No housing boost near rail stations

Controversial proposals that would have directed cities to rapidly increase housing around light-rail stations have died in the House and Senate.

Neither the House measure nor the Senate proposal was presented for a floor vote by the 5 p.m. Thursday deadline.

The measures called for dense development around transit hubs to cut greenhouse gases and other environmental hazards by getting people out of cars and into mass transit.

The concept was embraced by pro-transit and environmental groups, but South Seattle residents and members of Seattle government opposed parts of the proposals.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, long a proponent of light rail and environmentally friendly development, was concerned about the state mandating density in city neighborhoods.

John Fox, of the Seattle Displacement Coalition, said the higher density could leave Capitol Hill, the University District, Roosevelt, Northgate and other neighborhoods denser than any area north of San Francisco.