Washington State Allows Housing in Commercial Zones

0:00Washington Governor Bob Ferguson just signed a new law called Senate Bill 6,026, pushing big cities with over 30,000. Residents to allow housing in most commercial and mixed-use zones. This targets those empty strip malls and shuttered big box stores, turning dead retail space into homes to tackle the state's housing crunch. The move comes as Washington lags on its goal of building over a million housing units in the next 20 years, hit hard by rising construction costs. And high interest rates. Meanwhile, chains like Rite Aid and Kroger have closed dozens of locations, leaving massive vacancies that developers can now eye for apartments. Local leaders push back hard at first, arguing it strips their control over neighborhood vibes and walkable retail spots. Cities worried about ditching ground floor shops, but lawmakers carved out compromises to win them over. The final version lets jurisdictions demand retail on the bottom floor, and up to 40% of those zones, skips it for subsidized affordable, housing, and offers exemption processes for

1:04builders. It skips transit hubs, industrial spots, and rural edges, kicking in June 10th with 18 months for cities to tweak rules. Builders are cautiously optimistic. This unlocks real opportunities in mid-size suburbs, even if not every spot changes overnight could reshape those. Ghost town lots into thriving communities before we know it. Vancouver News today, powered by AI bringing you what matters.