this is a combination of planners leaving most of the city zoned for single family housing, adding bonus height to pay for affordable housing fees, desperation for building and buying in their constrained housing supply market, and lot coverage maximums.
Holy crap, @holz-bau.bsky.social found the most insane floor! Five-story 2BR/2BA, 1,264-sq. ft. house. Entry and garage on the ground, kitchen on the 2nd floor, bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms on the 3rd and 4th floors, and then a living room on the 5th floor (?!?) my.matterport.com/show/?m=qiGP...
(NWMLS as Distributed by MLS Grid) 2 beds, 2 baths, 1264 sq. ft. townhouse located at 215 A 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 sold for $730,000 on May 22, 2023. MLS# 2019629. A premier Seattle builder, Bl...
this also happens because seattles planning has constrained housing growth so much they will develop lots sideways (ie line up rowhomes on the short side to fit more in). they become narrow & shallow instead of narrow & long. throw parking in and lord have mercy
This is a diagram of a broken zoning code. Absolute trash code.