Sightline just published a follow-up to the articles I wrote back in 2016-2017 on how Seattle Killed Microhousing. Back then, we were looking at emerging trends based on a couple years of permit applications from the SDCI permit data. In this article, we have the benefit of several more years of data collection from multiple sources that allows us to fill out the picture with more precision.
The article confirms the trend that we pointed to back in 2016, namely that Seattle killed off congregate housing (the smallest and most affordable form of microhousing) and replaced it with larger and more expensive Small Efficiency Dwelling Units (SEDUs). The article also points to some new problems: The code changes that we pointed to in 2017, in combination with further actions taken by policymakers since that time have significantly impacted the housing economy and have driven all forms of microhousing (congregate and SEDU alike) into decline.
Read the whole article here
