Seattle lawmakers are getting closer to implementing their solution to the city’s housing problems. They call the plan HALA, or the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda.

As part of HALA, lawmakers will rezone most of Seattle to make a more a taller, denser city. The City Council will rezone the University District first and has already drafted new zoning rules for the neighborhood.

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The rule making is happening under Council Member Rob Johnson's committee on land use. Johnson explains that the U. District is going to look a lot different. On top of a new light rail station opening there in 2021, the rezone will build the neighborhood up.

Johnson: "Around the light rail station, it looks like taller buildings, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200-300 feet tall. As you taper away from the light rail station, those buildings get smaller and smaller 'til you get out to the single family neighborhoods. It's sort of concentrated in that about-10-minute walk distance from the light rail station."