Push The Needle
@pushtheneedle.bsky.social
the closer we are physically, the closer we are socially.
I find these frequent transit maps both meaningless and telling.
Meaningless because plenty of transit riders live outside these areas
Telling because every definition we end up using is the smaller one to limit where housing can grow
Meaningless because plenty of transit riders live outside these areas
Telling because every definition we end up using is the smaller one to limit where housing can grow
January 21, 2026 at 2:55 AM
I find these frequent transit maps both meaningless and telling.
Meaningless because plenty of transit riders live outside these areas
Telling because every definition we end up using is the smaller one to limit where housing can grow
Meaningless because plenty of transit riders live outside these areas
Telling because every definition we end up using is the smaller one to limit where housing can grow
Someone needs to say it. The black population not only has grown in Seattle, but since the upzones started in 1990, it’s grown in the dense areas which include the historically black neighborhoods of Southeast Seattle. It declined everywhere else. Low density zoning gentrified cities, not upzoning
January 14, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Someone needs to say it. The black population not only has grown in Seattle, but since the upzones started in 1990, it’s grown in the dense areas which include the historically black neighborhoods of Southeast Seattle. It declined everywhere else. Low density zoning gentrified cities, not upzoning
I nominate this place, which serves as a haunted house or something in Capitol Hill. It’s walkable, bikeable, in the thick of it near groceries, and would be easier to take transit to work over driving every day
January 13, 2026 at 6:32 AM
I nominate this place, which serves as a haunted house or something in Capitol Hill. It’s walkable, bikeable, in the thick of it near groceries, and would be easier to take transit to work over driving every day
A year ago the City of Redmond quietly killed the design review program citywide. No reform, nothing. Dead. It took less than 6 months to proposed and pass this ordinance and the program was eliminated January 2025. Why hasn’t Seattle done this? It’s 2026 and we are out of compliance.
January 12, 2026 at 5:24 PM
A year ago the City of Redmond quietly killed the design review program citywide. No reform, nothing. Dead. It took less than 6 months to proposed and pass this ordinance and the program was eliminated January 2025. Why hasn’t Seattle done this? It’s 2026 and we are out of compliance.
And this (20,000 homes)
January 10, 2026 at 5:47 AM
And this (20,000 homes)
This study has taken THREE YEARS to get to this point with 7 points of community feedback. This same department just rebuilt Highway-2 in a matter of 3 weeks after the catastrophic flood took it out. Show my your process and you show me where your priorities are
January 6, 2026 at 10:09 PM
This study has taken THREE YEARS to get to this point with 7 points of community feedback. This same department just rebuilt Highway-2 in a matter of 3 weeks after the catastrophic flood took it out. Show my your process and you show me where your priorities are
Why is this even a debate anymore?
January 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Why is this even a debate anymore?
You had to dig deep for that in Seattle’s famous study archive
January 5, 2026 at 5:58 PM
You had to dig deep for that in Seattle’s famous study archive
I would love to see the City of Seattle’s archive of studies someday
January 5, 2026 at 3:32 PM
I would love to see the City of Seattle’s archive of studies someday
It’s not a map of the 5,000+ lots but they studied a 6,000 sf lot min and made this map showing eligible vs ineligible.
January 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
It’s not a map of the 5,000+ lots but they studied a 6,000 sf lot min and made this map showing eligible vs ineligible.
Not constrained at all. Paris is also the same geographical size (40sq mi) as SF
January 2, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Not constrained at all. Paris is also the same geographical size (40sq mi) as SF
Every arterial is a vital biking corridor because it’s where we put housing, businesses, and transit. And it’s already being used as a bike corridor.
January 2, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Every arterial is a vital biking corridor because it’s where we put housing, businesses, and transit. And it’s already being used as a bike corridor.
Right. It’s not perfect. And aurora is way wider than this street so we can do a lot more, like separating the bike lanes
January 2, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Right. It’s not perfect. And aurora is way wider than this street so we can do a lot more, like separating the bike lanes
I found this street diagram for a project in Las Vegas and damn its perfect for Aurora Avenue here in Seattle
January 2, 2026 at 5:50 AM
I found this street diagram for a project in Las Vegas and damn its perfect for Aurora Avenue here in Seattle
What is the point of having cars on this road? The retail would flourish more with it pedestrianized, the park isn’t fractured, and vehicles have access all around it and don’t need to drive through. My assumption is the fire department but that can be managed with removable bollards
January 1, 2026 at 9:37 PM
What is the point of having cars on this road? The retail would flourish more with it pedestrianized, the park isn’t fractured, and vehicles have access all around it and don’t need to drive through. My assumption is the fire department but that can be managed with removable bollards
Yes. In 2024. I’m talking about when projects were feasible when the fee went in place. It killed them.
You dont get to go “well I don’t like this study”. Its there. It kills townhomes and infill projects like that. It will kill stacked flats if it’s applied too
You dont get to go “well I don’t like this study”. Its there. It kills townhomes and infill projects like that. It will kill stacked flats if it’s applied too
December 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Yes. In 2024. I’m talking about when projects were feasible when the fee went in place. It killed them.
You dont get to go “well I don’t like this study”. Its there. It kills townhomes and infill projects like that. It will kill stacked flats if it’s applied too
You dont get to go “well I don’t like this study”. Its there. It kills townhomes and infill projects like that. It will kill stacked flats if it’s applied too
It killed townhomes as you can see as soon as it went into place. Sure the MFH bigger projects can absorb it but townhomes can’t.
December 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
It killed townhomes as you can see as soon as it went into place. Sure the MFH bigger projects can absorb it but townhomes can’t.
Jesus Christ 🙄🤬, the stuff they make architects go thru just to get a regular apartment building approved will never not make me scream here in Seattle
This meeting is Monday, January 5th at 5:00pm web.seattle.gov/dpd/aboutus/...
This meeting is Monday, January 5th at 5:00pm web.seattle.gov/dpd/aboutus/...
December 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Jesus Christ 🙄🤬, the stuff they make architects go thru just to get a regular apartment building approved will never not make me scream here in Seattle
This meeting is Monday, January 5th at 5:00pm web.seattle.gov/dpd/aboutus/...
This meeting is Monday, January 5th at 5:00pm web.seattle.gov/dpd/aboutus/...
“Evans Pool, designated a historical landmark in 2021 because of its distinctive concrete-shell roof and placed under protected status in 2023, would no longer be used for swimming.”
This shit has got to stop
This shit has got to stop
December 28, 2025 at 2:29 AM
“Evans Pool, designated a historical landmark in 2021 because of its distinctive concrete-shell roof and placed under protected status in 2023, would no longer be used for swimming.”
This shit has got to stop
This shit has got to stop
Here is the breakdown of each type
December 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Here is the breakdown of each type
Rents would have to go up 20% and the building would have to sell for $75/sq ft to make an office to residential project happen in downtown Seattle. That’s a 50% reduction in site acquisition cost and would likely mean a recession bargain deal
December 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Rents would have to go up 20% and the building would have to sell for $75/sq ft to make an office to residential project happen in downtown Seattle. That’s a 50% reduction in site acquisition cost and would likely mean a recession bargain deal
Seattle city planners hired a consultant to analyze feasibility of downtown housing typologies & given the sky high fees to build, hard costs & parking costs, every model was rated “infeasible”
Highrise Res: $605k/unit
Mixed use: $710k/unit
Mass timber: $605k/unit
Office to Res: $640k/unit
Highrise Res: $605k/unit
Mixed use: $710k/unit
Mass timber: $605k/unit
Office to Res: $640k/unit
December 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Seattle city planners hired a consultant to analyze feasibility of downtown housing typologies & given the sky high fees to build, hard costs & parking costs, every model was rated “infeasible”
Highrise Res: $605k/unit
Mixed use: $710k/unit
Mass timber: $605k/unit
Office to Res: $640k/unit
Highrise Res: $605k/unit
Mixed use: $710k/unit
Mass timber: $605k/unit
Office to Res: $640k/unit
Yeah why wouldn’t we want to be more like Chicago?
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Yeah why wouldn’t we want to be more like Chicago?
What if this was HSR
December 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
What if this was HSR