Finish off the workweek by taking a look at the latest news surrounding the Seattle tech scene. Microsoft Commits $500M to Address Affordable Housing and Homelessness in the Seattle Region, Seattle Still has the Most Cranes in America, and Construction isn’t Losing Much Steam, Seattle Left Off Zillow’s Hottest Housing Markets Ranking, and more.

Take a Look as Light Rail’s Roosevelt Station Takes Shape

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | January 17
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/link-light-rails-roosevelt-station-takes-shape/

“Sound Transit showed off its construction progress at Roosevelt Station on Thursday, as a North Seattle subway extension is 70 percent complete. The U District and Roosevelt underground stations, and an elevated Northgate station, are on track to open by September 2021, as a 4.3-mile mostly tunneled extension. The monthly progress report shows five months of time cushion left in the work schedule, raising the possibility for passenger service to launch earlier — but much work remains, such as track fastening, signals and delivery of new Siemens railcars. Voters approved the $1.9 billion project in 2008.”

Microsoft Commits $500M to Address Affordable Housing and Homelessness in the Seattle Region

GeekWire | Taylor Soper and Monica Nickelsburg | January 16
https://www.geekwire.com/2019/microsoft-will-spend-500-million-address-affordable-housing-homelessness-seattle-region/

“Microsoft is dedicating $500 million to fund construction of affordable homes and homeless services in the Seattle region in an effort to alleviate a growing housing crisis driven by the city’s tech boom. The Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant will commit $475 million for loans to affordable housing developers over three years and another $25 million to services for low-income and homeless residents. It’s the largest philanthropic pledge in Microsoft’s history.”

Seattle Still has the Most Cranes in America, and Construction isn’t Losing Much Steam

Seattle Times | Mike Rosenberg | January 15
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/seattle-still-has-the-most-cranes-in-america-and-construction-isnt-losing-much-steam/

“Seattle still has more construction cranes than any other U.S. city, as developers keep building  high-rises in the fast-changing city. The city of Seattle has 59 cranes sprouting out across the skyline, down slightly from the 65 counted six months ago. But that’s still 15 more than Los Angeles, the next-highest city. Outside of a lull a year and a half ago, Seattle’s crane count has hovered around 60 since 2016, when it took over the national lead in cranes.”

Seattle Left Off Zillow’s Hottest Housing Markets Ranking as Real Estate Slowdown Continues

GeekWire | Nat Levy | January 15
https://www.geekwire.com/2019/seattle-left-off-zillows-hottest-housing-markets-ranking-real-estate-slowdown-continues/

“Seattle’s booming tech sector helped push the city to the title of the nation’s hottest housing market for close to two years — for better or worse — but now Seattle isn’t even in the top 10, thanks to a recent real estate slowdown that has hit several West Coast markets.Seattle real estate heavyweight Zillow gave its predictions for the top 10 hottest housing markets for 2019 and left Seattle off the list after ranking it number three to start 2018. This year, Seattle ranked 14th, ahead of Miami and behind Austin.”

Some Potential Block-by-Block Changes to Seattle’s Plan to Upzone 27 Neighborhoods

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman | January 14
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/some-potential-block-by-block-changes-to-seattles-plan-to-upzone-27-neighborhoods/

“Seattle City Council members Monday began discussing block-by-block changes to a plan that would allow denser buildings while imposing affordable-housing requirements on developers in the cores of 27 neighborhoods, with the goal of generating thousands of low-income apartments. The dozens of tweaks under consideration include potential amendments that would scale back upzones proposed for certain blocks in Mount Baker, on Beacon Hill, Rainier Beach, Miller Park, Wallingford, Crown Hill and on Queen Anne. Other potential amendments would, in contrast, increase upzones proposed for blocks in the Othello, Eastlake, University Village, Lake City and Licton Springs neighborhoods.”