I told you so. One is supposed to never say it, but in Seattle housing policy, especially when it comes to the City Council it’s almost impossible not to. So here I am saying it again. I told you so. People then said I was too obsessed with microhousing and what would happen if we didn’t stop the legislation. And I suppose I was. When legislation was passed in 2014 that essentially killed microhousing as an option for builders and renters here’s what we said would happen:

• There is no need for a 220 square foot minimum, even if it is an average of all units;
• Fewer units means costs get shared by fewer people, so rent will go, for example, from $800 a month to $1,200 month;
• The proposal still requires a sink in the bathroom. Why? This just makes for more inflexibility in designing units;
• What is the basis for only allowing congregates for non-profits or universities. Why?;
• Congregates can have no more that 25% of the rooms with food prep. Why?;
• Design review thresholds are very low, we’ve proposed 40,000 square feet for full design review, and streamlined design review for everything over 15,000 square feet;
• Microhousing projects would likely trigger SEPA, increasing costs, time, and risk; and
• Why are people renting units less than 400 square feet not allowed to get a guest RPZ zone for their boyfriend, girlfriend, or family member?

Notice that price difference of about $400? A recent look at what happened to prices on Small Efficiency Dwelling Units (SEDUs) the larger replacement of microhousing found about a $300 increase in rents.

What we said would happen when Councilmember O’Brien and angry neighbors got their way: unit sizes increased, supply went down, and prices went up. The KOMO story confirmed both that fact and the fact that people truly want to live in mircohousing but are finding it more difficult and less affordable because of the Council’s action.

We told you so!

Now would you please listen to us on the Grand Bargain?