YIMBY News for 9/9

[Eric Budd]

Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers

The Urbanist

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KEYWORD SCORE: 55.83. affordable, affordable housing, bus route, comp plan, comprehensive plan, density, development, growth, homeowner, house, housing, mixed-use, parking, planning commission, project, public hearing, rent, renter, single-family, transit-oriented, transportation, urban, zone, zoning

In the lead up to final public hearing on the long-delayed One Seattle growth plan, opposition has been ramping up to the prospect of denser housing and new commercial storefronts within some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. The hearing this Friday, September 12 will be the last chance for members of the public to go on record with their thoughts on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed growth plan, which has been advancing in fits and starts since 2022. It’s also the biggest opportunity for Seattle residents to weigh in on more than 100 amendments that have been put forward by various counc

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Why New Apartments Look Ugly

Darrell Owens Substack

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KEYWORD SCORE: 51.03. apartment, condo, construction, density, development, downtown, higher-density, house, housing, income, planning commission, project, rent, single family, single-family, urban, walk, zone, zoning

[image: Why do so many new apartment buildings in Seattle look the same? : r/Seattle] Many will be shocked but I have a confession to make: many new apartments do indeed look ugly, or at the very least uninspiring. Urbanists sell single-family obsessed Americans on residential density by pointing out that Americans vacation in Europe where they greatly admire the density of places like Venice, Paris etc. But Americans get annoyed that we don’t get beautiful Barcelona apartments and Parisian Haussmanns, but buildings like the ones in the picture above. Some argue we should regulate building des

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The ‘Project Marvel’ Deal that San Antonians Deserve

Next City

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KEYWORD SCORE: 36.97. affordable, affordable housing, development, downtown, house, housing, mixed-use, parking, project, rent, urban, walk

A rendering of what a proposed Project Marvel entertainment district could look like. (Image courtesy City of San Antonio) In 2025, the familiar story of sports-and-entertainment megaprojects plays out once more. On one side are the skeptics, wary of whether millions in public funds truly benefit everyday San Antonians; on the other are the enthusiasts, captivated by glossy renderings and big promises. In September 2024, Project Marvel was covered by media for the first time — a new vision to return the Spurs to downtown, near the Alamodome, reshaping the area into a sprawling entertainment an

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Slowly But Surely, Foundations Are Changing How They Invest Their Endowments

Next City

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KEYWORD SCORE: 33.30. affordable, affordable housing, development, growth, housing, income, real estate, rent

*This story was produced in collaboration with Proximate, an independent media outlet covering movements for participatory problem-solving, as part of its series on the future of participatory investing. Get Proximate’s stories in your inbox.* For Erika Seth Davies, changing the way foundations invest — and by extension, changing how all investment works — isn’t just a moral, financial or environmental imperative. It’s personal for her, particularly as a Black woman and mother of two from Baltimore. Throughout her travels, in meetings and conferences, during networking events and happy hour co

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America’s Longevity Boom Depends on Healthy Homes

Next City

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KEYWORD SCORE: 27.89. affordable, affordable housing, apartment, development, house, housing, income, project, urban, zone

(Photo by RDNE Stock project) From tech billionaires pursuing anti-aging breakthroughs to mainstream media highlighting “Blue Zones” where people routinely live healthily into old age, America has become fixated on longevity. We are seeing a groundswell of interest in healthspan, not just lifespan, as older Americans now make up a record share of the population. But the foundation for a long, healthy life is built, quite literally, at home: a house or apartment that is safe, stable, affordable, nontoxic and in community. So often overlooked, the home is a powerful — sometimes invisible — deter

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The Buttonhook and the Cost of Safety We Refuse To Pay

Strong Towns

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KEYWORD SCORE: 25.53. construction, development, downtown, parking, project, rent, transportation, urban, vision zero, walk

*A visual rendering of the “buttonhook.” (Source: **Minnesota Department of Transportation**.)* This is part of a short series exploring the “buttonhook” interchange at the intersection of Highways 371 and 210 in Baxter, Minnesota. Catch up with these columns: 1. “Six Roundabouts to Nowhere” 2. “The Buttonhook Isn’t Designed To Solve Baxter’s Mythical Congestion” ------------------------------ When I wrote recently about the buttonhook interchange in Baxter, I argued that congestion isn’t the problem it’s made out to be. Wasting time is bad, but wasting lives is worse. *And that’s what I want

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Shortage of homebuyers forces many sellers to lower prices or walk away as sales slump drags on

Colorado Public Radio

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KEYWORD SCORE: 22.19. construction, homeowner, house, housing, income, real estate, rent, supply, walk

By Alex Veig, AP Business Writer Skyrocketing housing values and a shortage of homes on the market gave homeowners the upper hand for years when it came time to sell. That’s no longer a given. Across the country, it’s getting tougher for sellers to drive a hard bargain. A dearth of home shoppers who can afford to buy and uncertainty about the outlook for the economy, jobs and mortgage rates is putting pressure on sellers to give ground at the negotiating table. In some markets, mainly in the South and West, homeowners who are eager to sell are more likely to give buyers a better deal. This cou

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