One year into master plan and environmental review, the real activity is among volunteers offering a new direction for the Talaris site in Northeast Seattle. No progress has been made on permits or environmental review in the year since Seattleās Department of Construction and Inspections held its last public
Actually, Seattle needed a cohesive and comprehensiveĀ WohnungspolitikĀ 40 years ago, but late is better than never. What is aĀ Wohnungspolitik? The literal translation from German is āhousing policies,ā but I think a more nuanced translation is āhousing politicsāāthat is, the activities rather than the ideasāthough both are
Seattle is in the midst of a broad and deep housing shortage affecting households across the economic spectrum, which will require bold action on the municipal levelāāāespecially in the face of potential housing cuts from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),Ā HUD rent increases, as
How the City could lead the US in piloting an innovative model for better housing. Imagine with me: what if Seattle had a model for building multi-family housing that was more affordable and greener than what weāre currently building? Ā Okay, youāve already heard that part; but what if
Editorās Note: This is Part 7 of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects.Ā ReadĀ Part 1Ā orĀ check out the series. With this series, I initially set out to highlight some of the aspects of baugruppen I found intriguing, and the reasoning for this
Editorās Note: This is Part 6Ā of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects.Ā ReadĀ Part 1Ā orĀ check out the series. So, how is it that baugruppen seemingly excel on the community cohesiveness and livability front over turn-key projects? I think there a few
Editorās Note: This is Part 5Ā of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects.Ā ReadĀ Part 1Ā orĀ check out the series. While I may have a slight affinity for homogenous, Soviet-bloc housing (panelĆ”k!)āitās only because theyāre ripe for Passivhaus retrofits! However,
Editorās Note: This is Part 4Ā of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects.Ā ReadĀ Part 1Ā orĀ check out the series. Baugruppen provide a vehicle for experimental modes of constructing versus traditional models of housing, where experimentation and innovation can prove difficult. Due to
Editorās Note: This is Part 3 of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects. Read Part 1Ā or check out the series. The collective economic might of baugruppen offers owner-builders an opportunity for significant savings over traditional developer-driven models, as well as single family houses.
Editorās Note: This is Part 2 of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects. Read Part 1Ā or check out the series. For this installment of the Baugruppen: BadaĪ² Concepts series, Iāll be highlighting a few policies cities have enacted to allow this āself-organized
Editorās Note: This is part 1 of a series on Baugruppen, private owners collaboratively building affordable multifamily projects. You can see part 2 here. Pictured about is Vauban, Freiburg, a district of baugruppen; photo courtesy of Payton Chung. āWhere no satisfactory, affordable property is available, independent citizens are taking