Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson

Journalist/writer/storyteller

Richard Lawson is an award-winning journalist on housing and adaptive reuse.

Grappling With State-Mandated Density, Sharp Local Pushback

Policy

Grappling With State-Mandated Density, Sharp Local Pushback

Seattle is deep into a big push to reshape its housing landscape: Dismantling single-family zoning to comply with Washington’s 2023 law that legalizes middle housing. Richard Lawson examines how the One Seattle Plan could double capacity and create 120,000 new homes. But not without a fight.

Car-Free, Heat-Smart, People-First: Culdesac’s Bold Model

Architecture

Car-Free, Heat-Smart, People-First: Culdesac’s Bold Model

Architect Daniel Parolek and Opticos Design answered with Culdesac Tempe, the nation’s first purpose-built, car-free community. With shade-rich design, missing middle housing, and a self-sustaining mix of homes and businesses, it’s a climate-conscious model now scaling to nearby Mesa.

Vacant To Vibrant: Baltimore’s $6B Housing Play To Revitalize

Policy

Vacant To Vibrant: Baltimore’s $6B Housing Play To Revitalize

Baltimore launches a $1.2B redevelopment initiative—leveraging $5B private capital—to tackle vacant homes and rewrite zoning for “missing middle” housing.

State Vs. Suburbs: The Stand-Off Over Texas Housing Density

Policy

State Vs. Suburbs: The Stand-Off Over Texas Housing Density

Texas suburbs are finding creative ways to evade the state’s new housing laws—raising building heights, piling on amenities, and even rezoning for heavy industry. Richard Lawson details the “Texas Housing Tussle.”

Sorry, Robots -- Humans Are Still The Future Of Homebuilding

Leadership

Sorry, Robots -- Humans Are Still The Future Of Homebuilding

Skillit CEO Fraser Patterson argues that the homebuilding industry’s biggest risk isn’t a lack of robots—it’s a shortage of accessible, skilled frontline workers. Richard Lawson has the full interview.

Grappling With State-Mandated Density, Sharp Local Pushback

Policy

Grappling With State-Mandated Density, Sharp Local Pushback

Seattle is deep into a big push to reshape its housing landscape: Dismantling single-family zoning to comply with Washington’s 2023 law that legalizes middle housing. Richard Lawson examines how the One Seattle Plan could double capacity and create 120,000 new homes. But not without a fight.

Car-Free, Heat-Smart, People-First: Culdesac’s Bold Model

Architecture

Car-Free, Heat-Smart, People-First: Culdesac’s Bold Model

Architect Daniel Parolek and Opticos Design answered with Culdesac Tempe, the nation’s first purpose-built, car-free community. With shade-rich design, missing middle housing, and a self-sustaining mix of homes and businesses, it’s a climate-conscious model now scaling to nearby Mesa.

Vacant To Vibrant: Baltimore’s $6B Housing Play To Revitalize

Policy

Vacant To Vibrant: Baltimore’s $6B Housing Play To Revitalize

Baltimore launches a $1.2B redevelopment initiative—leveraging $5B private capital—to tackle vacant homes and rewrite zoning for “missing middle” housing.

State Vs. Suburbs: The Stand-Off Over Texas Housing Density

Policy

State Vs. Suburbs: The Stand-Off Over Texas Housing Density

Texas suburbs are finding creative ways to evade the state’s new housing laws—raising building heights, piling on amenities, and even rezoning for heavy industry. Richard Lawson details the “Texas Housing Tussle.”

Sorry, Robots -- Humans Are Still The Future Of Homebuilding

Leadership

Sorry, Robots -- Humans Are Still The Future Of Homebuilding

Skillit CEO Fraser Patterson argues that the homebuilding industry’s biggest risk isn’t a lack of robots—it’s a shortage of accessible, skilled frontline workers. Richard Lawson has the full interview.