Director of Housing and Urbanism @Sightline. Before that, worked as an urban planning consultant. Before that, was an electrical engineer. Views here just mine.
Seattle
Joined November 2010
- Tweets8.5K
- Following739
- Followers3.8K
- Likes2.3K
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Now legal in Missoula: ADUs, townhomes, cottage courts, apartments, small-scale multiplexes. Mixed use on every parcel. Costly off-street parking mandates gone.
The new code doesn't just lead Montana... it sets a new standard for every city in the US. sightline.org/2026/04/28/mis…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Seattle is featured in this new case study from @pewresearch about office to residential conversions! S/o to our colleagues at @Sightline who passed the legislation re-legalizing SROs that could help these conversions pencil out.
gensler.com/blog/pew-study-f…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
“…the trend is growing across the country, and it’s only a matter of time until Washington state starts implementing these changes.”
-@ZackZappone 🥳
You’re unable to view this Post because this account owner limits who can view their Posts. Learn more
Dan Bertolet retweeted
When you make a gift to Sightline, you are investing in our mission to make Cascadia a global model of sustainability. And part of that goal is lunch-related. @andersem
Consider supporting our work at sightline.org/donate.
Dan Bertolet retweeted
This one was personal. My 1st book chapter ever, in 2016, was on microunits & coliving
I recorded the awful things said in Seattle when they banned Jim Potter's aPodments. Did not know when we'd see them again.
Today? Legal statewide by a landslide
teapawt.org/danbertolet/status/176…
WA's 2024 session couldn't match 2023 on housing, but it did have one big bright spot:
HB 1998 is now the best-in-nation statewide reform to legalize co-living homes, a.k.a SROs.
And it passed with nearly unanimous bipartisan support on its first try.
sightline.org/2024/01/05/was…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Eliminating min. parking requirements is on the to-do list for WA.📋✅
“All we did in the ordinance was change the word ‘required’ to ‘recommended.’ The city voted a unanimous yes to the change and, within a few short months, Norman’s parking laws became “recommendations” for developers versus a requirement.” 🅿️ @StrongTowns
strongtowns.org/journal/2023…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Housing Accountability Act is being heard in the Housing Committee today @ 1:30pm! The bill requires cities Housing Elements to be reviewed by the Dept. of Commerce to ensure compliance with state housing law.
Dan Bertolet retweeted
The paradigm needs to change from having to prove you should be able to build housing in an urban area - to proving why you shouldn’t. Addressing our housing crisis requires bold action, not replicating the same antiquated policies that got us here. axios.com/local/seattle/2024…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
"...could make homelessness less common; rental income more readily available to some property owners; settlement patterns dense enough to support neighborhood businesses, good transit service, and vibrant street life; and driving less necessary." -Alan Durning #housing
"Re-legalize congregate housing" has not been a rallying cry in the WA legislature. Yet.
Rooming houses (or SROs, microhousing, etc) were once a far more common source of low-cost housing before cities zoned and/or regulated them almost out of existence.
sightline.org/2012/11/14/roo…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Even without parking flexibility, it's better than Oregon's or California's in various ways.
Technically, WA legalized ADUs statewide in 1991, one of the first modern state zoning standards. It's taken 32 years to hack away at all the de facto bans.
But: almost there.
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Looks like #HB1110 #middlehousing bill's day in Approps Exec is postponed until tomorrow (Friday 2/24). More time to hound (um, contact) members 🐕⏰
@Futurewise makes it easy to let all committee members know you want more homes for WA cities:
bit.ly/3So53do ⬅️⬅️⬅️
Dan Bertolet retweeted
Really think we have to talk about the power ultra-conservative voices wield in @AWCities/@WACounties and thus in #waleg. 68% of WA voters think housing variety is more important than local control, but we're constantly told cities oppose. Who's voices are really heard?
You’re unable to view this Post because this account owner limits who can view their Posts. Learn more
Dan Bertolet retweeted
The real headline: WA voters want more homes, all shapes and sizes, ADUs, apartments, missing middle. You name it. More homes!
Over 70% support a proposal to swap single family zoning in cities to allow multi-family housing.
Let's go, #WAleg
sightline.org/2023/02/15/pol…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
According to a survey by @Sightline 68% of people in Washington state prefer city neighborhoods allow for a range of home types more people in the community can afford.
Join us as we work to end exclusionary zoning! habitatforhumanityseattle.qu…
Dan Bertolet retweeted
If you complain about all the reasons why a 4 plex is not perfect (too expensive, doesn’t ‘fix’ the housing crisis, should be some politically impossible thing instead)
<but>
You’ve been silent about single fam homes that are 4x worse by all the same metrics
then: %^! off
Dan Bertolet retweeted
@AARPWA is 100% behind HB 1337. ADUs provide a viable housing option for older adults when they can no longer live in their primary residence. They are also housing for family caregivers & the caregiving workforce #Homes4WA
This year WA has two bills to make it easier to create ADUs...
A strong one, HB 1337:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?B…
And a not-as-strong one, HB 1276:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?B…
Both will get a hearing in the House housing cmte 1/23 at 1:30pm:
app.leg.wa.gov/committeesche…
#Homes4WA
#waleg