District 5 candidates largely back 3–6 story neighborhood centers while stressing infrastructure and anti‑displacement measures

Candidates were broadly supportive of neighborhood‑center zoning and adding 3–6 story buildings near transit, but they emphasized the need to pair density with infrastructure, services and anti‑displacement measures.

“Density is inevitable,” said Jim Voorhe, adding that careful transitions and infrastructure support are essential. Katie Imo, a land‑use planner, said zoning is a tool to achieve community visions and that ‘‘when used correctly, the zoning can actually help make our visions happen.’’ Deborah Juarez urged a focus on the comp plan’s walk sheds and on libraries, parks and economic opportunity alongside housing.

Why it matters: Seattle’s proposed comprehensive plan and state housing bills were cited as background drivers. Candidates said adding housing near transit is the primary way to reduce car use and increase affordability, but they cautioned that without parks, sidewalks and schools, dense housing can harm livability.

Details and tradeoffs • Candidates recommended investing in sidewalks, lighting, bus service and school capacity before or alongside up‑zoning to make higher density livable. • Juarez urged the council to use half‑mile walk sheds and 10‑minute walk metrics in planning and to prioritize economic mobility when allocating new capacity. • Katie Imo suggested targeted code fixes and ‘‘small line‑by‑line’’ adjustments to expedite development without blunt up‑zonings.

Open questions • Candidates did not endorse a single regulatory package; support was conditional on companion investments and community engagement. • Specific anti‑displacement tools or funding mechanisms were discussed generally but not defined in the forum.

The forum showed strong candidate support for concentrating housing near transit while flagging the political and technical work needed to make density equitable and durable.