Category Archives: Sustainability

Vote No on Seattle Initiative 123

It’s time to vote down one of the most disastrous ballot measures to come before Seattle voters in years: Initiative 123, a rouge attempt to disrupt over a decade of planning and waste millions of dollars in design for Seattle’s … Continue reading

Posted in Biking, Public Space, Roads, Sustainability, Transportation, Walking, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I Call Myself an Urbanist

I was recently invited to to participate in a panel discussion pitting urbanism against NIMBYism (Not In My BackYard-ism). Asked to represent the “urbanist” perspective, this got me thinking about it meant to be an urbanist, how urbanism is defined, and if … Continue reading

Posted in Editorial, Housing, Land Use, Public Space, Resources, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Good and the Bad of Driverless Cars for Cities

The age of driverless cars is rapidly approaching, and no one seems to know what to do about it. The technology is picking up steam in the behemoth automotive industry while only a few states have regulations on the books … Continue reading

Posted in Cars, Energy, Government, Land Use, Roads, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On Growth, Transit, and Bikes in Vancouver B.C.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver, B.C. again and have finally gotten around to writing about it. I managed to stay for a weekend instead of 30 hours and had a real excuse to go: … Continue reading

Posted in Biking, Climate, Event Writeup, Government, Public Space, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Seattle to Ask Voters for $900 Million in Transportation Funding

In November the City of Seattle will ask voters for a property tax levy to put money where their mouth is on the Move Seattle transportation vision (PDF). Approval would supplant the expiring $365 million Bridging the Gap funding with … Continue reading

Posted in Biking, Buses, Cars, Parking, Rail, Roads, Schools, Sustainability, Transportation, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor Murray Remarks on Seattle’s Achievements and Challenges

In his annual address Seattle Mayor Ed Murray remarked on the city’s significant progress towards some of its goals and made a number of announcements about initiatives to pick up the pace on others. He also spoke at length about … Continue reading

Posted in Event Writeup, Government, Housing, Parks, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CascadiaCast Episode 1: Ben Schiendelman

I’m excited to announce the start of a new podcast series for fellow urbanists in the Pacific Northwest, titled CascadiaCast. I’ll be sitting down with fellow planners, activists, government officials, and other interesting people to discuss the issues that matter … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Housing, Land Use, Landscape, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The 12th Man Lives On

I don’t really care for football. In fact, I take issue with its non-profit status and insistence on public financing for private stadiums. But I do appreciate its contribution to a community spirit that has enlivened Seattle and the entire … Continue reading

Posted in Editorial, Energy, Landscape, Resources, Sustainability, Transportation, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Metro Neighborhood: A Renewed Vision for Downtown Seattle

The University of Washington (UW) is one of downtown Seattle’s largest landowners, but you wouldn’t know it just by being there. The university controls about eleven acres of prime real estate where the original campus was founded in 1861, known … Continue reading

Posted in Editorial, Housing, Land Use, Mixed Use, Parks, Public Space, Schools, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Planner’s Visit to Vancouver

After growing up and living the Pacific Northwest for many years I finally had an opportunity to visit Vancouver, British Columbia last weekend. Along with Seattle and Portland, it is an important hub of the Cascadia region and I was … Continue reading

Posted in Editorial, Housing, Land Use, Parks, Public Space, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments