News
Stay up to date with the latest dispatches from Futurewise
July Executive Director’s Note: We’re Moving!
Futurewise is moving! After 15 years we are saying goodbye to our long-time Seattle office space at 816 2nd Ave. By September 1, we will be fully moved into a coworking space in the 1201 3rd Ave building. It’s a bit of a return … Continue reading
July 31, 2023
Seattle Passes Design Review Reform to Streamline Construction of Affordable Housing
Office Building in Seattle’s International District, with the street car and a Metro bus in the foreground On July 5 2023, the Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 120591 and Council Bill 120581, two pieces of legislation that will remove barriers to affordable … Continue reading
July 12, 2023
June 2023 Executive Director Note — We’re Hiring!
Green field on a farm, with cows and a white barn in the background At Futurewise our work comes in cycles. That’s true in individual years. We kick off the year with the state legislative session. Then we prepare for … Continue reading
June 29, 2023
Mid-Year Program Updates!
Streetscape in Redmond WA, featuring a red floral mural Wow, we’re already halfway through 2023. Now that we’ve officially reached the summer solstice, we wanted to give some short updates on what Futurewise staff are up to around the state. … Continue reading
June 27, 2023
Missing Middle Housing (HB 1110) Round Up!
This past legislative session, Futurewise organized with thousands of you to pass HB 1110 to legalize middle housing types like duplexes and courtyard apartments in neighborhoods across Washington. This is transformational legislation that only passed because of the hard … Continue reading
June 16, 2023
Planning Responsibly and Equitably in Pierce County
Pierce County Transit Bus on a sunny fall day Futurewise has appealed a new zoning regulation in Pierce County that would allow shared housing developments and modify the density bonuses in the Residential Resource zones in the Parkland, Spanaway, and … Continue reading
May 10, 2023
April 2023 Executive Director Note
Futurewise staff, board and partners in front of solar panels holding signs that read “Washington Leads on Climate” We are winning!! It feels good to say that and savor the moment. Yesterday Governor Inslee signed HB 1181 into law, adding … Continue reading
May 4, 2023
2023 Legislative Wrap-Up!
Futurewise organizer Marcella Buser and supporters on the steps of the Capitol Wow wow folks, we made it! And unlike 2022’s nail biter, this session was relatively smooth sailing to the finish line. We’re so grateful to have had you … Continue reading
Alex Brennan
May 1, 2023
Week of April 23 Legislative Update
Well, we are finally here. Yesterday was Sine Die, which means it is the last day of the 2023 legislative session. A monumental moment indeed! We have some final things you can do to wrap this all up. Read on … Continue reading
April 24, 2023
Week of April 16 Legislative Update
After 13 weeks of emails, calls, late nights, early mornings, ups and downs, we are at the FINAL week of the 2023 legislative session! This past week had the last major cutoff before Sine Die (the last day of session) … Continue reading
April 17, 2023
Nine Million More Acres of Farmland in Washington Eligible for Protection
Great news: the Washington Department of Commerce this month adopted new rules determining that farmland of statewide importance soils are now considered to have long-term commercial significance for the designation of agricultural land of long-term commercial significance. This literally increases … Continue reading
April 12, 2023
Week of April 9 Legislative Update
Wow, a lot has happened! HB1181, our climate planning in the GMA bill, passed the Senate floor last Friday! A huge thank you to everyone who has taken action, as well as Senator Lovelett and Representative Duerr for their leadership. Next … Continue reading
April 10, 2023