You’ve been told that housing is in a crisis—but have you seen what’s happening behind the scenes to fix it?

Construction costs are soaring, and rents haven’t kept up, making traditional development projects nearly impossible. But cities are experimenting with creative solutions.

Seattle is welcoming back micro-apartments, offering smaller, high-efficiency living spaces. They’ve also opened the door for residential lots to host up to three units through ADUs. Kirkland has introduced ‘cottage housing,’ allowing clusters of smaller homes on single lots.

We’ve been diving into these emerging trends and are now focusing on GIS High Efficiency Units—compact, thoughtfully designed, and affordable to rent. They’re proof that good design can still work within today’s constraints.

Curious how these developments are reshaping the market—or how they might work in your city? Let’s talk.