Events, Residential Small Lot

In Seattle thousands of residential lots are now ‘Residential Small Lot’ (RSL) as part of the MHA zoning reform. The rules covering RSL have been rewritten, bringing questions about how RSL will affect Seattle neighborhoods.

First, what is RSL and what kinds of new development are we likely to see?

Second, how does RSL address displacement, affordability, density or sustainability?

If you live in one of the affected urban villages or are interested in innovative infill housing RSVP below to join Matt Hutchins, AIA for monthly informational talks in a neighborhood near you. All engagements are from 5:00 - 6:30pm.

September 25, 2019 Columbia City Library

October 16, 2019 West Seattle Library

November 12, 2019 Douglass-Truth Library (Central District)

December 11, 2019 CAST architecture (Fremont)

Download CAST's RSL Zoning Guide

Residential Small Lot will allow little stacked flats like this. How you use them is up to you!

If you are thinking about downsizing but don’t want to relocate to a new neighborhood, or to a tiny impersonal apartment in a big boxy building, there are very few choices out there.

Luckily, with Seattle’s Residential Small Lot Zoning (RSL), there are some fresh options. CAST architecture has been working with the land use code for about a year, and now that it is approved in many Seattle Urban Villages and Hubs like Crown Hill, West Seattle, Morgan Junction, and Roosevelt, we want to show off some of the possibilities to do density right!

We often lament that there are essentially very few single level living situations that aren’t little condos, and even fewer that have been built this century.

With this ‘Double Up’ Duplex, there are two primary residences, one at ground level, one up. Each primary residence can be configured with an Accessory Dwelling unit. At 2200 square feet per level Including the ADU), that could be a generous home with a built in rental stream. If someone wanted to develop the whole building, it would be perfectly legal to own the entire building, rent one level, and the ADU adjacent. Don’t want to be a landlord? It can be configured as a condo association.

Downsized, accessible, modern, super energy efficient living, with two revenue streams, not to mention a great front porch and big backyard!

On any RSL lot, we can design a two unit flat with accessory dwellings units.

Here is a second story plan, with a primary and accessory unit. could easily be a 3br and studio apartment

We’re excited about what is possible under Residential Small Lot and hope that the best solutions get adopted far and wide!