Joshua McNichols
Growth and Development Reporter
About
As KUOW's Growth and Development reporter and co-host of KUOW's Booming podcast, Joshua's "growing pains" beat sits at the nexus of housing, transportation, urban planning, government and the economy. His favorite stories also include themes of history, technology, and climate change.
Joshua holds a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Washington. Public Radio is his second career; architecture was his first. He is proud of the many odd jobs he's held in his life, such as salmon fisher, author, bike courier, and bed-and-breakfast cook.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him
Professional Affiliations: The Society of Professional Journalists, Western Washington Chapter
Stories
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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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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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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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Business
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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Business
Amazon backs off plan for warehouse in Seattle's Rainier Valley
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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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Government
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.
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Where should Seattle build homes for newcomers?
The City of Seattle is planning for more growth, and it wants your input. Should the city keep funneling newcomers – into dense neighborhoods known as “urban villages” – or should it spread density out across more parts of the city, including neighborhoods dominated by older houses?
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Law & Courts
Appalled, but not surprised: Seattleites react to SCOTUS ruling on Roe
People in Seattle and across Washington state are reacting to today's Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that