Through a series of regulatory reforms, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and City Council President Richard Conlin said today they are working to boost job creation in the trade and construction industries.
The majority of the reforms are a loosening of rules that were called outdated and an obstacle to development.
For example some parking codes near transit centers will be removed. A rule that requires street-level retail outside business districts is also being relaxed, along with a rule against small commercial uses in multi-family zones.
According to the SeattlePi.com, a code requiring retail spaces outside business districts had created stretches of vacant storefronts throughout the city. A rule forcing home businesses to seek outside office space, after reaching a certain size, had hampered business owners in a bad economy.
Seattles unemployment rate has hovered around 7.4%. The construction industry has taken the brunt of the impact from the recession.
Positive numbers coming from the industry has provided a glimmer of hope for workers. Last year there was a reported 20% rise in building permits.
McGinn said at a news conference that another sign of hope was the number of cranes in operation. Where before there was zero, now there are 15 moving cranes.
SeattlePi.com reported on the jobs initiative, writing that the mayor said the reforms would expedite up to 40 new construction projects with 100 to 250 units a year. The Seattle Building Trades Council estimated the effort would create up to 2,400 direct, family-wage construction and trade jobs.
Jobs has to be a high priority in the city, McGinnis said at the conference. We want to create urban housing, vitality and jobs.
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