SEATTLE — There are potentially big housing changes coming down the pipeline for the city of Seattle. Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his One Seattle plan that would add 330,000 new units of housing across the city.
“Been reading a lot about that actually," Brian McKain, a West Seattle resident and business owner, said. The plan would change zoning in dozens of areas and fulfills the requirements of House Bill 1110 which was passed by the state legislature last year.
The bill requires cities to allow middle housing like duplexes and triplexes in residential areas.
“I hope it’s for the better but you never know in these circumstances," Nick Roseburg, a business owner in West Seattle, said. “Hopefully it doesn’t negatively impact the community over here because I care about all my customers and they care about where they live as well.”
McKain said he's on the fence about the proposed plan and changes it could bring.
“I’m a 'greater good' person and so yeah, this has got to happen but I have some of that nimby which is: 'does it have to happen in my backyard?'" McKain said. Some worry that small businesses would get the boot to make room for larger complexes.
"At some point in time when their lease runs out if they don’t own the building they run the risk of rent being increased so dramatically they just can’t afford to stay here," McKain said.
KING 5 reached out to the mayor's office for an interview and were provided a statement which states in part:
"Focusing new housing opportunities in places like our new Neighborhood Centers, like the proposed Upper Fauntleroy Neighborhood Center, will help us create vibrant, walkable neighborhoods that provide more affordable forms of housing that meet the needs of many different residents within an easy walk of neighborhood business districts across the city."
The proposed plan still has to be approved by city council and the city needs to have plans finalized by June of 2025 because of HB 1110.