King County Executive Dow Constantine was joined by developer Kevin Daniels, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark, and former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer yesterday to break ground on the long-awaited North Lot development next to CenturyLink Field – a project that is key to revitalization of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.
The Executive announced that the County’s sale of the property to North Lot Development LLC closed on Monday. He also credited the tenacity of developer Kevin Daniels for assembling the plan and financing over the past six years.
“We’re on the cusp of the greatest economic recovery for Pioneer Square since Gold Rush days, and I am thankful to be able to contribute to a rebirth in the community,” said Daniels, president of Daniels Real Estate, which also worked with the team that developed the nearby Starbucks Center and renovated Union Station. He is also co-chair of the Alliance for Pioneer Square.
The project to be built on the North Lot of the old Kingdome site is expected to create up to 2,700 construction jobs. Over the next decade, the development is projected to generate more than $727 million in economic activity.
The $180 million first phase of the project will become the largest transit-oriented development in the Pacific Northwest. The development is expected to include nearly 1.5 million square feet of uses, including up to 800 mixed-income residential units, a hotel, 400,000 square feet of office space, and 35,000 square feet of retail space.
The project will create an urban development in a walkable neighborhood near the downtown core. Its location near Amtrak at King Street Station and several major bus lines will provide residents and users with a number of transportation alternatives.
“This project will bring the most new construction to Pioneer Square since the rebuilding from the Great Seattle Fire of 1889,” said former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer, co-chair of the Alliance for Pioneer Square and host for today’s celebration. “The positive impacts on the neighborhood can’t be overstated.”
Under an agreement struck last week with the Washington State Public Stadium Authority, stadium replacement parking for the public will be made available at the King County Metro central campus employee parking garage at 6th Ave. S. and S. Royal Brougham Way
Under the agreement, the County will grant rights to the PSA detailing event use of available spaces at the Metro garage. In exchange for these rights, the County will receive $10.2 million for the parking from North Lot Development LLC. King County received another $10 million from the sale of the North Lot to the development firm, to be used by the County to honor long-standing commitments for affordable housing funding and for other one-time investments.
And then the neighborhood partied (photos by Doug Vann):
Why? The North Lot Development is moving forward!
When? Monday, September 26th
Time? 4:00 – 5:30 PM
Where? Occidental Ave S & S King Street
What? Food, music, celebration!
Who? Everyone who works in, lives in or loves Pioneer Square
The Mark Whitman Band will be playing at the event.
Pioneer Square has been waiting a long time for additional residential development. The North Lot brings it, and more.
What the full build-out will bring to Pioneer Square:
2,400 construction related jobs
248,000 sq ft of office space
32,000 sq ft of retail
718 units of housing
Please join us in celebration of the ground-breaking!
Sponsored by Daniel’s Development
Although I shouldn’t have been surprised when I started hearing rumors that the First Hill Streetcar may not come into our neighborhood as planned, I still couldn’t really believe it as I talked with city staff to verify that it will possibly now stop at 5th and Jackson, instead of coming into Pioneer Square.
David Hiller of the Mayor’s office has been calling a few Pioneer Square stakeholders to let them know about the situation they are currently in. Part of their contractual obligations with Sound Transit included a scheduled streetcar coming by a stop every 10 minutes (called headway). Right now, it is timed for about 12 minutes, which is apparently most easily solved by stopping at 5th & Jackson. Although that is where the streetcar originally planned to stop, the neighborhood celebrated when the decision was made to bring it down Jackson and to loop back up Main Street.
In a blog post back in February of 2010, I included a list of benefits to the neighborhood from having the streetcar come through, including the following:
- Will be completed before the viaduct removal begins making our neighborhood more accessible during construction
- New connection helps with economic development in the neighborhood
- Adds to the marketing draw for residential and office development alike
- Allows commuters to safely navigate the intersection at 4th and Jackson
- Brings users closer to the Waterfront, creating a more walkable area
- Project is fully funded by the ST2 mass transit system
- Elegant transportation connection to the east from a convenient location in our Pioneer Square neighborhood
- Creates another leg to the transportation hub at King Street Station
- Helps eliminate the need for parking, especially during stadium events
- Environmentally beneficial as it should reduce the need for vehicles for many uses
- Crosses the ‘gateway’ into Pioneer Square
Hiller says that there are a number of factors that lead into this decision, including the lack of funding to purchase more than 4 streetcars. When meeting with Sound Transit to discuss the issue of potentially being unable to meet the 10 minute headway requirement, Sound Transit expressed a desire to find other alternatives so that the 10 min mark would still be met, even if it meant that the streetcar would no longer come through Pioneer Square.
The city is waiting to hear back on actual costs for the streetcars, and will know by mid-October what will happen. According to Hiller, however, they are very short on options. And although he says there is nothing that the community could do to affect the decision, I still urge you to write to the following people, to show them how important the streetcar is to this neighborhood, and that we’re tired of the city breaking its promises (i.e. waterfront streetcar):
Mayor Michael McGinn’s staff person, David Hiller, david.hiller@seattle.gov
County Executive Dow Constantine, Dow.Constantine@kingcounty.gov
King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov
There is a draft Stadium District Concept Plan that has recently come out, that was created by two volunteer public boards, to protect the public’s investment in Safeco Field, and CLink Field + Event Center. It is a draft plan that is supposed to present a vision for the district over a ten year period. It envelops anticipated changes to our neighborhood, such as the North Lot, the waterfront, and the changes to the viaduct.
You will be pleased to know that our stadiums do well by most measurements when compared to other stadiums, such as Camden Yards in Baltimore (Stadium District and Inner Harbor), Coors Field in Denver (LoDo District), and Petco Park in San Diego (Gaslamp District).
Our stadiums are seen as effectively managed and maintained and are environmental leaders. Our analysis shows that Seattle generates more stadium district foot traffic than the other cities studied. On the other hand, our stadiums have not had the same economic or positive neighborhood impact in stimulating new housing, activating old buildings, driving retail activity, or achieving new public amenities like open space, pedestrian and bike friendly streets, sidewalks, and transit that other cities have experienced.
Denver, for example, has a stadium district population of 25 households per acre while the Seattle stadium district averages only two households per acre. For food and beverage revenue outside the stadiums, Seattle ranks last.
The Concept Plan goes into detail about a vision for the area and how the stadium district interacts with Pioneer Square, SODO, Chinatown/ID, and the waterfront. Part of the plan includes the following “targets under a 10-year plan for development within a 15 minute walk of the stadiums:”
- Increase of 2,000 new market rate housing units
- Minimum 2,000 new parking spaces
- Enhanced pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and connections
- A major new destination open space
(click image to view larger)
The plan goes on to break down the district into four different “faces” that can be improved: Occidental, 1st Avenue, PARKing, and Nexus. Ideas that are suggested include:
- a warehouse/industrial environment with outdoor celebrations and other places activity that make pre-game activity more enjoyable IN the neighborhood
- housing + hotels that increase activity on roof decks, and on the street
- covered open space that can provide outdoor venues for performance and events
- enhanced lighting (that also help with wayfinding)
- a (park)ing garage [a parking garage with a park on top]
- incorporating places to “get wet, play ball, swing, slide, etc.” — places for kids and families to get together and play
The report is packed with graphics and images, vision and possibilities. Go and check it out online, and please provide comments and ideas — there is no current deadline, but they want to hear from as many people as possible on what can make this district as successful as possible. (comments can be emailed to comments@stadiumdistrict.org)
It’s being painted. And thank heavens — I don’t know if these images do it justice, but I’m sure I speak for most people when I say farewell to the pinkish-orangish color it was:
From the Seattle Transit Blog:
Friday, Aug. 5
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free shuttles begin service between Othello Station and the hydro course.12:45 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
I-90 bridge closed both eastbound and westbound, mainline and express lanes – between Interstate 5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island. All I-90 bus service will be rerouted to State Route 520 during the closure, and the Mercer Island connector will be in service.Saturday, Aug. 6
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free shuttles begin service between the Othello Station and the hydro course.12:45 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
I-90 bridge closed both eastbound and westbound, mainline and express lanes – between Interstate 5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island. All I-90 bus service will be rerouted to State Route 520 during the closure, and the Mercer Island connector will be in service.Sunday, Aug. 7
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free shuttles begin service between the Othello Station and the hydro course.12:45 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
I-90 bridge closed eastbound and westbound, mainline and express lanes – between Interstate 5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island. All I-90 bus service will be rerouted to State Route 520 during the closure. There is no Mercer Island connector service on Sunday.
After being told that they would have to move out 6 months earlier than originally planned, the artists at 619 were also told that they could not have public assemblies in their building after August 1st, preventing them from participating in the monthly art walk. Instead, they are holding their art walk as usual, but are doing it outside.
From their Facebook page:
We’re taking it to the streets!!
619 Artists will be outside for August and September! Come join us in a street festival style setting as we display our work in the parking lot adjacent to the building! Who wants to be inside when the weather is going to be this nice anyway~
For those artists who have permanent installations or need to do art sales from inside, all 100 tenants as well as 40 members at any given time of the public will be allowed to be in the building. This way everyone can be a part of Art Walk for the next few months!
Come Join Us!
First Thursday Art Walk
6:00-9:30
8/4/2011
For more info contact: Jen Vertz
riopacific@gmail.com
619 WESTERN ARTS BUILDING
Image Source: Seattle PI
Seattle/Tukwila/Renton metropolitan area residents may experience temporary increases in aircraft noise levels from SEAFAIR celebration events and military fly-overs during the first week of August 2011. Please note the following dates and times:
August 1 8:10 a.m. Blue Angel no. 7 aircraft arrives
August 1 12 and 1:30-3 p.m. Blue Angel no. 7 conducts media flights
August 2 Blue Angel team arrival along with other air show aircraft
August 3 12 p.m. Blue Angel media flights
1:45-2:30 military aircraft fly over the Parade of Ships on Elliott Bay
August 4 Air show practice flights:
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
1:20 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
August 5 Air show practice flights:
1:30 p.m.- 3 p.m.
August 6 Air show performance: 1:30-3 p.m.
August 7 Air show performance: 1:30-3 p.m.
August 9 Mid-morning, Blue Angel team will depart
The Blue Angels are headquartered at the Museum of Flight and sponsored by Seattle SEAFAIR, whose number is 206-728-0123.
Seattle Fitness and Seattle Square present:
FREE Outdoor Boot Camp!
Every Thursday Evening* from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (except for First Thursdays)
in conjunction with the outdoor market in Occidental Square Park
Increase your Strength!
Build stamina + endurance!
List of free bootcamp dates*:
July 21
July 28
August 11
August 18
August 25
September 8
September 15
September 22
September 29
*For safety reasons, class will not be held on rainy evenings.
In addition to the construction happening on 1st Ave, SCL has some street closures that may affect residents and businesses:
Seattle City Light plans to have South Washington Street between 3rd Avenue and 2nd Avenue Extension back open today, Wednesday, July 13. The block had been closed Tuesday as crews worked on a collapsed duct bank. We will continue to need parking on the south side of the block, but traffic will be open in both directions.
For those of you that I was not able to speak with earlier in the day, this past weekend’s work to set the vault did not go according to plan. During its installation we discovered several pieces of the custom-made vault walls were improperly fitted. Work was immediately stopped and the pieces sent back for reconfiguration.
The revised schedule will close Washington Street on Saturday, July 16, between 3rd Avenue and 2nd Avenue Extension during the day while the crane is used to move the vault into place. The street will be closed on Saturday only. Work will continue at the vault on Sunday, July, 17, and possibly Monday, July 18. See our Construction Website update for additional information: http://seattle.gov/light/aboutus/construction/release.asp?RN=244 Thank you for your patience with this important work.
Please call me if you have questions or concerns. My telephone number is (206) 684-3279
Thank you,
Mark
Mark VanOss
Sr., Public Relations Specialist
Seattle City Light
(206) 684-3279