Washington State to Spend $1M on Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations

Seattle Times | David Gutman | September 7

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/washington-to-spend-1m-on-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/

“The state of Washington will spend $1 million to help build 15 new electric-vehicle charging stations along some of the busiest highways. The charging stations will be along Interstate 5 between Everett and Chehalis; along Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass, and along interstates 82 and 182, and Highway 395 to connect the Tri-Cities with I-90. The money comes from the $150 annual registration fees on electric cars. It will be matched by about $1.5 million in private spending to build the charging stations.”

Fast Lane Meets Slow Lane on Bothell’s New ‘Multiway’

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | September 6

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/fast-lane-meets-slow-lane-on-bothells-new-multiway/

“Bothell just built a downtown boulevard unlike any other in Washington state. The city took over the lower five blocks of state Highway 527, put up new signs saying Bothell Way Northeast and created a “multiway” that’s like three parallel streets, totaling as many as 11 lanes — a five-lane main roadway, sandwiched by a slow zone on each side where drivers can park or drop off passengers. Drivers can veer or U-turn from the mainline into the two-hour parallel-parking zones, to visit the burger joint or the credit union, without fear of being slammed from behind. Through traffic won’t be delayed by parkers.”

UW Plans Affordable Housing Project for Employees Struggling With Seattle Market

Seattle Times | Mike Rosenberg | September 5

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/uw-plans-affordable-housing-project-for-employees-struggling-with-seattle-market/

“The University of Washington plans to build some affordable housing for its faculty and staff in a bid to help employees avoid getting priced out of Seattle’s roaring housing market. The university said Tuesday it will partner with the Seattle Housing Authority to build at least 150 subsidized apartments in the University District, with rents far below the market rate. Many of the details have yet to be worked out — including a financing plan — and the units won’t open for at least another four years. But the university already owns the property needed for the project.”

Seattle among Top U.S. Cities for Sellers to Get Greatest Return on Investment – $185K in 2016

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | September 5

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/seattle-among-top-u-s-cities-sellers-get-greatest-return-investment-185k-2016/

“A new analysis by Zillow, the Seattle-based real estate technology company, found that sellers who had held onto their home for a little bit of time are seeing huge returns on their investment. Oakland and Portland lead the way, followed by San Jose, Calif., Denver, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Calif., and Seattle. Philadelphia, New Orleans and Boston round out the top 10 and are the only cities outside the American West…Seattle sellers, bowing to dollar signs and the influx of well-paid technology workers looking to purchase in the area, gained 53.1 percent or $185,000 on a 2016 sale for a home in which they lived for an average of about nine years.”