Joshua McNichols
Reporter
About
As KUOW's Growth and Development reporter and co-host of KUOW's Booming podcast, Joshua's "growing pains" beat sits at the nexus of housing, transportation, urban planning, government and the economy. His favorite stories also include themes of history, technology, and climate change.
Joshua holds a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Washington. Public Radio is his second career; architecture was his first. He is proud of the many odd jobs he's held in his life, such as salmon fisher, author, bike courier, and bed-and-breakfast cook.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him
Professional Affiliations: The Society of Professional Journalists, Western Washington Chapter
Podcasts
Stories
-
Unions are getting lots of attention these days. A labor expert explains why
Unions are emerging left and right across the U.S. — especially among workers in essential industries. Discontentment surrounding wages and working conditions has only been amplified during the pandemic, prompting workers to seek change through unionizing. KUOW reporter Joshua McNichols spoke to Wilma Liebman, former Chairperson of the National Labor Relations Board, about this trend.
-
Workers at Seattle Amazon Fresh store say they've formed a union
It would be the first union in one of Amazon’s collection of grocery stores, which includes Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go. The union activity there is part of a wider trend, as labor shortages continue during the pandemic.
-
Why Washington state's missing middle housing bill died
The "missing middle" housing bill, which would have opened up single family zones to six-unit apartment buildings near transit, has died in the Washington State Legislature.
-
Washington 'missing middle housing' bill survives in altered form
In Olympia, a major bill that would force single family zones to open up to denser development across the state survived a crucial test this week. But it survived in a weakened form.
-
Why it's hard to change single family zones in Washington State
It's politically risky for cities. So lawmakers in Olympia want to go over the heads of local elected leaders.
-
What can be done about the "missing middle" of housing in Washington?
Legislators are in the middle of tackling a massive hot-button issue: housing density.
-
This realtor wants to find you a house in Washington. The odds are stacked against her.
The housing market is tight across Washington state. There’s very little out there for people to buy, and that’s driving home prices out of reach for many of the people who live in the region. The problem has hit Black, Indigenous and families of color hardest, and contributed to the segregation of neighborhoods. Now, lawmakers in Olympia are trying to relax zoning rules so affordable housing is more accessible.
-
'Forbidden houses of Bothell' show how multifamily housing fits into single-family zones
Advocates for "missing middle" housing put together walking tour called "The Forbidden Houses of Bothell" to show how duplexes, triplexes and small apartment buildings can fit into single family neighborhoods.
-
New audiences, less money. How local arts organizations are doing now
Federal programs that supported the arts during the pandemic have dwindled. The 2020 surge of financial support for Black, Indigenous and People of Color-led organizations amid racial justice protests has faded. Still, some groups say they've learned lessons about how to connect with new audiences that will continue to pay off after Covid.
-
Washington state could require cities to allow more multi-family housing options
Should cities in Washington be forced to allow "missing middle" types of housing — duplexes, triplexes and sometimes small apartment buildings — on land currently reserved for single family homes? That’s a question currently before the state Legislature.
