Michael Andersen
@andersem.bsky.social
Believer, skeptic, humanist, typist & dad. Trying to make places fairer as director of cities + towns for @Sightline.org, here in Portland OR. Views here: mine, all mine.
Jaleski: I had to conduct my own life-safety analysis of these buildings in order to be sure that they were not just cheaper, they were safe. So I did.
"I find them at least equivalent to a large two-stair building."
"I find them at least equivalent to a large two-stair building."
January 16, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Jaleski: I had to conduct my own life-safety analysis of these buildings in order to be sure that they were not just cheaper, they were safe. So I did.
"I find them at least equivalent to a large two-stair building."
"I find them at least equivalent to a large two-stair building."
"You're pretty much getting a maximum 80-foot travel distance to the stair." Compares to 250' in a 2-stair building under current code.
Small buildings are the main market & political appeal of the homes this reform unlocks AND is itself a huge safety feature.
Small buildings are the main market & political appeal of the homes this reform unlocks AND is itself a huge safety feature.
January 16, 2026 at 5:40 PM
"You're pretty much getting a maximum 80-foot travel distance to the stair." Compares to 250' in a 2-stair building under current code.
Small buildings are the main market & political appeal of the homes this reform unlocks AND is itself a huge safety feature.
Small buildings are the main market & political appeal of the homes this reform unlocks AND is itself a huge safety feature.
The big thing opposition to this reform misses, I think largely because it hasn't been communicated perfectly, is that this reform is being suggested ONLY for small buildings.
The American mind (or maybe, the suburban mind) struggles to comprehend that new multifamily buildings can ever be small.
The American mind (or maybe, the suburban mind) struggles to comprehend that new multifamily buildings can ever be small.
January 16, 2026 at 5:38 PM
The big thing opposition to this reform misses, I think largely because it hasn't been communicated perfectly, is that this reform is being suggested ONLY for small buildings.
The American mind (or maybe, the suburban mind) struggles to comprehend that new multifamily buildings can ever be small.
The American mind (or maybe, the suburban mind) struggles to comprehend that new multifamily buildings can ever be small.
Portland-based architect Tom Jaleski is giving a dynamite webinar about single-stair building designs, making an authoritative case for ongoing building code reform.
"There is progress being made, there just needs to be more."
"There is progress being made, there just needs to be more."
January 16, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Portland-based architect Tom Jaleski is giving a dynamite webinar about single-stair building designs, making an authoritative case for ongoing building code reform.
"There is progress being made, there just needs to be more."
"There is progress being made, there just needs to be more."
we only had a couple trains daily, and it was single track
January 16, 2026 at 6:53 AM
we only had a couple trains daily, and it was single track
Rings true theconversation.com/yes-those-bi...
January 16, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Rings true theconversation.com/yes-those-bi...
3) Tell his housing bureau to drop its opposition to LC 5, @senkhanhpham.bsky.social's bill modernizing the state's inclusionary zoning statute.
It'd give cities more options for mixed-income buildings while ending the possibility that poorly designed or bad-faith policies block future homes.
It'd give cities more options for mixed-income buildings while ending the possibility that poorly designed or bad-faith policies block future homes.
January 16, 2026 at 12:31 AM
3) Tell his housing bureau to drop its opposition to LC 5, @senkhanhpham.bsky.social's bill modernizing the state's inclusionary zoning statute.
It'd give cities more options for mixed-income buildings while ending the possibility that poorly designed or bad-faith policies block future homes.
It'd give cities more options for mixed-income buildings while ending the possibility that poorly designed or bad-faith policies block future homes.
2) Accompany this by removing the remaining barrier to Seattle-style "sunlight suites" in PDX.
These are in the city's official housing production strategy, but his fire bureau says 4-story buildings shouldn't get the same roof access option as a 3-story building. Huh? djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
These are in the city's official housing production strategy, but his fire bureau says 4-story buildings shouldn't get the same roof access option as a 3-story building. Huh? djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
January 16, 2026 at 12:26 AM
2) Accompany this by removing the remaining barrier to Seattle-style "sunlight suites" in PDX.
These are in the city's official housing production strategy, but his fire bureau says 4-story buildings shouldn't get the same roof access option as a 3-story building. Huh? djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
These are in the city's official housing production strategy, but his fire bureau says 4-story buildings shouldn't get the same roof access option as a 3-story building. Huh? djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
2,500 additional homes per year would be about 33% fewer homes than Portland added, on average, from 2006-2024.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
January 16, 2026 at 12:06 AM
2,500 additional homes per year would be about 33% fewer homes than Portland added, on average, from 2006-2024.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
I’m at a lunch for landlords (yknow, for research) and the speaker is predicting that rents in Portland will start heading up again in 2026 “as new supply remains constrained”
To the people who do this for a living, cause and effect couldn’t be clearer
To the people who do this for a living, cause and effect couldn’t be clearer
January 15, 2026 at 9:18 PM
I’m at a lunch for landlords (yknow, for research) and the speaker is predicting that rents in Portland will start heading up again in 2026 “as new supply remains constrained”
To the people who do this for a living, cause and effect couldn’t be clearer
To the people who do this for a living, cause and effect couldn’t be clearer
I will join this terrible party! here is a photo of the text I myself sent a friend last week about what a dick Brian Owendoff seems to be www.apanoactionfund.org/blog/silence...
January 14, 2026 at 5:12 AM
I will join this terrible party! here is a photo of the text I myself sent a friend last week about what a dick Brian Owendoff seems to be www.apanoactionfund.org/blog/silence...
U.S. elevators cost 3-4 more than elevators in other rich countries to install & maintain. (Including maintenance, one of ours costs about as much as an entire home.)
As a result, we have by far the fewest elevators in the developed world.
As a result, we have by far the fewest elevators in the developed world.
January 12, 2026 at 5:28 PM
U.S. elevators cost 3-4 more than elevators in other rich countries to install & maintain. (Including maintenance, one of ours costs about as much as an entire home.)
As a result, we have by far the fewest elevators in the developed world.
As a result, we have by far the fewest elevators in the developed world.
This need is one more reason we should prepare for our own futures by reforming zoning & building code to legalize nice lil accessible homes on neighborhood streets near sidewalks, transit, etc.
Whether or not you want to live in one, you'll want to visit someone who will.
Whether or not you want to live in one, you'll want to visit someone who will.
January 9, 2026 at 8:42 PM
This need is one more reason we should prepare for our own futures by reforming zoning & building code to legalize nice lil accessible homes on neighborhood streets near sidewalks, transit, etc.
Whether or not you want to live in one, you'll want to visit someone who will.
Whether or not you want to live in one, you'll want to visit someone who will.
Oregon's net population growth has slowed. But even if it stopped *completely*, state economists estimate we'd still need to add 50k more homes in the next 20 years.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
January 9, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Oregon's net population growth has slowed. But even if it stopped *completely*, state economists estimate we'd still need to add 50k more homes in the next 20 years.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
U.S. racism discourse 2013-2026 in review
January 2, 2026 at 11:39 PM
U.S. racism discourse 2013-2026 in review
Too rare to count, both in the U.S. and Europe. (For example, yesterday I was reading the proxy statement for Otis Corp, one of the few firms that does lots of business in both places. In 2024 they had "one fatality and 10 serious injuries globally.")
Unlike, notably, stairs:
Unlike, notably, stairs:
January 1, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Too rare to count, both in the U.S. and Europe. (For example, yesterday I was reading the proxy statement for Otis Corp, one of the few firms that does lots of business in both places. In 2024 they had "one fatality and 10 serious injuries globally.")
Unlike, notably, stairs:
Unlike, notably, stairs:
Good Q. The laws aren't exactly the same, but most of Europe has pretty good accessibility laws now. The standard modern European elevator is "wheelchair+1" sized.
Not enough room to turn around in the cab - but stretcher-sized US elevators don't have that for folks in big mobility devices, either.
Not enough room to turn around in the cab - but stretcher-sized US elevators don't have that for folks in big mobility devices, either.
December 31, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Good Q. The laws aren't exactly the same, but most of Europe has pretty good accessibility laws now. The standard modern European elevator is "wheelchair+1" sized.
Not enough room to turn around in the cab - but stretcher-sized US elevators don't have that for folks in big mobility devices, either.
Not enough room to turn around in the cab - but stretcher-sized US elevators don't have that for folks in big mobility devices, either.
...but Americas account for 7% of new install costs & 35% of global maintenance costs. That's about the same as Europe, the Middle East + Africa combined even though they have many more elevators.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
December 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
...but Americas account for 7% of new install costs & 35% of global maintenance costs. That's about the same as Europe, the Middle East + Africa combined even though they have many more elevators.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
The Western Hemisphere accounts for just under 10% of the world's installed elevators. (One of the big 4 elevator companies, Schindler, says the US is ~75% of its business in the Americas, so that's probably close to the overall split.)
December 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The Western Hemisphere accounts for just under 10% of the world's installed elevators. (One of the big 4 elevator companies, Schindler, says the US is ~75% of its business in the Americas, so that's probably close to the overall split.)
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
December 31, 2025 at 2:57 AM
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
when everybody knows the primary will be decided by one endorsement anyway www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
December 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
when everybody knows the primary will be decided by one endorsement anyway www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
Well, I think the last few months of Seattle zoning discourse suggest that when the current code is resulting in stuff nobody actually likes enough, a sufficiently organized pro-housing campaign can change the politics.
December 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Well, I think the last few months of Seattle zoning discourse suggest that when the current code is resulting in stuff nobody actually likes enough, a sufficiently organized pro-housing campaign can change the politics.
Well, I think the last few months of Seattle zoning discourse suggest that when the current code is resulting in stuff nobody actually likes enough, a sufficiently organized pro-housing campaign can change the politics.
December 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Well, I think the last few months of Seattle zoning discourse suggest that when the current code is resulting in stuff nobody actually likes enough, a sufficiently organized pro-housing campaign can change the politics.
Some friends asked me to be on a panel sharing politically dangerous "third rail" ideas that would help to house Oregonians. We insisted on wearing disguises.
Don't tell anyone, but my politically dangerous idea was "immigrants are good." 🗽
Don't tell anyone, but my politically dangerous idea was "immigrants are good." 🗽
December 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Some friends asked me to be on a panel sharing politically dangerous "third rail" ideas that would help to house Oregonians. We insisted on wearing disguises.
Don't tell anyone, but my politically dangerous idea was "immigrants are good." 🗽
Don't tell anyone, but my politically dangerous idea was "immigrants are good." 🗽