Along with South Lake Union and the DowntUniversity District Upzone is the latest news! Seattle City Council unanimously (9-0) passed the proposal to upzone the University District (U-District) neighborhood. This will change the U-District skyline while implementing the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) programs in the rezone area.
The upzone allows for more high-rise structures to start popping up in the University of Washington neighborhood. The ordinance will also require developers to contribute to the production of affordable housing. As part of the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA), developers will need to set aside some of the units for affordable housing which would be available to lower-income households or make payment-in-lieu so that new growth contributes to the supply of affordable housing nearby.
The new requirements for affordable housing will be requiring that 9% of units are set aside as affordable housing; or, developers can pay a fee of $20 per square foot. Through the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program developer requirements, this is expected to bring between 620 and 910 affordable housing units to the U District neighborhood.
The up-zone amends Seattle Municipal Code and zoning map, changing height limits from 65′ and 85′ zoned properties to between 85′ and 320′.