E|F Architects

@GordonOfSeattle Looks like your DMs are closed.

Message me if you're interested in exploring how we could take Seattle's corner store policy to the next level.

@bobbyfijan I would go one more step and lose one of the upstairs bathrooms. It would add more usable space and save more $.

I know some people will have a problem with no bathroom on ground floor of the rowhouse ... but it's at the top of the stairs And not putting a half bath on the ground floor leaves more space for storage and pantry. Plus it saves $$

This is a perfect 2-story rowhouse for a young family. An urban starter home. 1020sf, 2BR+Office/2BA

@bobbyfijan It would be better without the powder room on the main floor.

Look at this 14' wide, 2-story rowhouse 950sf, 2BR+Office/1.5BA

@UrbanistOrg @MayorofSeattle I’ll go back and look again. I’m curious to see if they loosened lot coverage for ADUs.

@UrbanistOrg @MayorofSeattle After a quick read it looks like a reorganization of the existing ADU provisions in NR zones. Has anything changed significantly?

@benmaritz @pushtheneedle As a past board member (speaking for myself) I do think designs are improved by the process. Nonetheless I don’t think the design benefits justify the time and money costs incurred during a housing crisis. The focus should be on the social costs not negating the benefits.

@pushtheneedle The focus should be that design review doesn’t actually make designs any better

this oped is a laughable defense of a program the author has used to delay 3,000 homes from being built in downtown seattle mostly over complaints about her view being blocked. if anything, this article is exactly why this program should go away. 9/4 2pm is the public hearing

@UrbanistOrg Not so sure. I doubt a Seattle owner would try, with the permitting process as only one of the reasons.

@pushtheneedle I just reread the proposed changes. 50% lot coverage allowed. The sixplex shown is 3200sf which is 64%. In terms of FAR, why not eliminate it completely as it was only added relatively recently (2020?)

@eggfarkarch yes of course. the model code i believe is 55% for sixplexes. my point is just increase it to 60%. the new comp plan increases from the 35% proposal

FAR is too low for these

@pushtheneedle Also, the drawing in the original post shows 10' front and rear yards. Current zoning requires 20' front & rear for a 100' lot.

@eggfarkarch 1.8 FAR in this drawing is only 60% lot coverage. it works out just fine

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz I chose this example because it was not that simple and the design team made a major revision to their design, moving the elevator core. Take a look at the full packets & transcripts for all of the design iterations and let me know what you think.

@eggfarkarch @benmaritz i was just having a conversation that was hardly an offensive one hoping you could weigh in. you said it improves designs, i think having someone change a blank wall is an easy condition of approval and doesnt warrant another meeting. sorry if i upset you

My term on the Design Review Board is now over and I feel more free to discuss it. 1. The SDCI staff that supports the program is awesome, through and professional. I am a member of several boards and none are better staffed. 2. The people on the board with me were all pro housing. Nothing was going to get delayed. Developers and architects could have leaned in waaaaay more on designs and cost savings and it would have been fine. I get they don't want to risk it but still. 3. Public input was almost meaningless. Very few projects got any comments, and the only times there were more than one or two it was clearly because a project was blocking a neighborhoods view and they organized against it. 4. The program is dumb. Sorry, but it is. Per my points above, there is no way us amateurs on the board were improving the design of anything. A process where a professional city planner reviews things and gives real timely feedback withoutnth formality cost and delay of the public board would have been way better. It is always an honor to serve with fellow citizens on a public board or commission and I am deeply thankful to the competent staff whose job it is to run this program... But it's not going to be missed when it's gone

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz You’re making the assumption that even though I see some benefits, that I support the design review program, especially in its current version. I’m not interested in a debate. Reread @benmaritz’s original post.

@eggfarkarch @benmaritz and no, i'm not asking you to regurgitate the code compliance here, i'm asking your professional opinion. do you think your projects would benefit from this program's timeline, purview, votes, and application of citywide and neighborhood design guidelines?

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz For single family we have to comply with design related items that are baked into the code and handled by staff, as @benmaritz suggested should be done with all projects.

@eggfarkarch @benmaritz i have always wondered why i dont get to apply design guidelines to single family homes since they make up 70%+ of the buildings in the city. do you design them to comply with those?

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz The approved design resolved this issue elegantly. I am curious whether the design team thought the project got better over time.

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz There were more than two versions and I respect that our opinions may differ. At one point there was a prominent multistory blank wall facing Denny as you walked down from Capitol Hill. We felt this was a poor design choice and was contrary to the guidelines.

@pushtheneedle @benmaritz As an example, I think SDCI project 3034759-LU had significant improvements made by the design team in response to the West Board’s comments.

@eggfarkarch @benmaritz can you provide examples?

@benmaritz Maybe, but I thought the non-architects on the board I was on were at least as important to improving the projects. I held the “neighborhood”, not architect, seat and tried to represent those interests.

@eggfarkarch From your name it looks like you may know more about architecture and design than I do :)

@ParallelsCares Is Parallels compatible with shimaseiki.com/product/design… on Apple Silicon and if so what specs would be required on a MacBook Pro?