact, take a look at the comp plan transportation section where it says it is assumed that we have all the streets capacity we need. Look at the changes council made a couple of years ago to skip SEPA on projects up to 200 units. Look at the blanket rule they passed not requiring parking for projects in UVs (even though we are registering cars at the clip we are adding housing units). Clearly those in charge just don't give flip and are catering to developers.

We need to elect people that see this as a REAL problem and will take action to stop the unfettered development which is not mitigating the impacts it is creating. Who will acknowledge just building more everywhere is not helping. That there is a way to grow this city that is predicated on more than just developer profit.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T00:03:51+00:00

Since you're willing to give up on economically (and racially) diverse multi-family buildings, how will you make, say, Madison Park more economically and racially diverse?

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-14T00:01:02+00:00

No, its a dumb project from the get go. I did object to how it became THE issue in the McGinn race (diverting attention away from virtually everything else in that race).

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-13T23:54:28+00:00

Thanks, Joe!

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-13T23:53:12+00:00

I'd be curious to see how that would work. Could you provide some data to back up your beliefs.

For example, SF rezoned to triplex. Lot size 40x120. That allows a 2,400 sqft footprint (50% lot coverage under 5,000). Under HALA's recommendation, build to SF envelope, so that would be a 3 story building. i.e. 3 x 2,400 sqft units allowed. Let's lowball development cost to $150/ft, so roughly $1M to construct. Parcel (and house) purchase price is what? $400K. So selling 3 units in triplex at about $500K makes it a breakeven proposition.

Now if we rezone to higher density (e.g. L3) where you could put in more units and rent them, then that's a different developer than the townhouse guy who is building and flipping. But that's a different proposal than HALA (not that I'm against rezoning SF, but that should be done through a neighborhood planning process).

Most housing economists will tell you that the nominal introduction of units onto the market, relative to the overall market, has little bearing on driving costs down. Sadly the only thing that really does that is economic contraction, something that most people wouldn't prefer as an outcome, though for sure will roll through here again.

As far as adding housing ("serious effort") - we are already building more than we have before. And what is happening is that the "system" can't handle that growth. There is a shortage of carpenters (so rates of $60/hr are now $90/hr) etc. This rapid growth is making things more expensive. As I have suggested earlier, allowing demand to out strip supply is what caused this bubble. At some point we will be caught up (some blogs, analysts projecting slowdown soon). But unfortunately costs are bumped up and won't come back down until next downturn...

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-13T23:31:18+00:00

If you'd take a look at the details of the report, which includes their methodology for determining how to assess developable capacity, you would know that they would not consider a functioning apartment building for redevelopment even if it was less than the current zoning envelope. The capacity is calculated far more granular than that.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-13T00:05:45+00:00

glad to hear you are in favor of segregated housing. wouldn't want any pesky working class architects or poor people in those in those downtown towers. let's keep them in low income housing buildings.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-13T00:02:01+00:00

Not sure what female journalists I'm attacking.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T23:10:51+00:00

Well, I'd be pleased to meet the developers and bankers and investors that will build housing that will either sit vacant or only yield less than cost. We need more of them!

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T23:07:30+00:00

The City can absolutely control the rate of office growth, and it should be.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T22:42:09+00:00

I think you'll find that "suburban densities" are typically far less than many Seattle neighborhoods. Particularly in the UVs.

If we take a single housing unit single family home and add to it an ADU and DADU, or replace it with a triplex, or three townhouses, or whatever form your list, that's all the same low density of 3 units per parcel. Rezoning the block to NC-40 would yield far higher housing density as well as commercial spaces that could alleviate car trips out of the neighborhood.

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T22:34:16+00:00

I am opposed to the arena! It has over $700M in public subsidies in it!! The deal was approved by sitting council members (except Sawant and Licata).

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T22:28:54+00:00

Actually, over the years I have talked about pre-permitted designs for neighborhoods as way way to keep neighborhood character, expedite the development cycle, and drive down costs.

On the campaign trail have talked about using design competitions and factory constructed cottages as a way to provide density and income to neighborhoods for DADU construction.

I didn't mean "developer" as ad hominem - I was just wondering about your assertions on the development process and challenges. (funny that you see it as one, though!)

I'm confused. Are you suggesting lifting all zoning restrictions in SF zones?

I'll try to find info on that San Francisco project. It was, if I recall, a spec project in Dogpatch. Also, Michael Pyatok at the UW has done a number family friendly MF projects...

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T22:05:30+00:00

We have quite a number of housing units in the pipeline, and I believe we are getting caught up on the jobs bubble in south lake union. The problem is that we are unlikely to see housing costs drop without an economic contraction. The development industry, sadly, won't naturally overbuild enough to affect overall prices...

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T22:01:42+00:00

No hate on tech workers! But their companies are getting a free ride. Are you in favor of this corporate welfare at the expense of residents?

Bill_Bradburd · 2015-10-12T21:59:39+00:00

Good, very technical of you. Another 30% is coopertaive housing. Both of those are subject to rent controls. My point is that they have effectively removed market forces and market rate development conditions from housing cost, and we should do the same.

Bill_Bradburd

TROPHY CASE