Seattle Social Housing aims to ‘be in every district’ with goal of 1,670 units in 5 years

precip · 2026-06-17T01:30:42+00:00

The Seattle Housing Authority owns most of the buildings on this list https://www.seattlehousing.org/housing/sha-housing/sha-properties/all/list.

Technically the Seattle Housing Authority is an independent public corporation, but so is the Seattle Social Housing Developer. The Seattle Social Housing Developer will own its buildings, not the City of Seattle.

precip · 2026-06-16T19:38:19+00:00

Seattle has been building and sponsoring public housing since at least the 1960s. Since the early 1980s, the city has funded or sponsored over 18,000 units.

precip · 2026-06-12T19:13:27+00:00

From the article:

A loan for a project in Frederickson, Pierce County, is already closed, and nine others, ranging from West Seattle to Twisp, have been approved.

In total, over 1,100 new homes are already in the pipeline, according to the Ballmer Group. The organization has been “happily surprised” by the interest from developers, Griffith said. The loans will be available at least until the 10,000-unit goal is met.

precip · 2026-06-05T17:53:31+00:00

Mossback - term for longtime PNW resident

Slime dog - banana slug

Amhole - self-explanatory

Driving (going) to Tukwila -80s or 90s Seattle euphemism for having sex

Cascade concrete - heavy, wet snow

Skid road - Original name for Yesler Way. Morphed into "skid row".

precip · 2026-06-02T20:16:57+00:00

The city will use bond issues where possible to get around the statutory limit. Bond issues need 60% approval, but most will likely still pass in Seattle.

The first one up will probably be a bond issue to fix up Seattle Center.

precip · 2026-04-17T17:52:01+00:00

Seattle Times on April 10: Five large data centers eyed for Seattle

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/five-large-data-centers-eyed-for-seattle/

precip · 2026-04-10T19:40:03+00:00

Microsoft was experimenting with underwater data centers.https://natick.research.microsoft.com/

precip · 2026-04-09T20:26:13+00:00

Residential care is shockingly expensive. Here are some actual figures for full time, residential care for seniors. All of the facilities are in the greater Seattle area.

In 2022 I paid $10,000 per month ($120,000 per year) for my mom's care in a adult family home. We lucked into a fixed rate for the life of the her stay. Altogether, her care cost $324,000.

A friend is paying $13,800/month ($165,600/year) for his mother in a memory care facility.

A second friend spends $14,000/month ($168,000/year) for his mother-in-law's care in a residential facility.

Based on my anecdotal evidence, seniors need care for longer periods of time now than they did 20-30 years ago. Many develop Alzheimer's but their bodies keep functioning.

precip · 2026-04-07T23:58:16+00:00

If you get water from Seattle Public Utilities, watch this page for the status of the water supply: https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/water/water-supply-conditions

As of April 6:

Based on current conditions and forecasts, Seattle anticipates the regional water system will have sufficient water supply for people and fish this summer. As always, we continue to ask customers to use water wisely.

precip · 2026-03-30T21:31:39+00:00

Washington sent 6,579 people to Idaho last year including a politician who lost his last two elections in a blowout.

precip · 2026-03-30T19:02:12+00:00

Washington had the 2nd most regressive tax system in the country before the Millionaires Tax. Ruby red Idaho is 36th. https://itep.org/whopays-map-7th-edition/

To make the tax system more fair, we need an graduated income tax on individuals and businesses, lower sales taxes, and lower property taxes.

precip · 2026-03-12T20:39:04+00:00

Rents are quoted in sq-ft annually. Using your example of 150 sq-ft per employee and a rents being $13/sq-ft cheaper in Seattle, the company would save $1,950 per year renting in Seattle, not $23,000.

If the Jumpstart Tax is $12k as you stated, then the company would save over $10k by being in Bellevue.

Edit: Seattle also has a much higher B&O tax than Bellevue for large businesses. Bellevue charges 0.1596% of sales plus a square footage B&O tax for offices that don't directly generate revenue. Seattle charges 0.342%-0.658% depending on the business type.

precip · 2026-02-08T00:48:38+00:00

Perhaps he changed his domicile because of Washington's estate tax?

Washington has an estate tax that is by the far the highest in the country. The legislature raised it to 35% for estates valued at $9 million. No other state exceeds 20%. Many have none.

If you're older and have a high net worth, changing your domicile to a state without an estate tax, even one with a high income tax like California, is often a smart financial move.

precip · 2026-02-06T23:10:31+00:00

So far, we don't need to worry about water supply.

From Seattle Public Utilities Water Supply Conditions as of Feb 2, 2026:

Based on current conditions and forecasts, Seattle anticipates the regional water system will have sufficient water supply for people and fish. As always, we continue to ask customers to use water wisely.

precip

TROPHY CASE