In a bold move toward transforming Seattle's urban landscape, Mayor Bruce Harrell has unveiled the Draft One Seattle Plan—a comprehensive vision aimed at overhauling the city’s housing policies. Touted as a strategic approach to meet the city's robust growth, the plan seeks to create a more inclusive, equitable Seattle. Chief among the changes is a proposal to introduce a diversity of housing types, making "missing middle" housing available in all neighborhoods, particularly near transit hubs.
The plan, influenced by Harrell's own upbringing in the Central District—a neighborhood historically subjected to redlining—proposes a conscious effort to counteract the repercussions of exclusionary zoning. "Having grown up in the historically redlined Central District, I’ve seen firsthand how our city and the neighborhoods that make it special have changed as we’ve experienced rapid growth and increased housing costs," Mayor Harrell said in a statement. The plan targets the creation of at least 100,000 new homes over the next two decades—a figure that surpasses the city's growth benchmarks and adds considerable housing capacity.
Seattle's rapidly ballooning population—which is on track to hit the million mark in the foreseeable future—has pushed the city to respond with urgency. Aligning with new state mandates that require the inclusion of "middle housing," the draft underscores an expansive approach that spreads housing types across Seattle, fostering the development of vibrant, walkable communities.
Rico Quirindongo, Director of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development, emphasizes the plan's holistic and inclusive development. "The One Seattle Plan sets a bold long-term vision for where and how our city grows while balancing the needs of BIPOC communities and working families at risk of displacement," Quirindongo told the Mayor's office. The planning process drew on input sourced from a broad spectrum of residents, with wide-ranging engagement cornerstones set to inform the final iteration of the plan.
With a forward-thinking design, the draft plan encapsulates core elements like land use, transportation, and economic development, and reinforces strategies for combating climate change impacts. Mayor Harrell's administration is championing this plan as a vital tool in battling the housing affordability and homelessness crises, and aspires to fortify Seattle as a liveable, workable, and sustainable metropolis for its diverse population.
