Futurewise

YIMBYtown 2025 Puts National Momentum for More Housing on Full Display » The Urbanist # The sixth YIMBYtown conference, held earlier this month in Connecticut, represented a major change from its first iteration in 2016. The factors that have led to YIMBYtown going mainstream are leadi...

Four members of our team joined 1,000 enthusiastic housing advocates for YIMBYtown 2025!

This is a great write-up of some of the really important conversations happening in the YIMBY-sphere right now.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/27/y...

a group of fish are swimming in a river with rocks ALT: a group of fish are swimming in a river with rocks

Grants for Salmon Recovery work!
Commerce is opening applications for comprehensive plan updates focused on salmon recovery.

You can learn more here and at a virtual workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 1-
www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/2025...

We need to be expanding our boundaries for neighborhood and urban centers, not shrinking them, so we can build more connected, affordable, and accessible neighborhoods!

Our very own Kate representing at #yimbytown

Important action alert! 🚨
actionnetwork.org/letters/amen...

Ryan, chair of the @43rddemocrats.org
knows we can balance the need for more housing, and a healthy tree canopy.

"We are Strong supporters of walkable cities and strong supporters of finding the balance between urban canopy of trees and adding more housing density to our city"

People love our city and want to make it better, which means
BOLD solutions, not half-measures-
“If we don’t make bold choices now to make seattle affordable i don’t know my odds of being here in the next ten years”-E

“We cannot respond to the current moment with moderation” -J

We're here with SO many neighbors who are advocating for a Seattle where we can all thrive

We brought the ENERGY for today's final Seattle Council hearings on comp plan amendments!
@housingconsortium.org

Tomorrow's the day! The final public hearing to comment on Seattle's comp plan.

The Seattle City Council is about to start taking votes on the 20-year Comprehensive Plan which will determine how housing in Seattle is built.

I biked around Seattle to talk to people about what we need to do to build more housing, and make our communities more walkable, and livable.

Picture of the Seattle waterfront with text and the outline of a megaphone overlayed. The text reads "Seattle Comprehensive Plan Final Public Hearing."

We MUST build more affordable housing in #Seattle. Make sure to join us on 9/12 to testify at the final Comp Plan public hearing in support of allowing more homes in more neighborhoods throughout the city. Seattle's housing crisis demands bold action from our elected leaders. bit.ly/OneSeattleFi...

and on Monday 9/15, join me and @burhanazeem.bsky.social @andersem.bsky.social @futurewise.bsky.social @charlescgardner.bsky.social for a debate on the merits of inclusionary zoning. it was invented right here in Montgomery County in 1974, and I'm on the side of "it is generally good"–

Insurance companies are shedding thousands of WA home policies. Here's why In the last few years, insurance companies have been shedding thousands of policies for properties in the state at risk for wildfire damage. Homeowners are left stranded.

Wildfire risk is only getting worse, but families are now finding themselves suddenly without insurance coverage, or their premiums skyrocketing --
@seattletimes-rss.bsky.social
www.seattletimes.com/business/rea...

Nickerson South Canal as a neighborhood center means more housing, more small businesses, and more neighbors able to thrive in this pocket of the city. check out what residents shared & share your support at the final comp plan hearing on 9/12 (Virtual Comment 8:30AM In-person Comment 2:30-6:30PM)!

We're two weeks out from the Final Seattle Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing on 9/12. This is a make-or-break moment that will decide the future of housing and growth in Seattle. Please join us in showing up and demanding a bold plan to address our city's housing crisis: bit.ly/OneSeattleFi...

Don't forget! RSVP to join us this weekend--
futurewise.salsalabs.org/TransitTrekk...

Now what? The city has 30 days to appeal, or 1-year to amend their plan.

The Hearings Board agreed with us on two big issues with the Mercer Island comp plan:
-Failed to plan for enough housing – supply or affordability – especially lower-income housing
-Failed to complete a subarea plan for new housing and development around the light rail

Futurewise Wins Appeal of Mercer Island’s Comprehensive Plan, Setting Precedent for Statewide Implementation of Affordable Housing Policies - Futurewise Throughout 2024, counties worked to finalize updates to their comprehensive plans under the Growth Management Act (GMA), which has undergone recent updates

❗Why this case matters
This is the first to challenge a local comp plan under new state housing policy, HB 1220.
So this win sets important precedent for affordable housing planning statewide.

And now you can check out the full details of the case decision on our blog → futurewise.org/futurewise-w...

Transit Trekking with Futurewise Two part webinar + Field Trip Series Webinar: Tuesday August 12th 5-6:30 PM Field Trip Seattle to Carnation: Sunday August 17th Image of a mountain with the Futurewise and Transittrekker logos at the bottom

Coming soon: @futurewise.bsky.social and @transittrekker.bsky.social are teaming up to teach you how to enjoy Washington's great outdoors without a car! First up, a webinar on Tuesday 8/12 followed by a field trip on Sunday 8/17.

RSVP today!
futurewise.salsalabs.org/TransitTrekk...

“This is the first time the state Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) has fully grappled with a challenge to a local Comprehensive Plan under 2021’s House Bill 1220, which requires cities and counties to plan for future housing needs across a range of incomes specific to each jurisdiction.”

Mercer Island’s Growth Plan Ruled Out of Compliance with State Law » The Urbanist # After the state's Growth Management Hearings Board struck down its plan, Mercer Island now has a year to update its Comprehensive Plan to meet affordable housing requirements. The initial version pr...

Big news 🎉
In April, we filed a challenge to Mercer Island's comprehensive plan, and last week we got a decision:

"The city of Mercer Island fell well short of state affordable housing requirements" the state’s Growth Management Hearings Board ruled late last week.
shorturl.at/VOeZp

Why We Love Photographing Our Farmers' Market Hauls You may see them all over your feed while scrolling, so why do we all love produce haul photos? Learn more about this social media trend.

Celebrate #FarmersMarketWeek by heading to your local farmers’ market, picking up your favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables and snapping a photo of your #FarmersMarketHaul.

Read more about the produce haul social media trend: foodprint.org/blog/produce...

The 7,000-Step Solution: How Walkable Neighborhoods Save Lives For years, the magic number of 10,000 steps a day has been touted as the path to a healthier life. However, recent research published in The Lancet Public Health provides strong new evidence that even...

Walkability saves lives.

Individuals who exceed 7000 steps per day see a;
♥️25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
🏥37% lower risk of dying from cancer
🧠38% lower risk of dementia
🙂22% lower risk of depression
🩺28% lower risk of falls
www.remainplaces.com/post/living-...

@futurewise.bsky.social is hiring a Seattle organizer! Are you stoked about Seattle's comprehensive plan? Do you want to organize your neighbors for more homes in more neighborhoods? Join our team!

Priority application deadline August 4.

Job description here: futurewise.org/were-hiring-...

Mpact Webinar - More Housing Near Transit

Register today: bit.ly/Webinar_More.... Follow the link for resources to get up to speed on the law before the webinar. And let us know what you most want to hear about from our speakers in the comments. Your feedback will help us make the most of the time we have!

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Find out all about it on an 8/19 webinar from:
- Rep. Julia Reed, 36th District, Washington House of Representatives
- Kate Brunette Kreuzer, @futurewise.bsky.social
- Bryce Yadon, Futurewise / Bryce Yadon Consulting
- Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com, Urban Institute

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This year, the state of Washington passed the US' most ambitious TOD law. At a time when leaders and advocates everywhere are focused on ways to build more housing, Washington’s new law shows a way to add housing at scale and realize the untapped potential of transit station areas.

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