October News + Updates
Just Be Art Installation in Occidental Square.
What's Happening in Pioneer Square
this Month?
Press
Highlights
Looking For More To Do? Browse our calendar of events for more entertainment and events in the neighborhood in October. 
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. Here you’ll find the largest concentration of art galleries in the city. The art walk is FREE & self-guided, every First Thursday of the month from 5-9pm. (** Gallery reception and exhibit times may vary. Please check individual venues for exact hours**)

During FIRST THURSDAY in Pioneer Square 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. 

Please note, due to a Seahawks home game coinciding with the October First Thursday Art Walk on Thursday, October 7th, the Butler Garage will be the only available garage for the First Thursday Free Parking program. This means that the 450 Alaskan and the Frye garage will not be offering free parking the day. Find More information here.
For Neighborhood Galleries

First Thursday in October coincides with the Seahawks vs Rams home game at Lumen Field. We are seeking information on your gallery's plans to celebrate October First Thursday Art Walk.

Please take a moment to complete this survey on your gallery's plans to celebrate October First Thursday Art Walk. This survey will help the Alliance for Pioneer Square understand how to best promote the October First Thursday Art Walk.
Welcome to Fall in Pioneer Square
The London Plane’s Pumpkin Patch
London Plane's second annual pop-up pumpkin patch will be held on October 9th from 10am to 4pm.

Usher in the crisp fall days and keep warm with spiced cider and freshly made donuts. The bakery will also feature fall treats and pastries.

Pretty and joyful and fun for kids and grown-ups alike.
Coffee Break in Occidental Square
Join us for our next Coffee Break event on October 13th from 10a-12p for some live music and coffee from Zeitgeist .

Visit us under the pavilion in Occidental Square for a coffee break every second Wednesday of the month from 10a-12p. Share warm beverages from local vendors, listen to local and live music, get to know your neighbors, and learn about what’s happening in Pioneer Square.

This will be a fun late morning get together to mingle with friends new and old, enjoy delicious drinks, and reconnect with one of the greatest neighborhoods in Seattle. Take a moment from your day to step outside and get to know your Pioneer Square.

Save the date, rain or shine. It’s Coffee Break in Occidental Square time
Welcome Back Bash With Cellist Nathan Chan
Join the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Music Director Geoffrey Larson, and cellist Nathan Chan for an evening of live music, refreshments, and visual art in Pioneer Square on Wednesday, October 6th at AXIS Pioneer Square, (308 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104).

This casual event features a rich musical variety of heart-pounding rhythm, including Dmitri Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, Siamak Aghei and Colin Jacobsen’s Ascending Bird, and Michael Atkinson’s re-imagination of Sufjan Stevens’ eclectic Enjoy Your Rabbit. 
The Ultimate Pre Game at the Perch
Tailgate ahead of Seahawks home games this month with the Ultimate Tailgate Party at Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square on October 7th, 25th and 31st. Enjoy live music an all you can eat tailgate menu and fantastic selection of drinks before the big game.
Free Parking Saturdays
Driving to Pioneer Square? 

The Alliance is coordinating with the Butler Garage on 114 James Street, to provide free parking on Saturdays throughout the year. Park for free every Saturday with a dated proof of purchase from a Pioneer Square business.

Free parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis from 11am to 8pm each Saturday in 2021.
You can also check out the mobile-friendly DowntownSeattleParking.com website for more parking locations throughout the neighborhood. 
Events on the Waterfront
Enjoy fun events & programs at Pier 62 this fall! 

From free yoga sessions, local food trucks and music, free fitness and workout programs and more, there is something for the whole family.
Supporting Seattle’s Original Neighborhood
The Alliance for Pioneer Square works to preserve what makes Pioneer Square the most authentic, engaging, and dynamic neighborhood in Seattle.


The Alliance is committed to upholding Pioneer Square’s economic recovery and facilitating future growth. We are dedicated to implementing programs that spur the neighborhood through the COVID-19 pandemic into a future abundant with public and private investments.

We are not backing down from this once-in-a-lifetime challenge. 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.

We connect and steward Pioneer Square. We are dedicated to implementing programs to sustain the neighborhood economy, communities, culture and public spaces through the pandemic and ongoing recovery. In the past 12 months, we immediately adapted and successfully integrated the following into our efforts to serve our community:
  • Created a Broken Window and Façade Improvement Fund and allocated $45,000 for direct financial assistance to replace broken windows, repair façade elements, and repaint surfaces.
  • Allocated funds to property owners through the Alley Lighting Matching Fund to leverage their investment for eight alley lighting improvement projects.
  • Initiated the Northeast Pioneer Square Framework planning process rooted in collaborative partnerships to develop a shared long-term vision for Northeast Pioneer Square.
  • Coordinated a 1st Ave S Median Clean Up volunteer day to spruce up a six-block stretch of 1st Ave S. in partnership with SDOT Urban Forestry, advancing the City of Seattle’s Clean Cities initiative.
  •  Facilitated City of Seattle Candidate Forums to inform neighborhood stakeholders on City Attorney, City Council, and Mayoral candidates’ proposed policies and governance vision.
  • Hosted several events and activations in public spaces in tandem with the City’s broader downtown recovery efforts with the goal to bring back works and visitors to Pioneer Square.
  • Launched the Passport to Pioneer Square program to drive region-wide foot traffic through month-long activities championing neighborhood businesses and experiences.
  • Released the 2021-2022 Neighborhood Map and Guide featuring stunning photography and illustrations of iconic neighborhood sights to assist visitors navigate Pioneer Square.
  • Executed a six-month public relations campaign to drive positive neighborhood press resulting in high profile features in the Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Magazine, and Seattle Met.

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.
1st Avenue Medians Clean-Up Event:
THANK YOU Volunteers
On September 18th, 30 volunteers, Alliance for Pioneer Square staff and a work crew from SDOT Urban Forestry participated in a neighborhood clean up event on the First Avenue South medians. Volunteers worked all morning and into the afternoon to improve landscaping in the medians. The group successfully cleared 4 truckloads of debris, put down 34 cubic yards of mulch, and planted approximately 1,600 daffodil bulbs.
A big THANK YOU to all the neighborhood volunteers for their hard work and for spending their Saturday making some much needed physical improvements to Pioneer Square. A special thank you to our city partners and the team at SDOT Urban Forestry for making this event possible. We couldn't have done it without your help closing 1st Ave, providing work supplies, tools, and a crew in support of the event.

This event would not have been the success it was and we most certainly could not have done it without the help of everyone who signed up to make it happen.
Monthly Staff Feature: Lisa Howard, Alliance for Pioneer Square ED
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.

This month, we discuss how 2021 is going, opportunities on the horizon and Lisa's view and vision for recovery going forward.
Pioneer Square November General Election
Candidate Forums
Seattle’s general elections for Mayor, City Council Positions 8/9, and City Attorney will be held via mail-in ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Join us for a series of forums to hear the candidates’ positions on issues impacting Pioneer Square. Register here or view recordings of previous forums here.

This series of free candidate forums for the November general elections is open to all. Suggested questions from attendees may be submitted via the event registration page or by sending an email to info@pioneersquare.org.
Pioneer Square Social Media
Takeover Program
The Alliance for Pioneer Square invites you to spend the day with our audience on social media! Take advantage of Pioneer Square's great following and share interesting stories about your business, promote product offerings and specials or shout-out other neighborhood businesses on our Pioneer Square Seattle Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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 Instagram and Facebook channels via stories, feed posts and live video updates, for the entire day.

Interested in participating? We have created a Google Form and a set of instructions to help businesses get started. Feel free to reach out to our Marketing Manager, Thembela Mavuso at thembela@pioneersquare.org for more information.
You're Invited:
Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area
Annual Meeting 2021
Please join us for the Pioneer Square BIA Annual Meeting to celebrate the successes of this past year. All Ratepayers in good standing are invited to meet the BIA Stakeholder Board, the Alliance board members, and Alliance staff as well as learn about the new initiatives for 2022. You will also have a chance to meet and connect with both your first floor and upper level neighbors! Register here to attend.

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.

Date: Wednesday, November 17th
Time: 4:00p – 5:30 p
Place: AXIS Pioneer Square (308 1st Ave S)

For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link will be provided on the morning of the 17th to join the meeting virtually. Registration is however still required.
Yesler Bridge Mural Project
Through a community-led effort, the Alliance for Pioneer Square is excited to launch a permanent mural project this fall! A beautiful, original work of art will be painted under the Yesler Bridge on the west side of 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 is expected to begin the first week of October.

This project is made possible by funding from Historic South Downtown. 
Northeast Pioneer Square Framework
Update
The Northeast Pioneer Square Framework Plan process is underway, with two sessions of the Steering Committee already convened, as well as gathering input from stakeholder interviews and topic-specific focus groups.
The Steering Committee will convene two more times to refine and sign-off on the final Framework Plan, which will be presented in December 2021.

The Northeast Pioneer Square Framework Plan Steering Committee members include:

  • Lisa Howard, Alliance for Pioneer Square, Co-Chair
  • Lyle Bicknell, City of Seattle, Co-Chair
  • Council Member Andrew Lewis, City of Seattle
  • Tom Koney, King County
  • Brian Carter, 4Culture
  • Derrick Belgrade, Chief Seattle Club
  • Jill Davies, Low Income Housing Institute
  • Jenn Casillas, Downtown Seattle Association
  • Lisa Nitze, Nitze-Stagen
  • Tija Petrovich, Pioneer Square Resident
  • Eido, Pioneer Square Resident
  • Dave McKee, Seattle Lighting
  • Doug Vann, Tashiro Kaplan Building 
  • Laura Komada, Pioneer Square Resident
  • Eugenia Wu, Historic Seattle
  • Adam Hasson, Samis Land Co.
  • Karl Mueller, Intrigue Chocolate Co.
  • Kathleen Johnson, Historic South Downtown
  • Steven Bullock, DESC
Partner Efforts
$20 Million in Economic Support for the cultural sector

King County has allocated $20 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding to support the reopening of the cultural sector, including large cultural organizations, science organizations, independently owned live music venues, and independently owned movie theatres. This funding will support cultural organizations and creative businesses that rely on mass gatherings and have been gravely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Available funding includes:

  • $16.5 million to arts, culture, and heritage organizations with a pre-COVID-19 full operating season annual budget of more than $1 million
  • $1.5 million to science organizations that promote science and nature conservation through education, exhibition, and other programs by public admission in King County
  • $1 million to independently owned and operated live music venues
  • $500,000 to independently owned and operated movie theatres

Applications are now open and will remain open until October 18, 2021 at 11:59 PM (PT). If you are unsure if your organization or business is eligible for this funding, please check here before filling out your application. Learn more and apply on the King County Creative website.
4Culture Sustained Support + Recovery Funds

4Culture and the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture have partnered to create a single application process for several grantmaking programs in King County and the City of Seattle.

These programs are intended to support organizations with the following:

  • Operating expenses related to cultural programs and services which are accessible to King County residents and visitors, and provide public benefit.
  • Staff salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, fees, or services.

Visit 4Culture's website fore more details on each program.

Commute with ORCA
ORCA for Business provides your employees access to Seattle’s growing public transit system. This service offers flexible solutions for businesses of all sizes within any industry. Learn more about each of these options below and how they can benefit you and your employees.
T-Mobile Park to host 2023 MLB All-Star Game 
T-Mobile Park has been selected to host Major League Baseball’s All-Star game in July 2023. It will be the first All-Star game played in Seattle since July 10, 2001.

The announcement was the culmination of a multiyear process by the Mariners, who have annually modified their ballpark in the two decades since they last hosted the event. The Mariners first began working on a bid/presentation to host the All-Star game in 2018 and officially submitted it to MLB officials in 2019.

Learn more about the announcement here.
Neighborhood Construction Updates
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. 
Tree pit guard installation on the east side of Alaskan Way S has been progressing since April.  
New trees and plants along Alaskan Way S in Pioneer Square.  
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.
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. 

The South Access Surface Street Connections project will improve local street access and provide flexible and safe space for large event crowds traveling between the new Alaskan Way, Seattle Ferry Terminal, Pioneer Square and the stadium district. 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. This was a multi-year effort to inventory and inspect the 146 active areaways within the district.

Thank you to all the building owners and property managers who facilitated access for the inspectors.

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.  

Revive I-5: Preserving the freeway

WSDOT is working to ensure that the interstate continues to perform at its best for as long as possible, preserving I-5 through regular inspections and preventative maintenance, along with months-long construction projects.

Read about current projects here.
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.
Alliance For Pioneer Square | 206.667.0687