Will Single-Family Home Construction in Seattle Be Halted?

A Seattle bungalow. Many of Seattle’s neighborhoods are zoned for single-family homes, which could change soon.
The Seattle Times reported Tuesday night that Seattle may soon consider restricting the construction of single-family homes in a large swath of the city.
A draft report authored by Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Living Agenda (HALA) shows recommendations to increase the amount of multi-family zoning and drastically decrease the amount of single-family zoning in an attempt to increase the housing inventory in the growing city.
“New multifamily zoned land should be prioritized near green belts, open space and parks; near schools and community centers; and within walking distant of the frequent transit network,” stated the committee in the report.
Roughly 65 percent of the city would be affected by this change, according to the Seattle Transit Blog. A final version of the report won’t be available until early next week.
Currently, there are three kinds of single-family zoning in Seattle, which are almost identical except for the size of the lot. The smallest a lot can be is 5,000 square feet, which committee members believe can be used to house more residents.
The draft report has garnered discussion about the protection of character in Seattle’s neighborhoods and the affordability of housing today and in the future. A DC Office of Revenue Analysis study published Wednesday found that Seattle has some of the most expensive housing in the nation.
However, HALA is just an advisory committee created by Mayor Ed Murray and the City Council to suggest policies and programs to make Seattle more livable. Therefore, any suggestions must be translated into law, which may or may not pass, and with the flack the committee is receiving, its recommendation for the zoning change could change by the final report.
Like many cities, nationwide, Seattle is grappling with affordability and is considering new ways to house a rapidly growing population. In 2013, according to the Seattle Times, it was the fastest growing city in the nation and added about 18,000 new residents.
See other articles related to: zoning changes, zoning, seattle, housing prices
This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/leaked_report_shows_seattle_may_drop_single-family_zoning/10096
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever

When Johnsie Walsh rented a unit in her Stanton Park apartment building, she had no i... read »

The draft environmental impact statement for the transportation project expected to g... read »

An analysis by UrbanTurf found that there were 15 neighborhoods in DC where the media... read »

The project is the first Rosslyn high-rise that will include affordable units.... read »

Tysons Corner also comes in tenth nationwide in number of apartments built since 2016... read »
- Obama, The Tenant: A Chat With The President's DC Landlord
- 300 MPH, 18 Million Riders: How the Maglev Might Impact Traffic and Transit in the DC Area
- DC Has Its Most Million-Dollar Neighborhoods on Record
- Arlington County Approves 740-Apartment Ames Center Site Redevelopment
- 2,562 New Units: Tysons Tops DC Suburbs in Apartments Built
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Visit guides.urbanturf.com or start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro