December News + Updates
'Tis the season! The holiday lights are twinkling and Pioneer Square has plenty of Yuletide to bring joy to friends, family, and furry friends. Check out our holiday series below for more information on festive fun in Pioneer Square.
This Month in Pioneer Square
Press
Highlights




  • And More!
Best Shots of the Square
Want to be featured? Tag us (@pioneersquare) on your photos of the neighborhood and your picture could be chosen as the best shot of the month.
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.
Holidays in the Square
The Alliance for Pioneer Square is elated to celebrate the holiday season with the community in person this year with several events, including the 8th Annual Pioneer Square Howlidays and an outdoor market on December 4th. This year, Pioneer Square is home to a fun, lively holiday experience.
  • 8th Annual Pioneer Square Howlidays: Bring your prized pooch and the whole family down to Nord Alley for an evening of free entertainment, activities, treats, and an all day urban pop-up dog park in Occidental Square. (Pop-up dog park available Nov 27th to December 6th)
Date: Thursday, December 2nd, 4-7p
Location: Nord Alley (Between Jackson and Main; 1st Ave S and Occidental Ave)

  • Pioneer Square Holiday Market: Want unique gifts this holiday season? Pioneer Square businesses are joining forces for a one-day holiday market in Occidental Mall.
Date: Saturday, December 4th, 11a-3p
Location: Occidental Mall (Occidental Ave between Main and Jackson)

  • Maker Pop Ups in Pioneer Park: Drop into Pioneer Park for maker pop ups. 
Date: November 27th -January 1st 
Location: Pioneer Park (100 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104)
  • Coffee Break in Occidental Mall: It’s Coffee Break in Pioneer Park.Share a warm cacao tea from Intrigue Chocolate, listen to local and live music, get to know your neighbors, and learn about what’s happening in Pioneer Square.
Date: Wednesday, December 8th, 10a-12p
Location: Pioneer Park (100 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104)


  • Free Parking Saturdays: Enjoy free parking this December, with proof of purchase from a neighborhood business. Visitors simply pick up a voucher from the garage parking attendant and return it with the proof of purchase to validate their free parking.
Date: every Saturday from 11a-8p
Location: Butler Parking Garage  (114 James St)
Looking For More To Do? Browse our calendar of events for more entertainment and events in the neighborhood in November. 
Free Parking Saturdays

Parking is free at the Butler Garage (114 James St) from 11a-8p each Saturday with proof of purchase from a neighborhood business. You can also check out the mobile-friendly DowntownSeattleParking.com website for more parking locations throughout the neighborhood.
December Coat drive
Do you have clean, gently used or new coats you don't wear anymore? Would you like to support social service organizations in Pioneer Square through an online donation or gift? From Wednesday, December 1 to Tuesday, December 14, the Alliance for Pioneer Square and the Pioneer Square Residents’ Council will host a coat and supply drive benefiting the Purpose Dignity Action’s JustCare program These gifts will directly benefit the individuals who received temporary housing and services formerly living in Pioneer Park. 

All you need to do is drop off a (clean) gently used or new supplies at the following retail locations:
  • Cone & Steiner (135 . King Street, open M-F 8a-7p Sat-Sun 9a-7p)
  • Shawn O'Donnell's American Grill and Irish Pub (508 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, open every day 11a-9p)
  • Caffe Umbria (320 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, open M-Sat 7a-4p, Sunday 8a-4p)
  • If you are a Pioneer Square resident, the following residential building will have boxes located in their lobbies: Corona, Florentine, Gridiron, NOLO/Wave, Terry Denny.

Purpose Dignity Action’s JustCare team is also accepting virtual supply donations through their Amazon Wishlist. Make your purchase have a greater impact by using Amazon Smile and donating a portion to the Alliance for Pioneer Square.

If purchasing gifts or dropping off supplies is not ideal for you, consider a tax-deductible direct monetary donation to the Purpose Dignity Action’s JustCare program. Your donation will further the JustCare program’s mission to engage in outreach, service provision, and temporary housing to the unhoused individuals in Pioneer Square. 
Courtyard Marriott Hosts Toys for Tots Drive
In Partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps reserve in Fort Lewis and Toys for Tots, Courtyard Marriott Seattle-Pioneer Square is hosting a toy drive until December 13th.

Please donate new unwrapped toys at their location at 612 Second Avenue.
Pastry Project Spring 2022 Student Applications Open
Applications for the Pastry Projects Spring 2022 cohort, beginning in February, is now live! This is for anyone with barriers to opportunity that would benefit from a 14 week free baking and pastry job skills training. 

The program also offers a program stipend, transit stipends, childcare stipends, a student uniform, lunch on class days, and lots of free pastries, on top of other benefits, to help ensure students can attend the whole program and graduate so that we can help them find good jobs in the industry. 

Applications are due on Monday December 20th. Visit here to apply.
Yesler Bridge Permanent Mural Complete
Through a community-led effort, the Alliance for Pioneer Square launched a permanent mural project in October 2021. A beautiful, original work of art, titled “Duwamish,” now graces the west wall underneath the Yesler Bridge on 4th Ave.

Stephan Smith is the artist that was chosen by community members for the project. He is a member of the Quinault tribe of Washington and is an established aerosol artist who likes to paint abstract designs with textured realism. The project was completed in November 2021.

This project was made possible by funding from Historic South Downtown. 
A United Neighborhood
The Alliance is committed to upholding Pioneer Square’s economic recovery and facilitating future growth. Using Your Pioneer Square: 2025 Strategic Plan and COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan, we have a roadmap to advance district economic vitality and diversity, build upon community connection and resilience, and advocate for fixes to systemic issues the pandemic exposed. Our businesses need us, and the support of the community, now more than ever.
“The Alliance for Pioneer Square is a crucial asset to our community. Contracted by our BIA, paid for by local businesses, the staff at the Alliance work tirelessly on behalf of businesses and residents alike. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they created and distributed “re-opening kits” so that small businesses didn’t have to research and purchase the basic items necessary for customer safety. Weekly updates about the crisis during the early days helped keep everyone sort through all the information. In large part due to Alliance advocacy on this and so many other issues, Pioneer Square feels poised for recovery. We’re thankful to be in one of the few neighborhoods with such robust connections.”

Monthly Staff Feature: Sara Pizzo,
Alliance for Pioneer Square Public Realm Manager
Sara tackles projects that improves the streets, parks, and public spaces. She diligently works to enhance the streetscape, coordinate construction, and manage parking, along with anything else that is needed.

We caught up with Sara just in time for the holidays to hear more about the exciting plans for our public realm this season.
"Our Pioneer Square" Gift Card Matching Program
The holidays are quickly approaching. Treat your employees to a gift card from another neighborhood business and make your dollar go further through the "Our Pioneer Square" gift card matching program. The Alliance is matching 20% of gift cards purchased by the community at Pioneer Square businesses.

Visit here to learn how neighborhood businesses can receive a matching reimbursement of funds spent on Pioneer Square gift cards. Questions? Reach out to info@pioneersquare.org.
Commercial Tenant Improvement
Design & Permitting Workshop
Calling all prospective brick and mortar business owners!

Are you looking for the perfect commercial space to house your business? Finding the perfect space for your business can feel daunting but it doesn’t have to!

On Thursday, December 9th the Alliance for Pioneer Square will host a free public workshop from 2-4p at AXIS Pioneer Square facilitated by Atelier Drome Architecture + Interior Design titled, “Commercial Tenant Improvement Design & Permitting.”

Funding for this workshop is provided by Historic South Downtown. Learn more and register here.

(Please note, attendees will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status or a negative PCR or rapid COVID-19 test within 72 hours to gain entry. Face masks will be required at all times during the event, except while actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Parking expenses related to attending the workshop to be reimbursed)
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.
Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area 2021 Annual Meeting
Thank you for joining us at the 2021 Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area Annual Meeting where we shared with you the work done in 2021 and, presented our budget and workplan for the upcoming year. A recording of all the presentations is available here. You may also view the complete BIA 2022 Work Plan document and Budget here
Partner Efforts
Commute Seattle 2021 Transportation Transformations

Join Commute Seattle, the Seattle Department of Transportation and special guests from across the Puget Sound on December 10th, from 10-11:30a (via Zoom), for the fourth annual Transportation Transformations event and take a look back at the many transportation transformations from 2021, as well as a sneak peek of what’s to come!
  • Incorporating new technologies
  • Planning for regional growth
  • Leveraging the Link Light Rail expansion
  • How all of our work is connected
  • Adapting programming in a rapidly changing environment
Members Sought for Seattle’s Design Review Boards

The City of Seattle’s Design Review Boards are now seeking candidates for multiple upcoming board positions for terms beginning April 4, 2022. Applications are due by December 15, 2021. To be considered for appointment, please send a Design Review Board application, cover letter, and resume to Erika Ikstrums at erika.ikstrums@seattle.gov.

Applicants should have knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design and the development process.  
Neighborhood Construction Updates
Waterfront Seattle Construction Ongoing on New Alaskan Way

Waterfront Seattle continues building the new Alaskan Way. In November, Alaskan Way underwent a flurry of work and traffic shifts in preparation for opening new improvements on the waterfront. The new improvements include new sidewalks, pedestrian space, and bike facilities on the west side of the street as well as a new southbound transit lane.

Improvements continue along Alaskan Way S including curbs at S Main St, telecommunications upgrades for compatibility with 4G and 5G technology, and construction of medians and bus stop shelters. To keep things moving during construction, temporary lane closures and pedestrian detours are expected to continue. 

Head to Waterfront Seattle's website for more information and to sign up for 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 now underway on the final project of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, which will build a new Railroad Way and make other significant improvements near the south end of the State Route 99 Tunnel. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation expect to complete construction in late 2022.
Pioneer Square
Areaways Program

SDOT recently 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.  
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.

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 building will feature a childcare center, community event space, conference meeting space and private offices.

Construction plans to start in early 2022. Visit here For more information, please visit
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
COVID-19 Resources for Pioneer Square Small Business

The Alliance for Pioneer Square recognizes the public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 virus on Seattle’s small business community. We have compiled a series of resources intended to assist small business owners, managers, and employees minimize the public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 virus on themselves and their community. We will revise this and all associated pages with more information as it becomes available- please check back for updates.






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.
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