Neighborhood Business Updates |
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Pioneer Square continues to experience the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Despite many businesses remaining temporarily closed, new retailers are joining our community while familiar faces are relocating to new locations in the neighborhood.
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Radmor Golf at 607 1st Avenue, open 11-5pm Mon-Fri
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Saké Nomi moves to 106 Cherry Street (mezzanine of Cherry Street Coffee House), open 12-6pm Tues-Sat
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Arundel Books moves to 322 1st Ave S, open 12-6pm Mon-Sun
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Passport to Pioneer Square |
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Where will your Passport to Pioneer Square take you? The Passport to Pioneer Square is a celebration of shopping and dining in Pioneer Square. Pick up your Passport and stamps, complete a Passport Challenge, and get rewarded for shopping in Pioneer Square. Prizes include restaurant gift cards, cooking classes, private tours and more. Find out what the current Passport to Pioneer Square challenge is below and start collecting your stamps!
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Support Local Pioneer Square Marketplace |
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The Alliance for Pioneer Square, in collaboration with DEI Creative, launched an online marketplace as a tool for businesses to generate revenue through online sales during the Coronavirus pandemic.
On the Pioneer Square Marketplace site, shoppers can view curated selections of products and purchase directly from Pioneer Square boutique retailers, restaurants, bars, art galleries, salons and more. Businesses can also feature gift cards for purchase. The site includes a restaurant directory takeout/delivery function that links customers directly to Pioneer Square restaurants for easy ordering of takeout or delivery. The takeout section is a convenient way to help customers order food and support their favorite local restaurants through one online location.
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Stories From The Square:
Pioneer Square Then and Now
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Our neighborhood's rich story includes a collage of historic buildings and some of the city's oldest architectural features. We are excited to introduce a new series highlighting the past and present of Pioneer Square's most iconic buildings. Each week, we will feature one neighborhood building and tell the stories of the space.
We start by looking at the J&M Hotel building at 201 1st Ave S. in Pioneer Square. Visit our website to discover more.
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Looking For Something To Do? |
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There is still plenty to see and do safely in Pioneer Square all month long, while practicing social distancing.
You can find a variety of these on our website to help you stay entertained, including virtual online events and in person by-appointment only exhibitions. Browse our calendar of March events for some COVID-safe entertainment and online events in the neighborhood.
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Please enjoy 10% off your next order online or in store, just use code PSFRIENDS online or mention it in the store at checkout.
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15% off at Rudy’s Color Bar on 1st and Yesler, on any cut, style or color. The discount may also be applied on products purchased instore. Neighborhood discount only open to Pioneer Square residents
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Enjoy a 10% "case" discount on orders of 6 or more bottles at Saké Nomi. Discount applied at checkout.
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Pioneer Square businesses currently offering neighborhood specific promotions and deals are invited to email them to Chris Woodward at chris@pioneersquare.org.
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Tips For Pioneer Square Residents |
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Our neighborhood, and city at large, is a dynamic one and the Alliance understands how challenging it can be to keep track of it all. This is why we have put together a list of tips and information to help Pioneer Square residents navigate changes and updates affecting the neighborhood and our Seattle community.
Learn more about how to stay engaged with neighborhood updates, support Pioneer Square businesses, keep our neighborhood looking clean, and more below.
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Klondike Gold Rush Visitor Center Now Open |
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Seattle's Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has restored limited access to the Klondike Gold Rush Visitor Center.
This museum explores the story of the late 1890's stampede to the Yukon goldfields, Seattle's crucial role in this event, and the era's long-lasting impacts on the Pacific Northwest. Admission is FREE and operating hours are Friday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park website for more information.
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Monthly Staff Feature:
Lisa Howard, Alliance For Pioneer Square Executive Director
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In January, our fearless leader, Alliance for Pioneer Square Executive Director Lisa Howard returned from maternity leave after welcoming the newest addition to her growing family. With a few weeks back at the helm, Lisa reflects on 2020, shares with us her hopes for the neighborhood in 2021, and what her thoughts are on economic recovery for Pioneer Square.
In her role as Executive Director of the Alliance, Lisa uses her strong relationships with city leaders and key organizations to advocate for the neighborhood and the issues that impact Pioneer Square at the city, county, and state levels.
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March First Thursday Art Walk Update + Make It an Art Day |
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On Monday, February 1st, Governor Inslee announced the Puget Sound region, including King County, will be moving to Phase 2 per the updated Roadmap to Recovery. In light of restrictions on retail businesses imposed by Governor Inslee, many Pioneer Square galleries are open to the public and/or offering by-appointment only visits, along with robust virtual exhibitions. Traditional First Thursday Art Walk events, such as artist receptions, are suspended for the time being due to public health guidance pertaining to large gatherings. Accordingly, March First Thursday will be promoted as a virtual-only event based on the Center for Disease Control's considerations for events and gatherings. Additionally, the First Thursday Free Parking program will not be in effect on Thursday, March 4th.
Make It an Art Day
Make It an Art Day is a promotional campaign and recurring series intended to:
- Invite the Seattle community to visit Pioneer Square, view works on display at neighborhood galleries, and patronize neighborhood businesses while in the area.
- Build upon the success and visibility of the First Thursday Art Walk and promote viewing art throughout the month as opposed to the first Thursday of the month.
- Promote exhibitions and show wonderful works of art on each Saturday of the week until First Thursday Art Walk can resume.
Showcase Artwork on Make it an Art Day
Submit an image of works currently on display and get featured on the Make It an Art Day Facebook event page!
Galleries who submit an image, along with the artist name/work title/medium/sizing, will be featured on the Facebook event cover image, posts made on the Pioneer Square social media pages, and an image slider on the Pioneer Square website.
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The next Pioneer Square COVID-19 Information and Updates will take place on Friday, March 19th from 1:30-2:30p on Zoom.
This month we will hear from guests from Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation. As part of the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project, Sound Transit is planning a new Link light rail station that will connect Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District to more destinations throughout the city and region. Join us for an update on the project, timeline and alternatives being studied. The briefing will also include an overview of Sound Transit’s program realignment process, an effort being undertaken by the Sound Transit Board of Directors to determine how plans and timelines for voter-approved projects throughout the region will need to change to address these financial pressures. RSVP here. Find previous meeting slides and webinar recordings here.
When: Friday, March 19th from 1:30-2:30p
Where: Zoom Video Conference
(note, the meeting link will be sent out to those who RSVP on the morning of Friday, March 19th.)
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DESC's Non-violent Intervention and
De-escalation Training
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Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) is offering a virtual non-violent Intervention and de-escalation training to staff and member organizations of the Alliance for Pioneer Square. The training will be held on March 30, 2021 from 9:00am-12:30pm via Zoom.
This is a 3.5-hour training focused on person-centered de-escalation. Learn to better identify levels of crisis and appropriate approaches to engage with people in challenging circumstances. While we cannot always prevent a crisis from occurring, we can learn to better support people through the cycle of behaviors and emotions that arise. The course will aim to provide a shared language and de-escalation tactics to maintain safety and humanity for all involved. RSVP here.
Please note this training is open to Pioneer Square business employees and residents only.
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES |
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The Alliance for Pioneer Square has several technical assistance resources available to Pioneer Square businesses. In 2020, the Alliance partnered with Grow with Google and Merchant Method to produce two series of technical assistance workshops to assist businesses. Visit our website to to view four workshops hosted by Merchant Method and a three-part webinar series with Google.
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Public Realm Clean Up Survey |
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The Alliance for Pioneer Square coordinates the yearly volunteer clean up event in the neighborhood known as the Annual Spring Clean. In lieu of holding a volunteer day to clean up the neighborhood this spring, the Alliance will be working with partners and hiring vendors to provide supplemental cleaning to the neighborhood.
Please complete this 3 minute survey to tell us which supplemental cleaning activities to prioritize. The top ranked cleaning activities will be prioritized in our Public Realm work this spring. We look forward to working with volunteers at future Spring Clean Events once the COVID-19 pandemic has ended and it's safe to gather in person again.
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Public Space Information And Resources |
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New to the the Alliance for Pioneer Square website this month are several resources to assist business and property owners in the neighborhood manage and sustain public areas that directly impact their establishments. These include waste disposal and recycling options available to businesses in Pioneer Square, public space tools and information from the City of Seattle and as well as public space reporting.
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Lumen Field Event Center to Serve as Mass Vaccination Site |
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First and Goal Incorporated (FGI) has partnered with the City of Seattle and Swedish to make Lumen Field Event Center (LFEC) a COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Site beginning on March 10th. The vaccine site will be opened to only those with scheduled appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
At this time, it is estimated LFEC will receive around 5,000 does per week with the potential to expand to over 100K per week. The amount of vaccines will vary weekly based upon vaccine availability and supply sent to Swedish weekly. When vaccines become more readily available, the days of operations and hours will expand. The City does not anticipate the number of vaccine doses to expand immediately, so through the month of March FGI plan to only have the site open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Parking & Traffic
Seattle Police are responsible for directing traffic during the hours of operations. Initially, they will be posted on Occidental and Royal Brougham. As the vaccine doses increase and the number of appointments become available, their presence and footprint will expand. When this occurs, FGI will prepare and notify all relevant stakeholders of the traffic impact. The Lumen Field Garage and the North Lot will be available for free parking to individuals with appointments.
Public Transit
Expect to see increase use of public transportation throughout the immediate area to include pedestrians crossing 4th street and from the Weller Street Bridge.
Volunteers
Over 600 volunteers will be on site during the hours of operations for the vaccine site. All volunteers will be parking at T-Mobile Park Garage and will walk to LFEC via 1st street. Volunteers will be on site daily beginning on March 3rd.
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A List of City Outreach Resources on Homelessness in Seattle |
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Below is a list of city contacts for Seattle residents and businesses seeking assistance from the city, as well as a list of city services and resources for those experiencing homelessness. Being homeless is not a crime and vulnerable individuals living on our streets are deserving of empathy, care, and assistance from our city:
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Neighborhood Construction Updates |
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Waterfront Seattle Construction Ongoing on New Alaskan Way
Waterfront Seattle continues building the new Alaskan Way. Following the shift of vehicle traffic east, onto the newly rebuilt roadway between S King and Columbia streets in mid-December, construction to build the new roadway now continues on the west side of Alaskan Way. Activities include mobilizing equipment, potholing work, breaking pavement, excavation and utility installation. Work hours are Monday through Friday 7 AM to 5 PM with occasional overnight and weekend work.
Here's how you can stay up to date on Waterfront Seattle construction: 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.
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4th Ave Mobility Improvements Project |
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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) 4th Ave Mobility Improvements Project will extend the two-way protected bike lane south along 4th Ave to the 2nd Ave protected bike lane (via Dilling and Yesler Way) as early as spring 2021. They are currently accepting public comment and input on this project. While the Alliance supports projects that improve mobility in Pioneer Square, we are urging the city to take a more holistic approach to planning. SDOT wants to hear from you about how you get around and what your business and building needs are as they continue the design.
We have requested that SDOT proceed with this project in coordination with the Alliance for Pioneer Square's Northeast Pioneer Square Framework Plan beginning in 2021. You can request SDOT work on this project in collaboration with neighborhood stakeholders and partners through this process in your comments. Without this coordination, there is risk to impacting parking, loading, buses, and valuable access to your businesses and properties. You can contact SDOT with comments questions at ccbike@seattle.gov or 206-771-0481.
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Pioneer Square
Areaways Program
SDOT recently implemented a strict vehicle weight limitation, increased commercial vehicle enforcement, and modified commercial vehicle load zone locations beyond the 1st Ave corridor.
Curb lane restrictions on S Jackson St are currently in place that effectively close the street to heavy vehicles between 1st Ave S and 2nd Ave S. South Main St is open to local access for deliveries (unless otherwise restricted by posted signs) following the removal of the decommissioned trolley platform near Occidental Square.
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Construction Roundup
(Note: Most construction has resumed after being paused due to COVID-19.)
Best Western Annex
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Occidental Square Park Pavilion Construction Update |
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In June of 2020, construction began on a graceful new wood and glass pavilion in Occidental Square at 117 S Washington Street in Pioneer Square. The pavilion, designed by Olson Kundig Architects, replaces the former kiosk at the south end of the square, with a larger information and concierge center for enhanced park activation. The new wood and glass pavilion is designed with a glass roof that can serve as an outdoor classroom, a stage, a dining area and most importantly a covered space for use by the public. The project construction is led by Schuchart.
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Business News and Updates |
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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.
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Highlights:
(The Stranger)
Restaurant & Retail News:
(Daily Hive)
Arts & Culture News:
(King 5)
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Find us on Facebook
Are you a resident or business owner in the neighborhood? The Alliance for Pioneer Square recently created a Facebook page. This page will communicate resident and business owner specific news/information that to compliment our more general Pioneer Square Facebook page.
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Alliance For Pioneer Square | 206.667.0687
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