Seattle Growth Podcast

The arena wars are not over as two groups vie to reshape Seattle’s music scene, Seattle Center, and the future of winter professional sports. In this special episode, get an update on the process and hear from Wally Walker and Pete Nordstrom how their group’s efforts to bring an NBA franchise to an arena in Sodo can also have an impact on music lovers and musicians in the city. With an appearance...

In this third season of Seattle Growth Podcast, UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman set out to better understand the physical transformation of Seattle. Shulman set across Seattle to learn from real estate developers, residents, and activists about the changes under way. What he found may surprise you. The season began as an exploration how much the physical landscape of Seattle is changing, who is d...

Seattle’s growth is bringing a physical and cultural transformation. Buildings are changing, businesses are changing, and people are changing at a rapid pace. This episode of Seattle Growth Podcast features three expert opinions on how policies from Seattle’s past are shaping the migration patterns of today that will influence Seattle’s future.

Money and people are moving into Seattle at an unprecedented rate. In an apparent effort to keep pace with the growth, Seattle has led the nation in the number of cranes in the sky two years in a row. Though significant attention is given to the number of people moving in, IRS data shows thousands of people are also moving out. Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast features interviews with two...

Three residents with more than a combined century living in Seattle tell their side of the story of Seattle. Seattle’s population has increased an astounding 15.4 percent since the start of the decade. For tens of thousands of newcomers, a bustling, growing Seattle is all they’ve ever known. But tucked within some of those houses, apartments, and condos surrounded by construction cranes are people...

Seattle is growing at an extraordinary rate. As more people and money flow into the city, the skyline and neighborhoods are being transformed. What will the future of the Seattle and its neighborhoods look like? Only time will tell as various people and groups jockey for position to have their vision for Seattle unfold. Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast offers guidance into how you can inf...

Gain insight into the minds of real estate developers as they reshape Seattle’s streets and skyline. As you look ahead to where you live or might live, these interviews give you insight into the kinds of neighborhoods and properties that attract real estate developers. You will get an inside look into their development process and how you can influence it. You will hear from Liz Dunn of Dunn + Hob...

People and money are flowing into Seattle at unprecedented rates and the city is undergoing a physical transformation like none other. As Seattle booms, the city has lead the nation in the number of cranes in the sky two years in a row. Anyone who even passes through Seattle can visibly see the physical changes under way. But in those buildings being torn down are people and businesses; lives bein...

Can Seattle become a hockey town? If the highest level of professional hockey calls Seattle home, what would that mean to the Seattle residents who do not care about the sport? Today’s episode brings you several perspectives on the existing hockey community in Seattle and what hockey could mean to all residents, sports fans and non-sports fans alike. Interviews with Executive Director of the Seatt...

How will growth and the potential for a new sports and entertainment arena affect the city’s budget? Hear from City Budget Office director Ben Noble and UW professor Justin Marlowe.

Former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn shares gives rare insight into Seattle’s past, present, and future. The mayor of Seattle from 2010 until the end of 2013 converses about the topics from Season 1 and Season 2 of Seattle Growth Podcast. In particular McGinn discusses how rapid growth is affecting residents, businesses, and city leaders. McGinn also weighs in on the arena debate the continues several...

This special episode gives you an inside look at a burgeoning industry with potential to further drive growth in this city. Jeff Shulman had an opportunity to visit the Geekwire Sports Tech Summit and interview individuals uniquely involved in the the sports tech. In this episode: Taylor Soper, sports tech reporter for Geekwire, describes how Vicis, Amazon, and Microsoft are driving sports tech in...

This episode gives you a better understanding of how public resources may be deployed in bringing the NBA and NHL to Seattle and in improving Seattle Center. In this episode, City Councilmember Rob Johnson describes the process by which the proposals to renovate Key Arena and the proposal to build a SODO arena will be evaluated and offers insight into the pros and cons of each. Developer Sam Farra...

Former Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark gives guidance on how to effectively engage city government. She shares the best way to communicate your opinions along with some do’s and don’ts. Her guidance applies to those following the discussion on the arena decision facing the council as well as to anyone who has a passion about a city issue. In this episode, host Jeff Shulman reveals that he i...

In the nearly 10 years since the NBA franchise Seattle Supersonics left for Oklahoma City, several people have been working tirelessly to bring the Sonics back to Seattle. This episode gives you a window into the hearts and minds of two people working for several years to return Seattle to the league of cities playing host to professional basketball. In this episode you will hear from: 1. Chris Ha...

Sonic Boom Day is coming April 17th! People from around the city will be sharing their voice with City Council on the same day so that wishes of Seattle residents can be heard loud and clear. Prepare with today’s episode, which focuses on how the arena location decision would affect your wallet through its effect on rents, home values, and further development. In this episode: Craig Kinzer, Founde...

There are potentially three private groups vying to invest roughly half a billion dollars into a sports and entertainment complex in Seattle. The city is weighing a proposal for a SoDo arena and inviting proposals for a renovation of Seattle Center’s Key Arena. Decisions will soon be made and this episode helps you become further informed of the issues. In this episode: Get the scoop on how the ci...

This episode gives you a behind the scenes look at the life and impact off the court of the first coach to deliver Seattle a professional sports championship. You will hear from Hall of Fame Sonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens about his upbringing and his motivation to help his community through the Lenny Wilkens Foundation for Children. You will also hear from Dr. Ben Danielson of the Odessa Br...

Though Seattle’s economy has grown dramatically, there are still many residents in need. This episode explores what a return of the Sonics could mean to the less fortunate residents of Seattle. To explore this question, this episode gives you an inside look into the work of one of Seattle’s star athletes. While any basketball fan in the mid-90s recognizes the contributions Detlef Schrempf made on...

How would the children of Seattle be affected by the presence of the NBA? To explore this question, this episode features: Legendary Sonics player Slick Watts, who has helped cultivate future NBA talent such as Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford while coaching youth basketball in Seattle for decades. He describes how his playing days influenced his contributions to the community. Colin Davenport, a yo...

How would a return of the Sonics affect your evening commute? With two arena locations under city consideration, this episode gives you the scoop on how each of them would affect you. Given common perceptions about the Mercer corridor, what you hear will likely surprise you. In this episode: 3-time NBA All-Star Detlef Schrempf discusses his time playing at Seattle’s Key Arena. Scott Kubly, Directo...

The SoDo arena group was a street vacation away from being ready to invite the NBA to a modern Seattle arena, but the Port of Seattle has been an outspoken opponent. Find out exactly what the Port opposes and get a further understanding of why the Port is concerned about the SoDo arena. In this episode, you will hear from Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. You will also get historical co...

A local investment group led by Chris Hansen has a proposal to build an NBA arena in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. Their proposal has the potential to impact you and life in this city. You will learn what the SoDo arena group needs from the city to proceed and what they hope a return of the Sonics will mean to Seattle. In this episode, you can hear: Pete Nordstrom, co-president of Nordstrom) descri...

Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess talks about City Council's role in the process of bringing back the Sonics.

Why should you care about a potential return of the Sonics? Because the story is more complex than you might imagine. Yes, there is considerable enthusiasm for bringing them back. But their return requires addressing some tough questions. Will your tax dollars go toward subsidizing an NBA-ready arena? Where would an arena go? How would an arena affect the surrounding real estate, jobs, traffic, an...