February News + Updates
Celebrating the month of love in Pioneer Square
This Month in
Pioneer Square
Press
Highlights
  • Celebrate Valentine's day and the month of love in Pioneer Square


  • Beyoncé is coming to Seattle!


  • Meet Terrilyn Johnson, Co-owner of Beneath the Streets Underground History tours and Pioneer Square's latest gift shop

  • And More!
Happening this Valentine's
in Pioneer Square
February is the month of love and Pioneer Square is the place to celebrate with that special person, loved one, friend or to show yourself some love! Join us for day parties, comedy shows, night markets, card making classes and more, all happening during valentine's day and throughout the entire month.
Checkout the following Pioneer Square businesses to add to your Valentine's Day plans:

Free Roses and Candy
in Occidental Square

Join us in Occidental Square for a Valentines Day pop-up event on February 14th hosted by the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), complete with free roses, sweetheart candy and a giant "love seat" ice sculpture.
Looking for more to do? Browse our calendar of events for more entertainment and events in the neighborhood in February.
Beyoncé Coming to Seattle!!!
Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour is coming to Lumen Field on September 13th!

Register for presale here to get early access tickets. Registration is open through Thursday, February 9 at 8:59pm.
Be a Trails & Rails Amtrak Interpretive Guide with the Klondike National Park
Do you have a love of history? Would you like to share the history and beauty of the Pacific Northwest with visitors from all over the world? Interested in working with a vibrant team of professionals? The Trails & Rails (T&R) program of thee Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park needs you!

Trails & Rails volunteers provide interpretive narrations on board Amtrak’s Coast Starlight between Seattle and Portland. The season runs seven days a week from the last weekend in April until the last Sunday in September.

Apply online here or email your name, address, and phone number to info@seattleguides.org. Attend an informational session on Saturday, February 11th at 1PM at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to learn more.
T-Mobile Park to host
2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic
Seattle has been selected to host the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park. The Seattle Kraken, who are hosting the Vegas Golden Knights, will play on Monday, January 1, 2024.

The game will be the first outdoor contest for the Kraken who began play during the 2021-22 season. Sign up for 2024 NHL Winter Classic updates here.
Seattle Sea Dragons
Return to Lumen Field

Seattle's XFL team the Seattle Sea Dragons returns to Lumen Field this month. The League's season kicks off on February 18, 2023 and The Sea Dragons will play the D.C. Defenders on Sunday February 19th. Click here for the full 2023 season schedule.
Pioneer Square's
First Thursday Art Walk
Join Seattle’s Original First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. The art walk is FREE & self-guided, every First Thursday of the month and parking is free from 5pm to 10pm!

Check out www.FirstThursdaySeattle.com to learn more about the event and how to obtain free parking during Art Walk.
Save with Veo BikeShare

Save $5 with code PIONEERSQ on First Thursday Artwalk with Veo, one of Seattle's new bikeshare providers.

Learn more about their class II e-bikes in Seattle here.
For Neighborhood Businesses

The Alliance is sharing information regarding foot traffic coming and going from the south end of the district from February though April. To better inform business operations on game and event days, follow this link to the Lumen Field and Event CenterWAMU Theater and T-Mobile Park event calendar.
Local Business Owner Spotlight:
Terrilyn Johnson, Co-owner,
Beneath the Streets Underground History tours
Terrilyn Johnson is one of the co-owners and chief employee wrangler at Beneath the Streets Underground History tours. The tour company has been in the neighborhood for 10 years and recently celebrated the opening of a gift shop at 301 Occidental Ave S. The gift shop features an array of treasures from many companies and is open daily from 10:30am.
Congratulations on your most recent venture! Tell us everything we need to know about the new shop.
 
Thanks! We already have a small gift shop at the beginning of our tour and really wanted one at the end of our tour. We were so happy when this beautiful space came up that we had to say yes! We are very cognizant of the fact that we are in the heart of the gallery district ( home of the country's first Art Walk), are a part of the revitalization of Pioneer Square and we all love the history of Seattle. 

We want this gift shop to be for everyone- the guests that take our tour, the guests who don't and the locals who live and/or work here. We want to showcase local products, feature other small businesses and have a great selection of cards, apparel, tableware, art, giftwrap ( for those gifts you may be buying) and yes, magnets and postcards too!

Take us through the journey of Beneath the Streets from its very early days in Pioneer Square. 

Beneath the Streets opened its doors almost a decade ago in 2013. Our aim was to provide small group tours with an emphasis on our neighborhoods history coupled with a little bit of humor. We also wanted to give our guides autonomy in content with each person crafting their own tour.

This makes for very engaging tours run by a talented team of smart folks who love to learn and love to share history. A majority of our team has been giving tours for over 15 years! 

Talk a little about your team and what you all love most about the neighborhood. 

We have 5 owners in total and an amazing team of gift shop staff, guides and ticket sellers.  For me, the heart and soul of Pioneer Square- of Seattle is what I love most. There is a beauty here that is not just seen but felt. Yes, the architecture is stunning and something I totally love but, walking the streets here you can see all walks of life, hopes and dreams both lost and realized. 

You feel the humanity and see it everywhere you look-if you chose to look. Yes there is heartbreak and loss, but there is also success and love. It is in the past and the present and the longer I am here, the more it becomes a part of me. Pioneer Square is like a person to me, full, lovely, flawed, beautiful, storied and important.  
How would you describe your business and what do you think makes it unique?

If we are talking specifically about the new gift shop at 301 Occidental, I would say it is unique in that there really is something for everyone here. We have nice journals, pens, cards, jewelry, t-shirts, beanies, scarves, magnets, postcards, shoulder bags, wallets, mugs, tea pots, kitchen things....oh my, so much! 

Most of our items are from other small and local businesses. We are one small business supporting other small businesses.

What are some of the hopes you have for the store in its 1st year of business in the neighborhood?

We want people to come visit! Locals! Tour guests! out of towners! One of our goals is to change up our windows and products periodically so there is always something new happening.

We want people to know we are a shop that can get you ready for that birthday you are heading to or help you buying the perfect gift for your pet-setter!  We want to be a strong presence in this beautiful neighborhood!

Any specifics to highlight (upcoming events, promotions, new items in stock etc.)?

We have started to and will continue to, participate in the Art Walk! This month we will have our own Tobias Morris Ward displaying this work and our own Mike Daugherty and his trio playing live music! Mike and his band have signed on to do the next several Art Walks!  
Request of Proposals: Washington Street Boat Landing Retail and Food Vending Opportunity
The City of SeattleAlliance for Pioneer Square and Friends of Waterfront Seattle are seeking a retail/Food and Beverage (F&B) tenant for the historic and newly restored Washington Street Boat Landing. Located at the south end of the new Central Waterfront, adjacent to Habitat Beach (opening summer, 2023), just south of Colman Dock, on the route to Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park and at the west boundary of Pioneer Square, the boat landing is an iconic structure that will benefit as a retail/F&B venue from high levels of foot traffic year-round.

The Boat Landing has been identified as a small business incubation. The site has scale and amenity limitations and should provide an adjunct or complementary retail/F&B use to an existing neighborhood business. The tenant will steward the historic space, and its outdoor grounds, and may oversee ancillary uses (such as pop-ups, non-competing food carts, art showcases or entertainment.) The Boat Landing contains approximately 350 SF of interior space and 850 SF of covered exterior space.

For more information and application instruction, please visit here. Submissions are due March 7, 2023.
Save the Date:
Alliance Spring Networking Event
Mark your calendars! The Alliance for Pioneer Square invites community members to our Spring networking event on Thursday, March 9th from 4-6p.

Anyone who owns property, a business or works in Pioneer Square is welcome to join.

Additional information regarding the event location and how to RSVP will be communicated to neighborhood stakeholders in the coming weeks.
Pioneer Square Social Media
Takeover Program
Each Friday, we give neighborhood businesses and organizations the opportunity to share a series of photo and video content to the Alliance for Pioneer Square’s social media channels via stories, feed posts and live video updates, for the entire day.

Fill out the Google Form to get started with the process or email our Marketing Manager, Thembela Mavuso at thembela@pioneersquare.org if you have any questions.
Partner Efforts
King County Regional Homelessness Authority Announces Five Year Plan Survey and Lunch + Listen Sessions
Seattle Transportation Plan (STP) Community Outreach
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA)'s draft 5-Year Action Plan is their community’s path forward for measurable, accountable success in dramatically reducing homelessness. It is an evidence-based course of action for policymakers, a shared roadmap for advocates and service providers, a tool to hold our response system accountable and a signal that progress is possible.

The KCRHA invites you to review and comment on the draft 5 Year Plan. To do so, the KCRHA has provided the following resources:


Comments and feedback will be collected and shared with the KCRHA Implementation Board and Governing Committee.
The Seattle Department of Transportation SDOT has launched the second phase of outreach on the Seattle Transportation Plan (STP).

They've heard your vision for the future of transportation. Now they need your help to turn those ideas into actions! The STP is SDOT's commitment to building a transportation system that provides everyone with access to safe, efficient and affordable options to reach places and opportunities. 

SDOT need your help to create this plan. Visit this interactive map to share your thoughts on Seattle's streets, sidewalks and shared spaces. Share your feedback here by February 21, 2023.
Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan
Seattle is updating its plan for growth and change over the next 20 years and the City needs your feedback to help guide how it will invest in our communities to shape the city’s future. The City of Seattle needs your input to create a plan that will make Seattle a more affordable and equitable place to live, work and visit.

About once a decade, the City updates its Comprehensive Plan, the guide for where they want to encourage new housing and jobs and they will invest to support quality of life in our community. The City is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement for the One Seattle Plan that will shape the city over the next 20 years. The plan will include policy guidance informing how the City responds to climate change, supports cultural and artistic expression, advances environmental justice and invests in equitable outcomes for communities of color.

Residents are encouraged to share their opinions by sending a comment via email to OneSeattleCompPlan@seattle.gov and sign up on the City's website for newsletter updates.

Learn more about the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and how to engage further here.
Neighborhood Construction Updates
Waterfront Seattle Construction Ongoing on New Alaskan Way

Waterfront Seattle continues building the new Alaskan Way. Assembly of the falsework to support the new Marion St Bridge has begun over Alaskan Way. This temporary support structure will allow for work to continue on the bridge spans that will connect pedestrians between 1st Ave and the new ferry terminal at Colman Dock.

The temporary bridge-like structure over Alaskan Way at Marion St. is anticipated to remain in place into spring 2023 while the new pedestrian bridge over the roadway is built. Another nighttime closure will be required to remove the falsework once it’s no longer needed.

Head to Waterfront Seattle's website for more information and to sign up for weekly construction email updates. Text "WFSCN" to 474747 to receive text updates. You may also contact Waterfront Seattle via email or by phone at (206) 499-8040.
Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program’s
New Connection on Railroad Way Underway

Work is underway on the final project of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, which will turn Railroad Way into a pedestrian-oriented plaza and make other significant improvements near the south end of the State Route 99 Tunnel.
A closure of S Charles St. began on January 9 and will last up to 45 days. S Charles St. will be closed between 1st Ave S. and Occidental Ave S while crews install decorative pavers and complete finishing details.
 
Construction is expected to be complete by by summer 2023. Visit the project website for details or contact the project at viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov.
Pioneer Square
Areaways Program

SDOT has completed safety inspections of the Pioneer Square areaways. Curb lane restrictions will remain in place while SDOT continues to monitor, evaluate and strengthen the areaway street walls throughout Pioneer Square. 

For more information, please visit the SDOT Areaways webpage or contact the SDOT Areaways team at areaways@seattle.gov or 206-684-3760. You can also stay up to date with the latest project information by signing up to join the project email list.
Metropole Building Construction Updates

In 2019, Satterberg Foundation, a Seattle-based family foundation, purchased the historic Metropole Building, located at 423 2nd Ave Extension S. The primary motivation of this purchase was to provide centrally located, long-term office space for non-profit organizations committed to serving communities of color in response to social and environmental needs and challenges.

Crews began demolition on the project in late April with an anticipated opening date in January 2024. WG Clark is serving as the General Contractor and BuildingWork is the architect. The re-design and renovation of the building has been curated with the careful consideration of the current and future needs of the community and will adhere to the highest sustainability standards including LEED Platinum Certification and compliance with the Seattle 2030 District Goals. The Metropole Building will feature a childcare center, traditional lease office spaces, an event center with meeting breakout rooms and a large boardroom, ground floor art exhibit space and a rooftop meeting deck. Tenants will have access to amenities such as communal break rooms, complimentary meeting space, storage space and a nursing room.

During the construction phase, the Metropole is seeking tenants to rent space in the office suites and a tenant for the ground floor art gallery/office space. Tenant applications are currently being accepted. For more information about the Metropole, please visit here or reach out to Kendra Walker, Community Steward/Building Manager, at metropolebuilding@satterberg.org.
Visit The Alliance for Pioneer Square’s website for an interactive project map and up to date information on of current and future public realm projects.
Business News and Updates
Resources for Pioneer Square Small Business

The Alliance for Pioneer Square has compiled a series of resources and information intended to assist neighborhood small business owners, managers and employees. The Alliance is committed to supporting Pioneer Square through the pandemic recovery period and beyond:





Stay Engaged!
Find us on Facebook

Are you a resident or business owner in the neighborhood? The Alliance for Pioneer Square Facebook page communicates resident and business owner specific news/information to compliment our more general Pioneer Square Facebook page.

Pioneer Square Business Owners and Managers Facebook page: The Pioneer Square Business Owners & Managers Facebook group is a private platform providing business owners and managers in the neighborhood the opportunity to connect, ask questions and share support among one another while collectively navigating the current health crisis and resulting economic challenges. Request to join the group here.

Want to feature in future newsletters? Promote you event, business and specials/deals with us by emailing them to info@pioneersquare.org. Be sure to attach an image or graphic along with your promo details.
Please consider a gift to the Alliance for Pioneer Square and help us to ensure Pioneer Square remains a strong, vibrant neighborhood. We cannot do it without you.
Alliance For Pioneer Square | 206.667.0687