SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has proposed allowing taller buildings in the South Lake Union area to add 12,000 new housing units and 22,000 jobs.
The plan announced Monday would increase the height of buildings to as much as 400 feet for apartment and condo towers and 240 feet for office towers. Most of the area now has limits of 65 to 85 feet. The rezone must be approved by the city council.
The area has already grown rapidly with development by Paul Allen’s Vulcan company in biotech labs and offices for Amazon.com.
The Seattle Times reported the plan would use a new state law allowing developers to buy development rights to preserve rural land in return for property tax funding for infrastructure to support growth in South Lake Union.
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