Seattle New Liberals
@seattle.cnliberalism.org
Seattle/Puget Sound chapter of @cnliberalism.org
Open markets, transit, legalize housing, civil rights, open borders. #BuildingsArePeopleToo
Open markets, transit, legalize housing, civil rights, open borders. #BuildingsArePeopleToo
I noticed that too. Very weird.
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I noticed that too. Very weird.
MHA would be the program with the dead weight loss problem. MFTE is a tax holiday on the land improvement portion of property taxes. That improvement value would be next to nothing if the building was never built, so the actual cost for the city is negligible.
October 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
MHA would be the program with the dead weight loss problem. MFTE is a tax holiday on the land improvement portion of property taxes. That improvement value would be next to nothing if the building was never built, so the actual cost for the city is negligible.
Rental assistance is a more efficient method of helping low income people. However, MFTE is more about allowing market rate apartment buildings to pencil out when they otherwise wouldn't have while still providing a direct public benefit.
October 13, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Rental assistance is a more efficient method of helping low income people. However, MFTE is more about allowing market rate apartment buildings to pencil out when they otherwise wouldn't have while still providing a direct public benefit.
That's not how MFTE works.
October 13, 2025 at 6:54 AM
That's not how MFTE works.
In total, these amendments set up Seattle for a boom of apartments in neighborhoods and family sized townhomes, all exempt from affordability requirements, with just height and setbacks limiting density. The council will vote on the final changes in 1-2 months.
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
In total, these amendments set up Seattle for a boom of apartments in neighborhoods and family sized townhomes, all exempt from affordability requirements, with just height and setbacks limiting density. The council will vote on the final changes in 1-2 months.
A slight reduction in required building separations between buildings, from 6 feet to 5 feet, allowing more flexibility
Commercial uses, including restaurants and stores are now allowed citywide
Commercial uses, including restaurants and stores are now allowed citywide
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
A slight reduction in required building separations between buildings, from 6 feet to 5 feet, allowing more flexibility
Commercial uses, including restaurants and stores are now allowed citywide
Commercial uses, including restaurants and stores are now allowed citywide
Seattle will implement the state parking bill 3 years early, eliminating parking requirements for all units less than 1,200 square feet and greatly reducing commercial parking requirements
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Seattle will implement the state parking bill 3 years early, eliminating parking requirements for all units less than 1,200 square feet and greatly reducing commercial parking requirements
There's also a number of wonky amendments.
Setbacks were changed, to allow 3 foot setbacks on small lots near transit, and allow a 3 foot minimum, 5 foot average instead of a 5 foot minimum side setback
Setbacks were changed, to allow 3 foot setbacks on small lots near transit, and allow a 3 foot minimum, 5 foot average instead of a 5 foot minimum side setback
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
There's also a number of wonky amendments.
Setbacks were changed, to allow 3 foot setbacks on small lots near transit, and allow a 3 foot minimum, 5 foot average instead of a 5 foot minimum side setback
Setbacks were changed, to allow 3 foot setbacks on small lots near transit, and allow a 3 foot minimum, 5 foot average instead of a 5 foot minimum side setback
The above amendments will unlock Neighborhood Residential zones, they will now allow *more* housing that low-rise 1 or 2 townhome zoning, that have already been successful. In the next phase the city will have to go back to improve low-rise zones so they're not worse than NR.
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The above amendments will unlock Neighborhood Residential zones, they will now allow *more* housing that low-rise 1 or 2 townhome zoning, that have already been successful. In the next phase the city will have to go back to improve low-rise zones so they're not worse than NR.
The council also voted to exempt ADUs from floor area limits and density limits, and to allow ADU unit lot subdivision, but because those changes would generate so much housing, it will require additional environmental study.
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The council also voted to exempt ADUs from floor area limits and density limits, and to allow ADU unit lot subdivision, but because those changes would generate so much housing, it will require additional environmental study.
Even though 4 principal units are allowed on every lot, ADUs still offer a number of regulatory and fiscal advantages. ADUs were strengthened, now allowing two 1,200 sqft ADUs per lot if they have 3 bedrooms, and are now exempt from MHA housing taxes.
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Even though 4 principal units are allowed on every lot, ADUs still offer a number of regulatory and fiscal advantages. ADUs were strengthened, now allowing two 1,200 sqft ADUs per lot if they have 3 bedrooms, and are now exempt from MHA housing taxes.
Allowable floor area for middle housing was greatly increased, from 1.2/1.4 FAR to 1.6/1.8/2.0.
On every lot you can build four 2,000 square foot townhomes, or 10 900 square foot stacked flats.
If the units are type A accessible they are exempt from those limits.
On every lot you can build four 2,000 square foot townhomes, or 10 900 square foot stacked flats.
If the units are type A accessible they are exempt from those limits.
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Allowable floor area for middle housing was greatly increased, from 1.2/1.4 FAR to 1.6/1.8/2.0.
On every lot you can build four 2,000 square foot townhomes, or 10 900 square foot stacked flats.
If the units are type A accessible they are exempt from those limits.
On every lot you can build four 2,000 square foot townhomes, or 10 900 square foot stacked flats.
If the units are type A accessible they are exempt from those limits.
The council also passed a few simple ways to achieve 42' height, through meeting a green factor and stacked, 20' front setback or a tree canopy that would cover 10% of the lot at maturity
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The council also passed a few simple ways to achieve 42' height, through meeting a green factor and stacked, 20' front setback or a tree canopy that would cover 10% of the lot at maturity
Type A accessible rules typically only add a few thousand to the cost of a townhome, requiring things like accessible counter heights and bathrooms. All developments that opt into type A would only be bound by height, setback and parking dimensional limits
October 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Type A accessible rules typically only add a few thousand to the cost of a townhome, requiring things like accessible counter heights and bathrooms. All developments that opt into type A would only be bound by height, setback and parking dimensional limits
Come out October 14th to support the council's changes that will help save Seattle from a collapse in permitting and improve the most efficient affordable housing program we have.
October 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Come out October 14th to support the council's changes that will help save Seattle from a collapse in permitting and improve the most efficient affordable housing program we have.