Pioneer Square Revitalization 2013 Update

In 2009 and 2010, the Pioneer Square Revitalization Committee – a coalition of City of Seattle employees, members of the Pioneer Square business community, and Pioneer Square residents – met to identify strategies to reestablish the neighborhood’s competiveness and strengthen the health of its businesses.

In June 2010, the committee finalized “Pioneer Square 2015: A Strategy for Seattle’s First Neighborhood,” a report on community and city strategies for bolstering the neighborhood’s economic health.

Here is the update from 2011, and 2012, and below is the 2013 update of priorities and what has been accomplished in the last year:

1. Bathroom
There is a neighborhood group actively looking for spots to place a “Portland Loo.” The goal is to have something open within the year.

2. Construction Information
The city will work harder to provide construction information to the neighborhood so that we know impacts before they happen.

3. Center City Initiative
Members from many different types of organizations (business, human services, legal defenders, and neighborhood groups) throughout the city have come together to tackle issues such as street disorder, urban poverty, public safety, and homelessness.

4. Expanding borders of the BIA
Over the next two months, the Alliance and the Pioneer Square BIA are working to expand the boundaries of the BIA. This means more money for the on-going economic development for the continued revitalization of our neighborhood.

5. Active Retail Recruitment
The Alliance has a dedicated staff member who is working with neighborhood stakeholders to actively recruit retail businesses, and so far, with over 15 restaurants and retail spaces opening in 1Q of 2013, I’d say it’s a success.

6. Increased Broadband Capacity
Provided a fiber backbone to increase broadband capacity in support of the neighborhood’s significant high tech sector.

Q&A (and often, just comments)

Is nightlife important to the city and specifically to Pioneer Square?
- Answer: Yes and yes.
Request to not have buses come through Washington and Main St.
- Answer: Working hard to find the best solution, and are also listening to other voices, such as port traffic. They’ve heard what we have to say, however, and will take that into account.
With the loss of 619, First Thursday has been suffering in the neighborhood. We need to find alternatives to help support a thriving artist environment in Pioneer Square.
City is not doing a good job of coordinating construction efforts in the neighborhood. Right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing, and let the neighborhood know as well so that we can plan.
- Answer: Good to know — we will work harder on that.
Need to work with more property owners regarding the vacant buildings, and other problems related to buildings not being seismically upgraded.
Is there anyway that the streetcar can extend past Pioneer Square to hit the new stadium coming in?
- Answer: Analysis is already being done on connecting the streetcar from SLU to Pioneer Square, to Capital Hill. The next step will be looking at going to Ballard, and then possibly extending further South.