Pioneer Square was full of activity last week — and most of it was positive. Events full of people, announcements of fantastic new businesses moving in, and moving forward with the Revitalization Committee. Check it out:
NEWS
The curse of the ‘Sinking Ship’ (Seattle Times)
Great article about the sinking ship parking lot — I hate this thing, but it doesn’t look like there will be any changes in the near (or even distant) future.
Elliott Bay Book Co. plans its move, plus other bookish news (Seattle Times)
EBBC’s last day in the Square is March 31st and it will reopen in Capitol Hill on April 12th. Don’t forget that Elliott Bay Cafe is staying in the neighborhood! Help support the businesses that stay and stop there for lunch often.
Courtyard in Seattle to open in historic Building (Hotel World)
Courtyard by Marriott coming to the historic 1904 Alaska Building (2nd & James), and is planned to open May 2010. Here is a link to their new website.
Luigi says “ciao” for now to DeNunzio’s in Pioneer Square (Seattle Times)
DeNunzio’s is “temporarily closing” (due to landlord disputes) while they look for a new location.
Galleries and artist lofts reinvent historic spaces in Pioneer Square (SU Spectator)
What? We have art galleries down here?
PSIDCPDA urges voters to amend and bring 2ESHB 2912 to a floor vote (NW Asian Weekly)
Did you stop reading the title as soon as your eyes got stuck on that ridiculously long acronym? (I know mine did). Try clicking on it anyways and see if you’re willing to email/call to help Pioneer Square + the International District.
Apple files suit against HTC as Android takes off (Seattle Times)
The most awesome piece of news to pull from this article is that Pioneer Square has a secretive software development lab! And you guys thought Pioneer Square wasn’t that cool. Just one more reason to be jealous of us down here.
That’s Italian! Pizzas are hot and fast at Via Tribunali (Seattle Times)
Via Tribunali coming to Pioneer Square! With 5 other Seattle locations, this is great news for Pioneer Square. They plan to open March 15 and will be located on Prefontaine at the Caffe Vita location (will become Caffe Vita + Via Tribunali)
Watch it: The Future of Pioneer Square (Seattle Channel)
CR Douglas takes a look at current efforts in Pioneer Square to revitalize the neighborhood. Also, there’s a poll on the site and apparently 75% of people who took it feel optimistic about the neighborhood’s future. Do you?
Persian Hip-Hop Tonight at Ibiza in Pioneer Square (Publicola)
I think the title says it all — check it out if you like Persian Hip-Hop.
BLOGS
Wiggs + Dave (Yvonne Wong Photography)
I know it’s from back in January, but I just found the post and had to post it — fantastic photos of a wedding shot in Pioneer Square. I forget the building’s name, but what a great place to have a wedding!
Are Cream Cheese Hot Dogs Really a Seattle Thing? (Seattle Weekly Blog)
A review of (very drunk) businessmen trying out Cream Cheese Hot Dogs from an (illegal) vendor outside of the Last Supper Club.
4Culture needs help (their blog)
4culture seems to be added to many larger bills and organizations when it comes to seeking funding — and they need your help. Click the link to see what you can do.
Planning a Great Neighborhood in SLU (Seattle PI – in SLU)
In addition to the International District, yet another neighborhood that is willing to take the affordable housing units that WE DON’T WANT (and definitely don’t need).
Me, You and Everybody Who Likes Art (Stranger – Line Out)
A review and pics of First Thursday.
Photos from Deli’s B:Scott opening (21arrondissement)
Tat’s Deli is hiring! (Craigslist)
International Women’s Day Rally (twitpic)
Apparently there was a rally in Occidental on Saturday. I could see it from my balcony (but was too lazy to walk down — sorry!). I can’t find anything about it online, but the link is to a pic someone took while they were down there.
Call for Artists for ARTSPARKS 2010 (Blog4culture)
Submissions due this Friday — I hear they’ve gotten some good ones, so make sure to get your entry in on time.
NEWS
Pioneer Square Hotel seeks OK for annex (DJC subscription only)
“A long-planned hotel project is back before the Pioneer Square Preservation Board after a two-year hiatus. The project involves adding a four-story annex to the Pioneer Square Hotel on Yesler Way. It would have 30 hotel rooms, 900 square feet of ground-floor retail and 39 parking spaces. The hotel is just north of the annex site.”
Downtown alley leaves dark days behind, welcomes pedestrians (Seattle Times)
Great sketch by the Times’ resident sketcher of Todd Vogel’s Nord Alley. Remember to come to the Nord Alley party at First Thursday this week to hear who won the “Green Alley Competition.”
Galleries and artist lofts reinvent historic spaces in Pioneer Square (Seattle University Spectator)
How art galleries saved many landmark buildings from “being knocked down to extend the downtown business district.”
Pioneer Square stays bookish without Elliott Bay Book Co. (Seattle University Spectator)
“Even in the absence of Elliott Bay, Pioneer Square stands out as Seattle’s most prominent book district; it’s home to a dozen different independent booksellers, and most of them carry used titles that literary lovers can stockpile without breaking their bank.”
Pioneer Square boutiques create unique venue for new and local artists (SUS)
The Seattle U Spectator is really loving them some Pioneer Square. A review of Gems and DELI, two great boutiques in our neighborhood.
Burgess: Put more cops on street, crack down on panhandlers (Seattle PI)
A review of the recommendations from Tim Burgess for how to solve our aggressive panhandling problem
Panhandling Ordinance Raises Questions (NPR)
A further discussion of Burgess’ recommendations.
To read more articles about the panhandling issue and public safety, click here.
Council puts bridge, viaduct work atop priorities (Seattle PI)
The council’s current priorities, including the bridge, viaduct, route for the new First Hill streetcar, social services, etc.
Jazz trumpeter Thomas Marriott charts a successful path in Seattle (Seattle Times)
He started out on the stage at the New Orleans restaurant in Pioneer Square.
BLOGS
Can Seattle Walk the Talk? (VIA Architecture)
A review of Helle Soholt’s “Seattle’s Public Life – Making it the Most Walkable City in America.” To download the presentation or to watch video, click here.
Seattle’s Top 5 Falafels (Seattle Weekly – Voracious)
#1 on the list is Zaina Food, Drink & Friends, also located in Pioneer Square (1st & Cherry). Go check it out!
DELI Seattle B:Scott pop up store opening (DELI Seattle)
Check out photos from the recent pop up store opening of B:Scott, DELI’s 3 month featured artist.
CRIME
Feb 27th — after being thrown out of a nightclub, one ejected member slapped a female, who had also been thrown out of the club.
Feb 28th — after leaving a nightclub, a man initiated contact with a group of women he had seen in the club. After being told they weren’t interested, he backhanded one woman “for her perceived disrespect” and punched a second woman.
How can you not love reading about these?
UPCOMING EVENTS
3/4: Nord Alley Party — Green Alley winner announced. Click here for more info.
3/4: North Lot Community Celebration – Come and meet the development team for the North Lot project and celebrate the issuance of a MUP for their project.
3/5: City Inside/Out (Seattle Channel) – Future of Pioneer Square (link)
Visit the events calendar for more information on these events.
1. 1 in 4 Seattle residents named downtown as the number one neighborhood where they don’t feel safe. Nearly 40% of downtown residents worry about going out in the evenings because of that same fear.
Surprise! Many of you probably thought it would be Pioneer Square, but I don’t know how many times I have to keep telling you that we’re just as safe as our other friendly neighborhoods (which, I admit, isn’t perceived as very safe, despite low crime numbers).
Tim Burgess tried to spin that concern around to talk about his issue of aggressive panhandling. In a survey by DSA last year, 66% of the respondents said they felt that aggressive solicitation was out of control and the city wasn’t doing enough.
Those are not the top 2 concerns, however. In a Publicola article yesterday, they report that 75% of the respondents were most concerned about drug dealing and 69% were concerned about dangerous drunken behavior (both ranking higher than panhandling.. although they are all serious problems)
2. We need to add more police officers and police beats to our Seattle neighborhoods.
As part of the aggressive panhandling proposal Burgess is making to City Council, he is suggesting that they fund adding more police officers to the streets (21 in 2011 and 21 in 2012). Click here to see the article in the Seattle Times.
Dan Satterburg, KC Prosecuting Attorney added that a visible police presence is very important – it makes tourists, residents, and the work force feel safe.
3. We need to be proactive regarding open air drug markets
“It’s not just about arresting people – by the time they get to my office or Pete’s office (Seattle City Attorney), the damage has already been done to the city’s reputation of being unsafe,” said Satterburg.
There are some interesting programs that the city is working on right now, including the “drug market initiative.” The pilot neighborhood for this was 23rd & Union, where residents have felt unsafe for decades. SPD spent months doing undercover buys and videotaping drug deals. They then sent a letter to 18 of these individuals, requesting that they and a guardian (parent, teach, coach, youth leader) come to a meeting.
At the meeting, they were told that they either stop what they’re doing, or they will file the case against them and send them to prison. “The impact wasn’t necessarily on the individual,” Satterburg said. “It was on the neighborhood.”
“If you do it only once, it will dissipate, so it needs to continue as a strategy and to occur in other neighborhoods.”
4. We need to be proactive regarding the youth in our communities and schools
After Kate Joncas of DSA asked a question about what to do regarding youth issues (i.e. like Westlake who had one group of youth last summer that intimidated everyone else out), and if creating a community center downtown would help, you could have heard a pin drop.
Burgess did make a good point, however, when he said that “usually the young people that are at Westlake park, for example, or causing problems on the street, are typically not the kids who are going to our community centers or involved in our sports programs.” He continued saying “it’s very complicated. I don’t have a good answer.”
Satterbug added that 3 out of 4 prison inmates in the state dropped out of high school, so it’s a big red flag. They are doing a similar proactive program to the drug issue of inviting students in who miss too many classes (with a guardian) and talk about why they are unable to make it to class and work to make accommodations so that they will attend.
“We’re making an effort because we know how important it is.”
5. Fantastic walking cities don’t combine their “showcase area” with where they provide social services
Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney, made a statement that I applaud whole-heartedly:
“When you go to any great city, fantastic walking cities invite you to get out and just explore on their streets. In none of those cities is the showcase area also the area where we provide social services. In those cities, those services are somewhere else. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have the same complicated problems that we have in Seattle, here, we just tend to overlap the two.”
Thank you for saying out loud what I’ve been trying to write for months (without being jumped all over). And just to be clear: it’s not opposing social/human services. It’s opposing where they’re located and how concentrated they are. Although someone mentioned after the forum that every neighborhood feels like they have too many social services. There just needs to be a balance.
6. There needs to be a middle ground between night life businesses that want to stay in business, and residents that want to sleep
Pete Holmes, Seattle City Attorney, said that they are crafting a comprehensive framework for regulating the nightlife industry to make sure that it’s both vibrant and safe. They are also looking at staggering last call, something that will really help the police department.
Satterburg added that “the problem is not what happens inside the club, it’s the closing time, in the parking lot when the bartender says you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here, and that’s where we need a visible police presence – robberies, assaults, gangs that come in to find a drunken, vulnerable person, ridiculous gun fights over insults – all of that will dissipate if there’s a visible police presence.”
The city is also looking at staggering last call, something that will really help the police department. There is evidence in other cities, like Birmingham, Alabama, where they let the market establish when and where bars will close, and that has worked very effectively.
7. The creation of a 24/7 shelter with onsite services = housing
There are concerns about 24 hour shelters and new day centers to address a lot of the problems the city is facing with homelessness.
“The cost of opening an emergency shelter versus the cost of creating housing… it really makes sense to invest in housing,” Bill Block said. “We have managed to stabilize thousands of lives for people. Recognize that this works and continue those investments.”
After that statement, Burgess added that “it’s increasinbly apparent to me that we need another [day center]. People come out of shelters, and don’t have a place to go, so they go to the library or on to the streets. Most often, not causing problems for us, but they do need a place to go.”
8. The easiest way to stop aggressive panhandling? Just stop giving them money
Block said that he’s met with cities across the nation to talk about how they deal with aggressive panhandling and “the only thing that actually seems to work is to have people stop giving.”
Instead, he said, people should give money to the social service agencies, or to the real change vendors. “All the laws in the world don’t have nearly the effect of giving to social services agencies rather than the person on the street.”
9. A clean, safe environment is conducive to a vibrant tourist industry and vibrant residential downtown: Remember 3-1-1
Holmes’ parting advice on the one thing you can do to make a difference is to call 3-1-1 to report broken windows, illegal graffiti – any non-emergency situation that will make a different in your neighborhood.
He says that we should insist on a clean, safe environment where you live and work.
10. Stay engaged
Each panel member listed one piece of advice for how individuals can make a difference.
In addition to requesting that we stay engaged, Burgess added another way we can help, which drew laughter from the crowd. “Let the other council members know that you support my initiative.”
Holmes hit the nail on the head, however, when he said that “underlying all of these discussions is a resource question – if you really want to address these problems, address the fundamental funding problem in the state.”
Satterburg finished it off by adding that “there is no substitute for professional law enforcement. We’d all love to build housing rather than hire police officers, but we don’t have to do one or the other, we can do both.”
Go to DSA’s website to add your thoughts/opinions – make your voice heard, and stay engaged.
To watch video of the entire forum, click here.
The above image is a rendering of one of the eight viaduct/central waterfront scenarios released by WSDOT in 2008
There was an article in the DJC regarding waterfront plans last Friday that discusses the city’s desire to speed up the process of redesigning the waterfront.
“If all goes as planned [they] could issues an RFQ for design work this spring and hire a team in the fall.”
Seattle Planning Director Marshall Foster said that “the waterfront design needs to happen more quickly because of McGinn’s effort to put a $241 million property tax measure on the May ballot to fund a seawall replacement.”
In regards to the seawall design, the city is asking for three approaches to create a shoreline system that balances public safety and stability, public access, and nearshore ecology. The city would like to see the following:
- A traditional approach
- A “soft” approach (like the Olympic Sculpture Park)
- A combination of traditional + soft
There are four community meetings coming up next month where members of the Committee for Central Waterfront Partnerships, and city staff will talk more about the following:
- What makes Seattle’s waterfront unique?
- What tools will we need to create a great central waterfront?
- How will we keep it active and inviting for generations to come?
- How can public and private partners wisely set the stage for future success?
For more information, here is a link to DPD’s Central Waterfront site.
Miller Community Center
330 19th Ave E
Thursday, March 4, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Northgate Community Center
10510 5th Ave NE
Saturday, March 6, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
High Point Community Center
6920 34th Ave SW
Saturday, March 13, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Van Asselt Community Center
2820 South Myrtle Street
Saturday, March 20, 2:30 –4:00 p.m.
If this is the first time you’re seeing this, you’re probably too late. But it’s still exciting and the awards will be announced next Thursday at the First Thursday Alley Party (which is always a blast) in Nord Alley, Pioneer Square.
The competition:
Seattle’s alleys offer intimate, small-scale spaces that, properly staged, invite people to walk and promise a host of sustainability benefits. Introducing greenery to Seattle’s forgotten spaces can create a small ecological system of its own by filtering city runoff before it hits the Puget Sound.
How green is your alley? The City of Seattle, Great City, the International Sustainability Institute, People for Puget Sound, and the AIA Seattle are sponsoring a contest on how to green our alleys. An all-star cast of designers, planners, residents and other alley-lovers will judge the entries for their originality, cost-effectiveness and practical implementation. Join us in a unique design competition to green Seattle’s alleys!
For more information send an email to: green_alleys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, OR email darby.watson@seattle.gov
Here is a link to a PDF document containing project info, submission requirements and maps of the project area: Green_Alleys_info.pdf (836 KB)
Check out Great City’s website for more information!
The Schedule:
Week of January 11: Release schedule, regulations, and base information on Yahoo Groups
February 22: Entries due to ISI offices by 5 pm PST (314 1st Avenue South, 206-381-1630)
February 24: Judging panel reviews and selects winners
March 4: First Thursday Alley party, all entries displayed and winners announced in the Nord Alley
Guiding Principles:
Alleys are a key resource in Seattle. Traditionally restricted to service uses, the Clear Alleys Program has opened up opportunities to use alleys in different ways. This design competition is focused on potential new uses that in combination could add functionality to our transportation and ecological systems as well as improving the aesthetic and community-building elements of our City. Below are some guiding principles to help you in your design of Seattle’s best Green Alley:
Green alleys should:
- Welcome pedestrians, both as walkways and places to visit
- Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure in both functional and aesthetic aspects
- Encourage building design to provide doors, windows, and other elements that support non-service uses
- Continue to provide access for service vehicles
Judging Criteria
- Design innovation and quality: 40%
- Thoughtful integration of green stormwater infrastructure: 20%
- Response to culture, community, and context: 20%
- Transferability of ideas and approach to other alleys: 20%
NEWS
Seattle’s downtown retail core needs ‘new spark’ (Seattle Times)
Interesting article on the state of downtown’s retail and prospects for the future. “With the total number of places to shop in the retail core down 10 percent last year, what it now needs are property owners willing to make upgrades that attract new stores, and streets so enjoyable that people don’t mind paying to park, Joncas said in an interview this week.”
Transit security gets boost after beating in tunnel (Seattle Times)
After the shocking video tape of the beating of a 15-year-old girl, which made me feel much less safe in the tunnels, Seattle police officers are adding patrols at the five different tunnel entrances, including the Pioneer Square tunnel. You’ll see them around until a political move is made to make people not be so outraged and/or feel so unsafe.
What’s Obama got against historic preservation? (Crosscut/Mossback)
The Great Recession and federal and state budget cuts are creating hurdles for heritage advocates who see historic preservation and urban revitalization as a way out of the economic doldrums. Obama’s budget is a major setback because it slashes cherished programs.
Cantwell Plan for Small Banks and Businesses (NPR)
Senator Cantwell wants to take “rescue funds that have been repaid by big banks and dedicat[e] them to community banks that focus on local employers.”
Smoking Banned in City Parks (PubliCola)
“Against the recommendation of the city’s parks board, city Parks superintendent Tim Gallagher issued a new rule that bans smoking, chewing tobacco, and any other tobacco use in all city parks.” (sigh) Just another thing that won’t be enforced and criminalizes behavior.
BLOGS
DELI unveils B:Scott, a pop up store (Facebook)
On Saturday, 2/20, Deli unveiled the opening of a 3 month installation inside of their “growing store.” DELI is hosting the entire official collection of former B:Son designer Brandon Scott’s anticipated label B:Scott.
Sneak peek aboard West Seattle’s new Water Taxi, the Rachel Marie (West Seattle Blog)
New water taxi service starting April 5, which will run from West Seattle to Downtown Seattle (it will arrive at Pier 50 — Pioneer Square’s waterfront).
SIFE Club seeks SU mission through education in entrepreneurship (Spectator Blog)
Students from Seattle U’s SIFE club came to the Union Gospel Mission last Friday to teach them interview tactics, give advice for finding jobs, and to hand out donated professional clothing. This is precisely what we need people to come to Pioneer Square to do — teach skills for the homeless in our city to find jobs and help themselves (as opposed to the ones who come to our neighborhood to hand out food and typically leave a mess in their wake).
Art show inspired by ‘accidents’ (My Ballard)
“Essential Gestures,” is a new exhibition on view now at CoCa Ballard Gallery (6413 Seaview Ave NW) until March 7. For more information, visit CocaSeattle.org. Vrijmoet also welcomes visitors at her studio in Pioneer Square at 306 S Washington St., located in the TK Building.
Seattle City Council – 2010 City Priorities (Seattle Community Council Federation)
Seattle City Council is meeting today at 2pm in Council Chambers (2nd floor City Hall) and has invited the public to join their announcement of what the council feels Seattle’s set of priorities should be for moving forward. Public comments will be taken on all items. John Barber of the Parks Board encourages questions that they should address, such as “What are the measures of livable, sustainable communities?”
BIG Chess being played in Occidental Park (twitpic)
Thanks @icelandia!
EVENTS
You can always see upcoming events on the calendar here.
As a reminder, the last meeting to add input on what the city should look for in a new police chief is this Friday. (here’s the post talking about it)
Sounds like a big job, I know, but someone’s gotta do it.
The City of Seattle is reaching out to anyone who wants to add input on what qualities the next Police Chief should have. It’s tempting to let other people do the job, but if you have an opinion, speak out. Otherwise, it’s the way everything else goes: the complainers are the loudest and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Or if you’re at the airport, sometimes the squeaky wheel gets escorted out of the airport (as I witnessed yesterday). I think that’s the way it should be every where else people spend time complaining (like Pioneer Square public safety meetings).
But I digress.
Here are the questions the Mayor’s Police Chief search committee is asking of interested citizens:
- What qualities are you looking for in a new Police Chief?
- What is the most important public safety issue in Seattle?
- What does the Seattle Police Department do well?
- What changes would you like to see?
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. ‐ 7:30 p.m., Franklin High School
3013 Mount Baker S, Seattle WA 98144
Friday, Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m. ‐ 8:30 p.m. New Holly Gathering Center,
7054 32nd Ave S , Seattle, WA 98108
On a serious note — it’s great that the city has set up meetings to get input from the community and people should really take advantage of the opportunity to answer these questions as it pertains to your neighborhood. If you think you know what the most important public safety issue is and how you’d like to see the police change what they’re doing, don’t just complain online (like in the comment section) — go and give constructive ideas at these meetings.
Your input is also welcomed at the Police Chief Search forum at www.IdeasforSeattle.org or by calling the City at 206-684-CITY (206-684-2489).
On a less serious note (and since we’re sending people to my favorite site): If you’re interested in reading some outrageous comments by ignorant people who “know” why Pioneer Square has problems, you’ll definitely enjoy this link. And how could you not be interested in that? People are even using words like “yuppie” and “flocking” and “gastronomic.”
NEWS
Coffees for causes: Caffe Umbria launches blend for Haiti; Vashon Island Roasterie offers $375-a-pound Wet Whisker (Seattle Times) – Caffe Umbria selling a limited-run blend for Haiti. You can stop in their Pioneer Square store, or purchase the Haiti Hope Blend online.
SPD Crime Reports: Robberies, gaybashing and ‘the Taliban’ (SU Spectator) – Man was approached outside of the Cowgirls Club and asked if he wanted to buy some weed — he wanted to, so he got in their car to go and get it. Surprise, surprise — they drove to a random spot, and robbed him at gunpoint, leaving him there.
Is Tim Burgess ‘Satan’? (Crosscut) – Although the title’s a little dramatic, this article goes into some detail about Burgess’ approach to public safety, and references it as “quality of life,” which is supposed to sound better than “homelessness” or “panhandling.”
Bike Plan Money Falling 70 Percent Short of Goal (Publicola) – Not directly P2, but does affect our neighborhood (we have a lot of bikers that go through Pioneer Square to get to South and West Seattle.
Investigators: More Metro Tunnel security problems exposed (King5) – I know that I definitely feel less safe after the video showing the attack on a teenage girl was released. I always assumed that the “security officers” down in the tunnel were there to protect people down in the tunnel (and not just stop them from running across to the other side). While Seattle has made national news with this, hopefully it will lead to some positive changes in our metro security system.
Seattle Underground History Tour (Associated Content) – an overview of the “Hilarious Historical tour Beneath Seattle’s Sidewalks.”
BLOGS
Grocery Outlet to Open on Fourth Ave. South (Voracious – Seattle Weekly) – Great! If only it were opening in Pioneer Square, or at least closer than Uwajimaya. Although, I hear it’s only supposed to be a discount grocery outlet.
Are Cream Cheese Hot Dogs Really a Seattle Thing? (Voracious – Seattle Weekly)
Grandmaster Flash and ATB rock Pioneer Square (After Dark – Seattle PI) – A review of Grandmaster Flash at the Heaven Nightclub in Pioneer Square and of ATB at the Last Supper Club.
Queen Anne ranks one of Seattle’s most walkable neighborhoods! (Queen Anne View) – Pioneer Square is included in the top five high ranking neighborhoods in Seattle.
Become a fan of Pioneer Square on Facebook! (Facebook)
Free Museum Weekends for BofA cardholders (Seattle Metblog)
It is tough to dispute the fact that the North Lot development will be a great thing for Pioneer Square — most revitalization conversations include statements like “…when the North Lot is finally built” and “just wait until we get the North Lot, then things will be better.” Well, the North Lot has taken another step towards someday being built. A new 15-year Master Use Permit (MUP) was just published for the North Lot this week. Under the new MUP, the North Lot will include:
One residential building (668 units) distributed among three towers (10, 20 and 25-stories)
Ground level retail (21,784 sq. ft.)
399 above grade parking stalls (which will be hidden)
One, 20-story 424,061 sq. ft. office building
ground level retail (11,762 sq. ft.)
502 above grade parking stalls (491 stalls are replacement parking for Qwest Field)
Although construction may still be far away because of lending problems and the state of the economy, there’s another main concern surrounding the development when it comes to Pioneer Square. With just under 1,000 condos + apartments in our neighborhood, almost 70 percent are already dedicated to low-income housing. (link)
The requirement for Daniels Development Co to add affordable housing is a condition from the county as part of the purchase and sale agreement. As it stands, DDC needs to build 100 affordable units. The question right now is whether or not those units are incorporated into the North Lot or are put in the International District. And just to be clear: ID wants them.
“They have tried for years to get affordable housing,” Kevin Daniels said. “They want them.”
International District has been interested in working with DDC to get more development in their neighborhood. If the county continues on their current path, however, they may be required to incorporate them into the North Lot. As part of the Revitalization Committee, one of the comments by Donovan Rypkema is that Pioneer Square needs a lot more market rate housing, and definitely not more affordable housing.
According to Kevin Daniels, the reason that this requirement has been put into place is because a long time ago, Ron Sims looked at our neighborhood and said “we need housing down there and we’re going to get 100 affordable housing units.” In the meantime, we’ve gained more than our fair share of affordable housing, not to mention human services. Some critics say that the North Lot developers are just trying to pass the buck — they get to build higher buildings and then place affordable housing in a different neighborhood. This is a situation where the city needs to take a step back, however, and look at what our neighborhood needs and what the International District is asking for.
So while (most of us) are extremely excited for the North Lot development, our neighborhood needs to send a message to the city and the county: No more affordable housing units in Pioneer Square.
To see more info on the North Lot and to see renderings of what P2 will look like, click here. *Note that the renderings and model are just to give you an idea of size — the design has not yet been completed so we won’t know what they will actually look like until much further down the road.
NEWS
Tunnel will include two massive ventilation buildings (PubliCola)
Discusses the ventilation buildings that were “barely mentioned” at last week’s meeting and how negative the impact of two empty buildings on the street will be. Apparently this will include making it “as transparent as possible, to allow people to watch the fans to work.” What a great fit for our historic neighborhood.
Sex in our City: 13 ways to lift your love life (Seattle PI)
Just in time for Valentine’s day, 13 tips to help your love life. #1 on the list is a photographer located in Pioneer Square — and “the best place to get sexy photos taken.”
Such Promise but no Vision (Times Union)
A look at the Underground Tour and the revenues brought in by tourists to historic sites and cultural attractions. Apparently they stay longer and spend more money than other types of tourists. Stay tuned for Pioneer Square’s new “Trail to Treasure.”
Seattle private-sale site Zulily jumps on new trend in online commerce (Seattle Times)
Woo hoo! We’re getting a new office tenant in the quilt building!
A Seattle book event you won’t want to miss (Seattle PI)
Whoops — you already did. But just a reminder — February is the last month to see authors at Elliott Bay before they move to CH in March.
Closing down the Streets (Publicola)
#4. Sally Clark talking about closing down a portion of E. Pike Thursday – Saturday nights, making it pedestrian only. “The idea is also possible along 1st Ave in Pioneer Square between Yesler and S. King St, home to the new J&M Cafe, The Central and The New Orleans.”
Nonprofit organizations thrive through local vintage shops (Seattle U Spectator)
P2’s new “Karen’s Vintage Couture” — a store that hopes to give back to the community by using “a creative approach.”
BLOGS
Welcome to the Hill: Thief busts into newly moved-in video store (CHS Blog)
Third Man Video, formerly known as Pioneer Square, has been properly welcomed into Capitol Hill.
City Wants to Ban Malt Liquor Sales Downtown (Blogtown Portland)
Downtown Portland, that is. A liquor store owner shares his experience with Seattle instituting a similar ban: “It was an innovative piece of public policy that has unfortunately been undermined by a citywide system of buses and sidewalks. Resourceful drunks have migrated out of Pioneer Square and up to Capitol Hill, where they can get just as bombed on Night Train Express as they did a half-mile away.”
I’m glad to see that Cap Hill is welcoming so many things from Pioneer Square, and not just Elliott Bay Book Co. (and what’s the fun without some friendly banter between neighborhoods, right?)
Best Bike Routes in Seattle : Pioneer Square to Eliot Bay Marina (blog)
It’s true — biking or running — Pioneer Square is a great place to start or end. With such a nice connection to the water, I often wish there were a runners club in Pioneer Square — I know I would join.