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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Business
Google will build more offices in Washington, despite hybrid trend
Earlier this month, Google employees began returning to the office in person, at least 2-3 days a week. While they were gone, Google's been building a lot of new offices in Seattle and Kirkland. And it's promised to spend another $100M in the state to build more.
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Business
Seattle's payroll tax may survive legal threat
Seattle’s new payroll tax earned the city of Seattle $231,000,000 in 2021. It’s taken city leaders three tries to come up with a tax that survives legal scrutiny. Friday was the Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s final chance to stop this one.
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Technology
'Astounding' revenue, 'misunderstood' injury rates: Jassy's first year running Amazon
Every year since 1997, Jeff Bezos has written Amazon’s annual letter for shareholders. This year, it was written for the first time by Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy. In his letter, he describes the company’s revenue last year as “astounding.” He also addressed complaints that Amazon’s warehouses are unsafe, calling the company's injury rates "misunderstood."
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Business
Seattle reacts to Amazon union election at New York warehouse
Local labor organizers are reacting to the news of Amazon’s first union in the U.S. This follows the successful election of a union at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse.
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Business
As Ballard grows, new apartments churn out regulars for local businesses
In Ballard, some businesses say they've found a reliable customer base living in new apartments nearby. But dwindling tourism and online shopping have changed the way some do business.
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Ballard beehive apartments offer refuge for a diverse workforce
Tear-down homes are selling for more than a million dollars in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. And most one-bedroom apartments cost well over $2,000 a month. That makes it really hard for people with lower-paying jobs to afford places to live in town. And that makes the neighborhood less diverse. How do locals make it work?
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Government
A new idea: King County Public Concrete
A concrete strike has delayed many projects, from the West Seattle Bridge to light rail for months now. There are four big concrete companies that do most of the work in King County. Now, the county wants to look at creating a fifth company owned by the government.
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Business
Even with foot traffic down, Pioneer Square businesses hope for a better year
Across most of Seattle, stores and restaurants are getting almost as many visitors as they did before the pandemic. But the same isn't holding true everywhere. In 2021, foot traffic in the downtown core in was half of what it was in 2019, according to a new report from the Downtown Seattle Association.
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Business
Behind boarded up windows, Seattle coffee entrepreneur dreams big
With many office workers still remote, downtown Seattle businesses have struggled. So it seems like a risky time to open a new business. But one new business owner has some unique tricks up his sleeve: Puerto Rican coffee, chocolate, and a dancing panda.
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Government
For these two WA Democrats, Ukraine conflict resets expectations for smaller military
Washington State's congressional delegation brought a skeptical view to DC rega