Joshua McNichols
Reporter
About
Joshua’s “Growing Pains” beat sits at the nexus of housing, transportation, urban planning and the economy. He’s done deep reporting on Amazon and the housing shortage in our region. He interviews people who've found affordable places to live by tolerating long commutes, flooding rivers or other hazards. He asks people what they want from work and how that's changing. He explores neighborhood "main streets" where residents and businesses come together to form community. Public radio is a second career for Joshua, after he spent ten years in the field of architecture. He holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Washington. He has held many unusual jobs in his life, from fishing to building houses to running the kitchen at a bed and breakfast. He’s also an avid gardener who co-wrote a book on urban gardening during the Great Recession.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him/his
Professional Affiliations: Society of Professional Journalists, Western Washington Chapter
Podcasts
Stories
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KUOW Newsroom
Pierce, Thurston counties in running for new NW airport
A state commission Friday narrowed its list of sites for a new two-runway airport to three locations in rural Thurston and Pierce cou
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KUOW Newsroom
Remembering Jean Darsie, who saw dignity of people who live on the streets
A prominent Seattle activist has died, following a long battle with cancer. Jean Darsie advocated for world peace and sustainability. But she’s best known as an advocate for people facing homelessness.
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Soundside
Displacement is a big problem in Seattle. Subsidized apartments help, but only somewhat
Some people are trying to help ease displacement in Seattle by organizing communities and chasing grants, in order to build subsidized affordable apartments. But critics warn that we need to increase homeownership opportunities, too.
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KUOW Blog
Take two for Seattle's social housing initiative
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Spokane's embrace of missing middle housing sets up competition with Seattle
The city of Spokane has a housing shortage. That’s why this summer, the city council there unanimously passed a temporary ordinance allowing missing middle housing across the city. That means duplexes, triplexes, and quads are legal wherever you can build a single family home.
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Soundside
What can Seattle learn from Spokane's "Missing Middle Housing" solution?
The City of Spokane voted to allow “missing middle housing” across the city earlier this month. That means it’s now legal to build duplexes, triplexes, quads and townhomes in all residential areas. KUOW’s Joshua McNichols looked into how that happened, and what kind of competition that sets up for Seattle, which also has a housing shortage.
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KUOW Newsroom
Neighbors claim victory after Amazon abandons Rainier Valley warehouse plans
Seattle residents of the Rainier Valley cheered this weekend over news that Amazon will not build a new warehouse there. The surprise news followed a year of controversy, after a developer closely associated with the company filed site plans with the city showing a warehouse at the site of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
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KUOW Blog
Amazon backs off plan for warehouse in Seattle's Rainier Valley
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KUOW Newsroom
The pros and cons of Airbnbs in Seattle
In Seattle, where Airbnbs are highly regulated, it's a form of shopping local. On the other hand, Airbnbs drive up the cost of housing a bit.
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KUOW Newsroom
Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice and the origins of Seattle's growth strategy
Seattle is expecting a quarter million new people – by 2044. Where will they all live? We haven’t built enough new homes. Now, the city is updating its plan – for where it will build homes in the decades to come. And it’s taking a second look – at a strategy that has defined its growth over the last 30 years. KUOW’s Joshua McNichols has more – on the origin of the city’s Urban Villages strategy – and how it could change.