Mayor Harrell to revisit decision that killed off affordable micro-apartments
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell says he is willing to examine the 2014 City Council vote that essentially halted the development of ultra-affordable micro-apartments.
The unanimous vote, which occurred when Harrell was on the council, arguably has done more limit the supply of the attainably priced housing than any other in the last decade. Micro-units with private bathrooms but shared kitchens can be had for as low $800 a month, or just over half the average rent of studios in the University District and Capitol Hill.
"I will commit to examining the council's decision around micro-apartments, then take that information into broader consideration when reviewing all housing solutions as part of my administration's efforts to build more housing and density to address the housing affordability crisis," Harrell said in a recent interview with the Business Journal.
Micro-units can be 150 square feet or smaller. Prior to the 2014 vote, micro-unit developments didn't have to go through the city's often time-consuming and onerous design review process. The legislation changed that as well as set the minimum unit size at 220 square feet, required two sinks per unit and, in some areas of the city, have parking, which is costly to build.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/03/03/harrell-micro-apartments-decision.html