Tech Wages: How Far Do They Go in Seattle and Elsewhere?

Seattle PI | Daniel DeMay | September 27

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Tech-wages-How-far-do-they-go-in-Seattle-and-12231084.php

“Seattle is a cheap city for some workers. Specifically, tech workers collecting an average annual salary of $112,387 are still getting a high value for their wage living in the Jet City…Indeed pulled average tech worker salaries for the 25 largest metro regions in the U.S. and then compared them to the cost of living to come up with a wage adjusted for local costs of living. In Seattle, the adjusted wage pencils out at $102,730, well below the unadjusted average annual wage but still among the top five metros in the country.”

The Search for Secret Ingredients: UW Gets Grant to Invent New Materials That Could Power The Next Big Technology

Seattle TImes | Katherine Long | September 27

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/the-search-for-secret-ingredients-uw-gets-grant-to-invent-new-materials-that-could-power-the-next-big-technology/

“Turning skyscrapers into giant solar panels. Making computers faster and data encryption more powerful. With a $15.6 million, six-year grant from the National Science Foundation, those are some of the projects that researchers from the University of Washington plan to tackle. The key to each: New materials, such as special window coatings that can absorb sunlight, and nanocrystals that can speed up computers. With the money, the university will start a new, interdisciplinary center, called the Molecular Engineering Materials Center, to expand its research on new materials.” 

New Seattle Skyscrapercity Also Preserves City’s History

KING 5 | Jake Whittenberg | September 27

http://www.king5.com/news/local/seattle/seattles-newest-tower-preserves-history/478997393

“Seattle’s newest and shiniest addition to the city skyline is an example of rapid growth and a unique relationship between new-age development and historic preservation. The F5 Tower at 5th Avenue and Columbia Street becomes the fifth-tallest building in the city. It’s also the most expensive single project to date at more than $450 million. A large portion of that cost comes from preserving one of Seattle’s oldest churches. The Sanctuary was set to be demolished in 2005 before developer Kevin Daniels stepped in to try and save it.”

Tacoma Councilmember Pitches Seattle Fast-Ferry Service to Cut Commute Times

Q13 FOX | Katie Boer | September 26

http://q13fox.com/2017/09/26/tacoma-council-member-pitches-seattle-fast-ferry-service-to-cut-commute-times/

“If you commute between Tacoma and Seattle, you might be spending three hours a day in your car. But Tacoma is in the early stages of examining a new option – on the water. A proposed fast ferry between Tacoma and Seattle could be a game-changer for some drivers around the Puget Sound. Whether it was during rush hour or any other time of the day, drivers in Pierce County described their trek from Tacoma to Seattle very simply Tuesday.”

Seattle Retains Title of Hottest Housing Market in the Country with Portland Right Behind

GeekWire | Nat Levy | September 26

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/seattle-retains-title-hottest-housing-market-country-portland-right-behind/

“Seattle home values continue to skyrocket, rising at a rate of more than double the national average in July. According to the latest installment of the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, Seattle home prices shot up 13.5 percent on a year-over-year basis…Seattle has consistently been the hottest housing market in the nation over the last few years, buoyed by the city’s thriving technology industry. This summer, Zillow found that Seattle is among the cities with the highest number of $1 million neighborhoods.”