The Seattle City Council on Monday, October 2, approved an upzone to allow taller buildings in the Uptown neighborhood of Seattle, known to most as lower Queen Anne. It’s the latest area in a series of upzoning approvals, following the University District, downtown and South Lake Union, Chinatown International District, and certain spots in the Central District.

For those not in the know, upzoning is the ability for builders to create taller buildings to facilitate more homes or businesses. The lower Queen Anne upzone approval, which passed with a vote of 7-0, at its maximum will see an increase of building heights from 85 to 160 feet near South Lake Union, and from 40 to 85 feet for most of lower Queen Anne—which is twice as tall as existing buildings near Seattle Center. Much of the approved surrounding land, however, will see more modest changes.

Residents have already weighed in on the approval, some worried about an eventual "lack of daylight" or new views dominated by steel and glass. Others, however, see a sunnier side, noting that the greater Seattle area needs new, affordable housing where it can get it.

Speaking on affordability, another factor in the approval is the inclusion of Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) program, a "multi-pronged strategy," according to seattle.gov, that will in this case require developers to include rent-restricted apartments in their project plans or face fees. Fees paid will go toward nonprofit efforts to build rent-restricted apartments in the lower Queen Anne area or elsewhere. The rent-restricted homes are aimed at those who make no more than 60 percent of the area’s median income—currently just over $40,000 in the City of Seattle for a single occupant, or $57,000 for a family of four.

Developers are required to dedicate 5 to 10 percent of each commercial development and 7 to 10 percent of residential projects to affordable housing or shell over $8 to $29.75 per square foot, depending on the project.

The HALA program goal, led by Councilmember Rob Johnson, is to create 50,000 new housing units in the next 10 years, including 20,000 units dedicated to lower income households. The goal for 2018 is to focus on a citywide rezone package, which will include a proposal to increase building heights and affordable housing requirements to areas that will likely include Rainier Beach, Othello, upper Queen Anne, Crown Hill, and Wallingford.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nona Raybern, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
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2020 Winners Announced for the REX/T-REX (Remodeling Excellence and Trades Remodeling Excellence) Awards

The virtual celebration highlighted the best remodelers in the Puget Sound region.

BELLEVUE, Wash.—August 17, 2020—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) hosted their Remodeling/Trades Remodeling Excellence (REX/T-REX) Awards virtually this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The REX/T-REX Awards are presented by the Remodelers Council of MBAKS, the oldest Remodelers Council in the nation. Local remodelers and builders submitted their best projects of the year. They watched the ceremony at small viewing parties in compliance with Washington state’s Phase 2 guidelines and accepted their awards over camera.

REX/T-REX entries were judged on the following categories:

1. Aesthetics—How is the remodel visually appealing?
2. Special or unique design solutions—How was the space planned and was livability considered?
3. Quality workmanship—What are the special features of the project and is there attention to detail?
4. Use of appropriate building material—Does the remodel complement existing structure and design?
5. Budgetary consideration—How did the project keep within the budget and still deliver client expectations?
6. Challenges and obstacles—Were there any unexpected obstacles that called for adjustments?

2020 REX/T-REX Winners

About the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability, from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

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Reports Confirm Home Building’s Significant Contributions to Washington’s Economy

Two newly released reports from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), commissioned by the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), highlight the substantial economic benefits generated by homebuilding across Washington state.

Together, the reports show that residential construction plays a major role in supporting jobs, generating income for residents, and providing critical revenue for state and local governments.

Economic Benefits During Construction

The first report examines the economic activity created during the year homes are built, including job creation, wages, and tax revenue. Using housing production data from the 12-month period ending April 2025 and based on estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM), NAHB analyzed the direct and indirect impacts of new residential construction.

These impacts include not only construction-related employment and income, but also the ripple effects as workers and businesses spend earnings throughout the local economy.

For single-family homes, the construction of 14,348 homes generated an estimated one-year local impact of:

• $5.16 billion in income for Washington residents
• $1.25 billion in state and local taxes and other public revenue
• 44,686 jobs statewide
  

For multifamily homes, construction of 32,368 homes generated an estimated:

• $10.81 billion in income for Washington residents
• $2.18 billion in state and local taxes and other public revenue
• 92,916 jobs statewide

These figures reflect both direct construction activity and indirect economic activity driven by household and business spending.

Ongoing, Annual Economic Impacts

The reports also highlight the recurring annual benefits that continue once new homes are occupied. These impacts reflect the economic activity generated as residents live, work, and pay taxes in their communities

The annual recurring impacts of the newly built homes include:

Single-family homes (14,348 units):

• $978 million in income for Washington residents
• $355 million in state and local taxes and revenue
• 10,041 jobs

Multifamily homes (32,368 units):

• $2.17 billion in income for Washington residents
• $702 million in state and local taxes and revenue
• 22,345 jobs

These benefits continue year after year, underscoring how housing availability supports long-term economic vitality across the state.

Comparing Public Costs and Public Benefits

At a more practical level, NAHB’s findings show that every 100 homes built in Washington generate approximately $34 million in income, $7 million in public revenue, and support nearly 300 jobs—illustrating why residential development produces significant returns for both local economies and public budgets.

A separate NAHB analysis compared the public costs of residential development—such as infrastructure, services, and capital investment—to the revenue generated for state and local governments.

The findings show that, from a public finance perspective, residential development more than pays for itself within the first year.

Over a 15-year period, newly built single-family and multifamily homes combined are projected to generate:

• $18.76 billion in cumulative state and local revenue
• Compared to $9.42 billion in total public costs

Over that same period, the homes are expected to generate approximately $9.34 billion in net revenue, effectively doubling the public investment in infrastructure such as roads, schools, and essential services.

A Broad Benefit for Washington Communities

Taken together, the reports reinforce the far-reaching economic value of homebuilding in our state. Residential construction supports jobs, strengthens local economies, and provides a sustainable source of public revenue that helps fund community priorities across the state.

Resources

• The Economic Impact of Home Building in Washington: Income, Jobs and Taxes Generated — NAHB (November 2025)
• The Economic Impact of Home Building in Washington: Comparing Costs to Revenue for State and Local Governments — NAHB (November 2025)
• Homebuilders Offer Relief for State’s Budget Woes — BIAW (December 1, 2025)