Seattle is letting developers build apartment buildings with just one staircase instead of two. This simple change is helping turn small, forgotten lots into affordable housing that would otherwise be too expensive to build.
Most American cities require two staircases in apartment buildings for fire safety. But that extra staircase eats up 7% of floor space and increases costs by up to 13%. For many housing projects, that extra cost kills the deal entirely.
The Firefighter Fighting for Density
Matthew Flaherty, a Los Angeles firefighter, is leading the charge to change these rules. His own struggle to find affordable housing in a walkable neighborhood made him an unlikely advocate for building code reform. “Cities shouldn’t be designed around the fire department,” he argues. “If you have a plumber design a house, the whole house is going to be a toilet.”
The movement is spreading fast. Over 30 cities across North America are now considering relaxing staircase requirements. Seattle’s single-stair buildings are already proving the concept works – you can find studio apartments starting around $1,500 per month in these buildings scattered throughout the city’s distinct neighborhoods.
This puts fire officials and housing advocates at odds. Firefighter unions have spent big money opposing density measures, especially in car-centric cities like Los Angeles.
Expect more cities to follow Seattle’s lead as housing shortages worsen. The change lets developers build on smaller lots that couldn’t fit two staircases, potentially unlocking thousands of new apartments in expensive urban areas.
