Celebrating the streamlining of design review in downtown Seattle
HDC commends the City of Seattle for taking another positive step to improve the way that we permit and approve new housing in the city by passing CB 120824 and streamlining development in downtown Seattle.
We recognize the link between Design Review and added soft costs and delays to housing. CB 120824 builds on the recent success of other bills that temporarily exempt affordable housing from Design Review in Seattle, reducing the barriers and costs of development. Our partners—representing a broad group of stakeholders across the affordable housing sector who interact directly and indirectly with the design review process—can attest to the clear benefits that this temporary exemption has created in a short period of time.
Now, with CB 120824, we thank the City for encouraging development overall while accelerating and increasing Mandatory Housing Affordability participation for areas in and near Downtown Seattle. We express our sincere gratitude to the Office of the Mayor for proposing this bill and to City Council for your support and vote. We look forward to partnering with the City and other stakeholders to implement permanent improvements to Seattle’s Design Review program across all neighborhoods, affordability levels, and types of housing during upcoming HB 1293 implementation.
