Resource Roundup: March 2nd 2022
Pioneer Square Business Stakeholders-

The Alliance for Pioneer Square team is working diligently to keep the Pioneer Square community informed regarding new resources and opportunities available to them. This roundup is part of a series of weekly messages capturing new resources and opportunities. Find each weekly email to date on our website.

*Please see this roundup's new resources and opportunities highlighted in RED*

What's Happening

  • *NEW* Vaccine Verification Ends. Due to a decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and nearly 80% of all King County residents fully vaccinated, Public Health – Seattle & King County announced that the local health order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for entry into restaurants and bars, indoor recreational events and establishments, or outdoor events would end this week. As of Tuesday March 1st, the vaccination verification policy is no longer in effect.

While businesses and organizations will no longer be required to check for proof of customers vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, they may continue to implement their own vaccination verification rules for their establishments. For businesses, the following steps will be important to help protect against both current and future COVID-19 surges:

  • Improve indoor air quality through ventilation and/or use of HEPA filtration
  • Support vaccination for employees (Vaccination and getting boosters when eligible are still the most important tools available to prevent severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Find a test at a testing location near you.
  • Encourage employees to stay home when sick (Employees must isolate away from others if ill, quarantine away from others if not up-to-date on vaccinations and are exposed to someone with COVID-19, and get tested when possible if experiencing symptoms or are exposed.)
  • Enforce indoor mask policies (We continue to encourage businesses to enforce King County’s mask mandate until it ends on March 12)


  • Schools, childcare facilities, and libraries
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Houses of worship
  • Gyms, recreation centers, and indoor athletic facilities
  • Grocery stores, businesses, and retail establishment

Private businesses, organizations, schools and childcares may still choose to implement their own mask requirements. Please respect people’s choices to continue to wear a mask. Masks are still required at the following:

  • Healthcare and medical facilities, including hospitals, outpatient, dental facilities, and pharmacies
  • Long-term care settings
  • Public transit, taxis, rideshare vehicles (federal requirement)
  • Correctional facilities

For updates and the most up-to-date guidance on masks, please refer to the King County Masking guidance website.
Worker and Business Resources


  • *NEW* Public Health Seattle & King County works to support the safe operations of small businesses during the challenges of COVID and would like to hear from those involved with small businesses located in King County to better understand their experience during COVID-19.

To better support businesses in the future, Public Health Seattle & King County is asking folks to take this survey to help improve public health services, resources and website content. The survey is anonymous, takes less than 10 minutes, and is available in multiple languages.

  • *NEW* The city of Seattle's eviction moratoria expired on February 28th 2022. The eviction moratoria has been in place for much of the COVID-19 pandemic and protections for small businesses as outlined in Ordinance 126066 will continue at the start of March 2022 due to the state of emergency that is still in effect. Key highlights of the commercial eviction moratorium protections can be found here.

Under City law, renters can also defend themselves in an eviction proceeding by declaring their failure to pay rent is due to a financial hardship. This eviction defense is in place for 6 months after the eviction mortarium ends or as long as the City’s COVID emergency proclamation is in place. Renters also have ongoing protection against eviction for unpaid rent if they show it was caused by a financial hardship and that it occurred during the civil emergency. The City requires landlords to offer payment plans for back-rent up to six months after the civil emergency ends.

Renters facing eviction are entitled to free legal assistance, funded by the City of Seattle, through the King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project. For detailed information, visit city's Eviction Assistance website. The City of Seattle’s Renting in Seattle helpline is also available during most business hours at 206-684-5700.

For a more complete look at the City’s renter protections visit www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle.   

  • *NEW* The Seattle City Council has passed legislation that extends free café street and outdoor dining permits through January 31, 2023. The program enables restaurants and other retail storefronts to utilize streets outside of their businesses for outdoor dining or displays. Safe Start permits are currently set to expire on May 31, 2022.

Prior to that date all free, active, Safe Start temporary outdoor café, merchandise display, and vending permits for sidewalk and curb space use will be automatically extended. Free street closure permits will be reviewed individually for extensions.

The extension allows the Seattle Department of Transportation more time to complete proposals for the 2023 transition from temporary recovery program to long-term permitting options. The draft proposal will be made available to the public for review and comments later this spring. Visit the Safe Start permits web page for the latest information, and SDOT Blog for future updates on the program.
Partner Efforts
*NEW* New Bus Stops opened on Alaskan Way S.

King County Metro has opened two new bus stops, one northbound and one southbound, on Alaskan Way S near S Jackson St. These stops serve bus routes 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 125, and the RapidRide C Line. Each of these routes serve neighborhoods in West Seattle and nearby Duwamish Valley communities. New bus shelters will be added to the new bus stops this summer.

The Waterfront Seattle Program construction has contributed to building the foundations (including concrete and electrical infrastructure) needed for these new bus stops and transit lanes on Alaskan Way S, between S King and Columbia streets.

These new bus stops will improve transit between southwest King County and downtown Seattle, and provide better connections for everyday travel, major sports events, and more. To Learn more email or call the Waterfront Seattle team at (206) 499-8040.
  • *NEW* The Port of Seattle has unveiled its preliminary cruise schedule for 2022, with 296 scheduled sailings bringing an estimated 1.26 million passengers through its two cruise ship terminals. The first ship is scheduled to arrive on April 11th.

The seven major brands homeporting in Seattle will be sailing 14 vessels, up from 11 from past seasons. It is anticipated that the number of passengers per ship will vary by sailing and will increase as the season progresses. The Port of Seattle continues to work with local public health officials to ensure the health and safety of passengers, crews, and the community.

For more information on this year’s cruise season, please visit the Port of Seattle’s cruise website.

  • *NEW* Registration is now open for Seattle Restaurant Week which runs from April 3rd to the 16th. Seattle Restaurant Week returns this spring to support the Seattle-area restaurant community.

Seattle Restaurant Week is a bi-annual prix fixe dining promotion that gives diners a unique chance to support the greater Seattle area’s culinary community, highlighting its craft, diversity, resilience, and great food. Participation is free and the deadline to register is March 18th.

Visit the Seattle restaurant week website for more details and to signup.

The West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project is now seeking public review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Explore the online open house to learn more about the project, read the Draft EIS document and take a tour of potential station alternatives across the entire project corridor, for both the West Seattle and the Ballard Link Extensions.

Comments must be received by April 28th. Your feedback will be shared with the Sound Transit Board of Directors before they confirm or modify the preferred alternative. The Board will select the project to be built after the Final EIS is published, which is expected in 2023.

In addition to learning about and commenting on the Draft EIS through the online open house, there will be multiple opportunities to connect with project staff, ask questions, and share your input. Click here for online public meetings, in-person drop-in events and more opportunities to get involved.
Other Neighborhood Updates

  • *NEW* In 2020, owing to drastic changes in our neighborhood landscape as a result of the pandemic and to guide our work over the next 18 months, we created the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan. The Alliance for Pioneer Square’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan tells the story of what we have done, what we are doing, and what we planned to do in the period immediately following the immediate COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

Two years into the pandemic, we again want to engage community members on our recovery efforts to date and, to learn and gather feedback as we move forward into recovery. You’re invited to attend an online and in person open house to share feedback on the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan, provide inspiration for additional neighborhood improvements, and connect with neighbors.

The Alliance will host two in person open house sessions on March 10, 2022 from 9-10:30a and 3-4:30p at Cherry Street Coffee House to hear from community members.  

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2022
Times: 9-10:30a and 3-4:30p
(No registration is required for the in-person open house- just drop in.)
Please note, face masks will be required at all times during the event.

The Alliance is seeking feedback online beginning March 1st through March 31st. Share your ideas here. Feel free to submit multiple ideas! This process is supported in part by Historic South Downtown. Click here to learn more.

  • *NEW* The Pioneer Square BIA is excited to open the application period for the 2022 Inspiration Fund. This year, the BIA is matching volunteer hours and/or funding up to $10,000 for community members to implement projects and programs making a positive impact in the Pioneer Square neighborhood.

Project goals include celebrating neighborhood diversity, enhancing public spaces, and neighborhood storytelling. Applicants must submit a completed Application Form with required documentation (if applicable) by email to info@pioneersquare.org, no later than May 31, 2022 at midnight. Visit our website for grant application, details and eligibility.

  • *NEW* Join Locus Wines for an evening of wine and nibbles and get to know our Pioneer Square neighbors on Tuesday, March 8th from 6-8p. Email info@locuswines.com to rsvp.
Additional Resources

  • The Pioneer Square Business Owners & Managers Facebook group is an opportunity for business owners and retailers to participate in an online forum and share resources, support, and stories. We invite you to join the group and connect with other neighborhood businesses. Click here to join the Pioneer Square Business Owners and Managers Facebook page.

  • 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 from 11am to 8pm each Saturday in 2022.

  • Driving to Pioneer Square? Check out mobile-friendly DowntownSeattleParking.com for parking locations throughout the neighborhood. 

Please let us know how we might best support you. Feel free to contact any of us with comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Sincerely,

The Alliance Team

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE