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The Urbanist Podcast: Death of the Missing Middle Housing Bill and Industrial Zones

Natalie Bicknell Argerious - February 19, 2022
Wide view of Interbay/BINMIC facing south towards downtown and Mt. Rainier. (SDOT)

In this second (preview) episode of The Urbanist’s podcast, my fellow host Ray Dubicki and I continue on our journey toward becoming podcasters, which (hint, hint) is not as easy as it might seem. We also discuss the sad demise of Washington State’s proposed HB 1782, a.k.a. the missing middle housing bill, as well as public feedback the City of Seattle is seeking on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for is proposed changes to industrial zones.

As always, you can expect it to be riveting stuff — even if we are still honing our techniques. Also, if you want to learn more about the topics we cover and have not read the accompanying articles yet, it’s highly encouraged you do. To make that very simple, the articles are linked both above and below.

Finally, Ray REALLY wants you to comment on the EIS for Seattle’s proposed industrial rezones. Community feedback is needed for this important document, especially from people who live in impacted communities or our members of groups that have been historically affected by industry in Seattle. Comments are only open until March 2nd so time is of the essence.

Proposals to Rezone Interbay and Duwamish Omit History of Exclusion
From now until March 2nd, Seattle is taking comments on a proposal to change the zoning rules in the city’s industrial zones. Based on the work of the former mayor’s Industrial and Maritime Strategy group, the changes will address evolving manufacturing and maritime industries while protecting the lands from being gobbled up by big box … Continue reading Proposals to Rezone Interbay and Duwamish Omit History of Exclusion
Missing Middle Bill Dies in House, but Statewide Backyard Cottage Reform Remains in Play
Oregon passed statewide missing middle housing reform in 2019, as did California in 2021. Hopes were high that Washington State would follow suit in 2022 with HB 1782. Unfortunately, that will not be the case. Despite the full backing of Governor Jay Inslee and a poll showing strong public support for statewide missing middle housing … Continue reading Missing Middle Bill Dies in House, but Statewide Backyard Cottage Reform Remains in Play