--- title: Downtown Seattle Construction Legislative Updates description: In a move to stimulate housing and economic growth, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed new legislation (Downtown Activation Plan) that exempts certain downtown development projects from design review processes – and the good news is this would continue for the next three years! This initiative aims to expedite the construction of housing and job-creating developments, ultimately fostering increased economic activity in the area. --- [![Sweeney Conrad](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg?width=542&height=166&name=Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg "Sweeney Conrad")](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/preview/) ![navigation menu](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/hamburger-bars.png) - [What We Do](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do) - [Tax Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/tax-services) - [Client Accounting Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/client-accounting-services) - [Advisory Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/advisory-services) - [How We Do It](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it) - [Our Process](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/our-process) - [Industries we serve](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/industries) - 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This initiative aims to expedite the construction of housing and job-creating developments, ultimately fostering increased economic activity in the area. By streamlining approvals, the city hopes to address the housing crisis and support local businesses, making downtown a more vibrant and accessible place for residents and visitors alike. What are your thoughts on the new legislation? See an excerpt, and the link below to learn more about the new legislation. Please reach out if we can provide any additional guidance regarding these updates. “Mayor Bruce Harrell just announced that new projects downtown—residential, hotels, and R&D—get to skip the design review process for the next three years. This means less bureaucracy, quicker timelines, and hopefully a much-needed spark for the city’s core. This change could save developers months of planning delays. Instead of getting stuck in endless reviews, we’ll see cranes up and projects moving forward in areas like South Lake Union, Lower Queen Anne, and First Hill.“ For more details, you can read Mayor Harrell's comments [here](https://harrell.seattle.gov/2024/10/25/mayor-harrell-signs-downtown-design-review-exemption-legislation-to-encourage-more-housing-jobs-and-economic-activity/).   About the Author: [![Ginger Dearinger Tax Manager\_PNG](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ginger%20Dearinger%20Tax%20Manager_PNG.jpg?width=446&height=293&name=Ginger%20Dearinger%20Tax%20Manager_PNG.jpg)](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/preview/our-team/ginger-dearinger)Ginger loves working with clients in the construction industry to provide full-service accounting. As an expert on lookback calculations and project cost management, Ginger is valuable asset to her clients for everything thing from Quickbooks questions to tax compliance. She enjoys analysis of budgets and finances to help her clients better project their costs for future sustainability. In addition to her work in construction, Ginger also provides tax compliance and planning services for clients in the hospitality, professional services, and real estate industries, as well as for high net worth individuals. 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