There are a couple things we know about Seattle housing. We need more of it (because we’re the fastest growing city of the decade), it’s tricky to build a lot of it (because zoning rules restrict multi-family units to 25 percent of the city’s buildable land), and it’s even trickier to keep it affordable for people who don’t have a lot of 💰 (because of too many things to sum up in a parenthetical).

But like any city issue that’s difficult and critical, a lot of us have questions. Many of you have been sending us yours. And these are the three we’re putting up for a vote, so that you can help us decide which one to tackle next:

• Why do property owners bear the brunt of the taxes here? — Aster Max
• Why can’t the City of Seattle just take land that is available or land they already own and just build affordable housing? — Anonymous
• Is it wrong to live in a house? I support density, but was lucky enough to buy a house I love recently. Am I a hypocrite? — Abraham

Know which question you’d like us to answer (or, um, try to answer)? » Cast your vote here, and we’ll let you know the winner later this week.

Thanks to Aster, Abraham, and every single one of you who sent in such thoughtful, fascinating Q’s. Hungry for some housing info now? Check out our Zoning 101 guide, and stay tuned for more.

‘You’d think that caution tape is hard to get across.’ If Seattle had a quote of the week, it might be that line, dripping with sarcasm, from a guy named David Freedel. David was one of hundreds of people — like her, and him, and them, and maybe one of you? — who trespassed on the Alaskan Way Viaduct after it closed forever this weekend because hey, our city’s transportation workers have more important things to worry about. 😰. In related news, once that concrete monster comes down for good, our waterfront is going to look pretty darn… waterfronty. For a sneak peek at that future, Curbed Seattle takes a look back — to the waterfront’s less ugly, pre-viaduct days. (KOMO News, Curbed Seattle)

Coffee vs. wine vs. beer. Can’t a Seattle foodie’s favorite drinks just get along? Actually, they can — at one of these 14 local spots shops that said eh, what the hell, and threw beans and grapes on the menu. One favorite is The Dane in Ballard, which food writer Aimee Rizzo calls “the non-fictional Seattle version of [the fictional Friends hangout] Central Perk.”  (Infatuation Seattle)

So worldly. Longtimers looove to tease all the California transplants that make their way up here. But if there’s one broad group that’s been heading northwest, it’s immigrants. It’s worth reading FYI Guy Gene Balk’s whole analysis to get the big picture. But here are three key stats to take away: One in four of our King County neighbors was born outside the U.S.; more foreign-born locals are from India than any other country; and only two American counties have seen a bigger increase in immigrant population than we have — Miami-Dade County in Florida and Harris County in Texas. 🌏 (The Seattle Times)

And if you need a boost today… look no further than Bellevue-born gymnast Katelyn Ohashi. She jumps and flips for UCLA, and the killer, perfect-10 floor routine she did over the weekend with that huge, no-big-deal smile on her face? Watching it is like drinking three cups of coffee. At least. (Twitter, The Washington Post)

SPEAK UP

Have a quirky hobby? A fresh perspective? Or one of those stories that makes everyone at the dinner table stop and listen? Then you might seriously consider submitting a talk idea to Ignite Seattle. It’s a community speaker series started here (and now in cities everywhere) where locals give five-minute talks on a grab bag of neat stuff. Submit your idea by this Thursday and grab tix to the show on February 28.

Can’t make it? Stay tuned. Ignite and The Evergrey are best buds, and we’re gonna highlight one future speaker right here in the newsletter. Will they beat “the biggest Instant Pot geek in the city,” from the last Ignite? Pressure’s on. 😉

Have a good one, all.  — The Evergrey