The tech sector in Washington accounts for 22% of the state economy and ranks first…
Seattle in the Spotlight: November 11 – 17
Big Crowd Packs Hearing on University District Zoning Plan
Seattle Times | November 16 | Daniel Beekman
“Mayor Ed Murray’s vision of a denser University District sprouting high-rise buildings and a campus-powered innovation hub drew more than 100 people to a public hearing in the Seattle neighborhood Wednesday night. Fans and foes of the Murray-proposed zoning changes under consideration by the City Council, which the mayor says will help create affordable housing, packed a Hotel Deca banquet room…The neighborhood is slated for changes that would allow taller buildings — up to 320 feet in some locations — partly because a light-rail station is coming to Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and because the neighborhood is one of six so-called urban centers designated to absorb much of booming Seattle’s population growth. The University of Washington wants to see technology and other startup companies cluster in the area as it evolves.”
Tenants Finally See Relief as Apartment Rents Dip in Seattle Metro Area
Puget Sound Business Journal | November 16 | Marc Stiles
“The law of supply and demand appears to have caught up with the Puget Sound region’s red-hot apartment market. Average monthly rents in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area decreased slightly in October to $1,756, according to a report that Axiometrics issued Wednesday. It was the fourth straight month that apartment rents declined when compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, year-over-year rent growth also is dropping, going from 7.8 percent to 5.7 percent.”
‘Flexible’ Bridge Being Built in Seattle is Designed to Bounce Back from Big Earthquake
GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | November 15
http://www.geekwire.com/2016/flexible-bridge-built-seattle-designed-bounce-back-big-earthquake/
“The potential collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct during a major Seattle earthquake is one of the main reasons why the aging elevated roadway is being replaced by a new SR 99 tunnel. Above ground, an exit ramp bridge that is part of the new highway could still be shaken by an earthquake — but technology being employed in its construction could keep it from becoming impassable. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, the bridge being built with memory-retaining metal rods and a bendable concrete composite will be the first in the world to sway during a strong earthquake and return to its original shape.”
Foreign Investors Pouring Billions into Seattle Commercial Real Estate
Seattle Times | Mike Rosenberg | November 12
“In Seattle’s feverish world of real estate, much of the focus on foreign investment has been centered on international buyers scooping up homes. But most of the foreign money is actually flowing into other parts of the market, from Amazon offices to new apartment towers. Historically seen as a second-tier city to foreign interests, Seattle and its suburbs are now being looked at much more closely by overseas developers and commercial real-estate investors, data and broker interviews show. And while Europe and Canada are still eyeing Seattle, the biggest increase seems to be coming from China and other Asian countries.”
Meet the Seattle 10: These Hot Startups are Transforming Everything from Education to Enterprise Software
GeekWire | John Cook | November 11
“From the brick walkways of Pioneer Square to the funky facades of Fremont, there’s a lot of startup action in Seattle. So trying to identify the 10 hottest entrepreneurial ventures in the region is no easy task. But that’s what we’ve set out to do with this year’s class of The Seattle 10, which we’re hosting again in partnership with the Museum of History & Industry. This year’s list showcases 10 of the most promising startups in the region, and their business concepts span a variety of industries, from education and enterprise software to virtual reality and robotics.”
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