South End Life: Graham Block Party Connects Community to Future Light Rail Station Plans. The South Seattle Emerald reports: southseattleemerald.org/news/2025/09....

Rooted And Rising: How Byrd Barr Place Is Confronting The Cost Of Gentrification In Seattle. Read more about our Equitable Development Initiative partner, courtesy of the Seattle Medium: seattlemedium.com/byrd-barr-pl....

Mayor Harrell is recruiting an Urban Designer to join the Seattle Design Commission! We're looking for an urban designer to elevate the design of City capital projects and more. Experience in publicly funded development, policy, or plans is preferred. 👉Info: dailyplanit.seattle.gov/urban-design...

Do you have a cultural preservation or anti-displacement project in the Chinatown-International District that needs additional support? 👉🏽 Apply to be involved in our place-based group by October 17. www.seattle.gov/opcd/current...

We are seeking a consultant to help lead the charge on engagement for our Lid I-5 project! Create and support an advisory group, connect with impacted communities, and more. ✍🏽 Proposals are due Tuesday, September 30, 2025 4:00 p.m.: procurement.opengov.com/portal/seatt....

The City seeks community leaders to apply for an open seat on the Indigenous Advisory Council, a nine-member commission that ensures Native voices help guide the future of the City of Seattle. 👉🏽 Apply by November 3: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

This September, The Urbanist is blending community-building with political advocacy as we head into the thick of Seattle Comprehensive Plan and election season. Join us at a Comp Plan-themed Madison Valley walking tour or a bike scavenger hunt. Event details: www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/02/j...

🚉Earlier today, @mayorofseattle.bsky.social unveiled plans to cut delays and manage costs for Sound Transit light rail expansion in Seattle. He was joined by @cmdanstrauss.bsky.social, @cmtmosqueda.bsky.social, and leaders from @transpochoices.bsky.social & @mlklabor.bsky.social.

South Seattle ❤️ The Graham Block Party is Sept 27! Celebrate with food, music, family fun & a chance to learn more about the future Graham light rail station 🚋 📍 MLK & S. Eddy St | 11–3 Info: grahamblockparty.eventbrite.com

The Urban Land Institute recently released "Development for Non-Developers", a guide to how development projects come together—and how communities can assure the project ultimately meets local needs. Read more about the report: urbanland.uli.org/development-....

We are working with the community to plan for the neighborhood surrounding the future Graham Station being built by Sound Transit. Along with @seattledot.bsky.social we are developing a Station Area Plan built on a community-identified vision. Take our survey by August 31: tinyurl.com/GrahamSurvey1

We're joining @theurbanist.org on Wednesday, September 10 to lead a walking tour of Madison Valley and to discuss proposed zoning changes that will affect the neighborhood. Bring your questions and learn more about our growth strategy. More info here: www.theurbanist.org/2025/08/18/j...

Our Equitable Development Initiative Request for Proposals is open! This year we'll continue to fund existing EDI projects to close gaps and help projects enter operations and fund new projects for both capacity building and capital. Apply by Sept. 29: www.seattle.gov/opcd/current....

Friendly reminder that our Graham Street Station Area Planning survey closes on August 31! 👉🏽 www.tinyurl.com/GrahamSurvey1

Our Equitable Development Initiative 2025 Request for Proposals is now open! This year we will continue to fund existing EDI projects to close gaps and help projects enter operations and fund new projects for both capacity building and capital. For more info: www.seattle.gov/opcd/current....

Our Seattle Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) invites you to a roundtable-style series of virtual lunch and learns featuring peer funders from across the country. Join us in the first of three this Thursday! Read all about it on our Daily Plan It blog: dailyplanit.seattle.gov/seattle-equi...

On Saturday, September 6, Friends of Waterfront Park and the City of Seattle celebrate the opening of Waterfront Park with an all-day Grand Opening Celebration! More info: waterfrontparkseattle.org/grand-opening/.

We have developed a list of consultants for Equitable Development Initiative grantees and others pursuing community real estate projects that will help develop strong projects and organizations. Visit our Grantee Resources page to learn more: www.seattle.gov/opcd/current....

We are seeking to contract with a vendor for technical analysis, equitable community engagement, and completion of two Regional Centers Plans for the U District and Ballard. The Scope of Work described within this RFQ is for a maximum of $650,000. Info: procurement.opengov.com/portal/seatt....

Estelita's Library Acquires Former Dragon Auto, Plans to Turn Site Into Cultural Center and Affordable Housing. Learn more about our Equitable Development Initiative partner's latest efforts, courtesy of the @soseaemerald.bsky.social: southseattleemerald.org/arts-culture....

The National Civic League recently announced that the City of Seattle is a 2025 All-America City Award recipient, recognizing the Food Action Plan, Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Plan, and the Seattle Water Needs You campaign. www.nationalcivicleague.org/2025-all-ame....

We are thrilled to join our Waterfront partners to celebrate the opening of Pier 58 on Friday, July 25! A community celebration will take place from 4-8 PM on Seattle’s waterfront by the Seattle Aquarium. Come dance, play and meet some beloved local mascots at this free family-friendly event.

New state data shows Seattle's population hitting 816,600 in 2025, significantly higher than the most recent Census Bureau population estimate, writes FYI Guy.

Seattle Eases Accessory Dwelling Restrictions Just Ahead of State Deadline, via @theurbanist.org: www.theurbanist.org/2025/07/01/s...

Why Does This House Have a Skybridge? Developments with a skybridge or hallway connecting two homes have been popping up all over Seattle in recent years. Our planner Nick Welch provides some insight in this New York Times article: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/r....

We are working with the community to plan for the neighborhood surrounding the future Graham Station built by @sound-transit.bsky.social. Along w/ @seattledot.bsky.social we are developing a Station Area Plan built on a community-identified vision. Fill out our survey: www.tinyurl.com/GrahamSurvey1

"Entering a home is not a binary shift but a layered transition—from the shared space of the street, through semi-public thresholds, into the private world within. The nature of that transition varies widely across cultures and geographies." Via fivedot: www.fivedotarch.com/blog/front-y....

Today, the Select committee on the Comprehensive Plan will be hearing public comments on two pieces of legislation: the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and the Permanent HB 1110 Legislation. Visit seattle.gov/council/issu... for more info and to sign up for comment.

Tidelands is Seattle's only Native-owned art gallery — and one of very few in the entire Pacific Northwest. Cascade PBS reports: www.cascadepbs.org/sponsored/20....

ICYMI, our Director @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social was chair of an award jury for Congress for the New Urbanism. See a complete list of the awardees here: www.cnu.org/publicsquare....

Seattle’s downtown & neighborhood parks are the place to be this summer! Enjoy movie nights, live music, dance lessons, ping pong, Zumba, tai chi, and more—all for free. Explore the full event calendar: www.seattle.gov/parks/recrea...

Councilmember Solomon to Host Anti-Displacement Fair June 14: council.seattle.gov/2025/06/03/c....

The Seattle City Council signed off on a temporary housing plan Tuesday that paves the way for added density in all the city’s neighborhoods. The Seattle Times reports: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news....

Summer Paddling Camp at Green Lake Small Craft Center! Sign up for 1-week camps that introduce ages 10 – 14 to flatwater sprint canoe, surfski, stand-up paddleboard, and other forms of paddling. Register: tinyurl.com/38h33jrv

The Seattle Design Commission will hold its final meeting on SR 520 on June 5, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m, with focus on the proposed Roanoke Lid. For more information and how to join the meeting, visit www.seattle.gov/designcommis....

To meet a state deadline, the Seattle City Council legalized fourplexes and sixplexes across the entire city via an interim code Tuesday. The move is just a prelude to a bigger fight over urban density, as Council advances the Mayor's broader growth plan. Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/27/s...

A Framework Plan for Cherokee Village envisions retrofitting a partially built 20th-century new town. Our Director @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social was chair of a jury to select this award winning project for Congress for the New Urbanism: www.cnu.org/publicsquare....

Midwest Pre-Approved Building Programs for Rebuilding Neighborhoods helps cities build the housing they need. Learn more about this award winning project and the role our director @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social had in selecting it: www.cnu.org/publicsquare....

The Shockoe Project tells an important story about slavery while providing public space that links downtown to an adjacent neighborhood. Learn more and our Director @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social's involvement in this award winning project: www.cnu.org/publicsquare....

An Audio Recap of The Urbanist’s ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel, courtesy of @theurbanist.org: www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/16/a.... Our Long Range Planning manager Michael Hubner was a panel member.

On May 19, the Select committee on the Comprehensive Plan will be hearing public comments on amendments to the interim HB 1110 legislation. For more info, visit www.seattle.gov/council/issu....

For our final session at #NPC25 last month, Heather Hannon & Arica Young moderated a panel discussion on housing solutions & housing finance with planning directors Sam Leichtling of the City of Milwaukee & Rico Quirindongo (@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social) of the City of Seattle.

Office to Anything: More Cities Offer Conversion Incentives. Urban Land Institute reports: urbanland.uli.org/issues-trend...

In 2023, Groveland, Florida became the first certified International Dark Sky Community in the state and the Southeast US. While that may sound like a description for a Black Mirror episode on Netflix, it's quite completely the opposite.

Most U.S. cities are designed for cars. But one Arizona community has been designed to be completely car-free. KUOW reports: How can car-centric cities redesign with humans in mind? www.kuow.org/stories/how-...

We recently joined Sound Transit in co-hosting open house events at Union Station to gather public input on the South Downtown Hub, focusing on improving mobility and public spaces in Pioneer Square, Chinatown-International District, and nearby areas: dailyplanit.seattle.gov/community-sh....

“Don’t wait for a future you’re not building… We’re here to help, but you’ve got to pick up the baton.” - @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Read about the importance of mentorship and representation in architecture, courtesy of the UW College of Built Environments: be.uw.edu/blog/2025/04....

We are hiring for a Real Estate Development and Program Implementation Manager on our Equitable Development Initiative team! Apply by May 13: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seat....

Friendly reminder about this opportunity with Seattle Public Utilities!

This Earth Day, we are especially proud of OPCD's own PeiPei Sung, our Graphic/UX Designer and talented foraging expert! Courtesy of @cascadepbs.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M93Q.... 🌎🌎🌎🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫