June News + Updates
Help Shape the Future of Our Community
Get involved in our 2025 Strategic Planning Process by sharing your thoughts with us in our brief online survey . Live or play here? Take this survey. Alliance for Pioneer Square partner? Take this survey. Join us for our Open House on June 4, 2019 4-5:30PM at Occidental Square .

Public Safety Forum Follow Up
On May 14th, the SODO BIA, Ballard Alliance, Chinatown/International District BIA, University District Partnership, Alliance for Pioneer Square, West Seattle Junction, Downtown Seattle Association, and Visit Seattle joined forces to host a discussion with elected officials, city staff, and business owners and employees to respond to the report System Failure and the many public safety concerns surrounding crime. 

The forum addressed the increasing challenges business districts are experiencing with public disorder, threatening behavior, and crime towards business owners, employees and customers. The discussion focused on crimes committed by a particular subset of individuals, who are responsible for a large amount of the crime committed in our neighborhoods.  

Mayor Jenny Durkan, Councilmembers Herbold and Gonzalez, State Representative Noel Frame, Seattle Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins, and SPD Command Staff listened and responded to business owners amid concerns that current solutions are not helping. Businesses posed questions and concerns about the limited SPD resources. Elected officials and city staff shared what policies are currently being applied to a few potential ideas, but acknowledged that more needs to be done. 

We want to thank the more than 175 business owners, employees, and city staff that joined us for one of many constructive conversations. We look forward to working together to create and implement solutions to solve the problems our city and communities are facing.
Business News and Updates
A warm welcome to our newest businesses and attractions in the neighborhood!

  • MOD Pizza: 202 Occidental Ave. S.– this Bellevue-based artisanal-style pizza and salad restaurant opened on May 21 in the Weyerhaeuser Headquarters building.
  • Underbelly: 110 1st Ave. S. – this friendly, comfortable basement bar features natural wines, craft beers, spirits and hot melted raclette cheese.
  • Dianese: 570 1st Ave. S. – this Italian manufacturer of protective equipment and technical gear for dynamic sports, including motorcycling, mountain biking, winter sports and horseriding.
  • Matsu: 501 Stadium Pl. S. – the operators of Girin will be re-opening their space under a new concept in mid-June, adding sushi and seafood to the menu in addition to steaks.

We bid farewell to these neighbors this month!

  • Girin: 501 Stadium Pl. S.- This James Beard Award semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category recipient, high-end Korean steakhouse, and makgeolli maker closed to make way for a new Japanese sushi restaurant and grill.
  • Mount Analogue: 300 S. Washington St.- After two years of curated, room-sized art installations, Mount Analogue will no longer operate out of its glitter-floored studio.
Artist Feature: Liz Ewings
Liz Ewings , who operates in the Good Arts building '57 Biscayne space, creates semi abstract paintings of plankton collected from the sea photographed under a microscope in a science lab . She believes that art has the power to change how we see the world, and wants to inspire people to appreciate the 70% of it that’s covered by water. She is on a mission to show the beauty and diversity of the inhabitants of the ocean. Liz has a love for whales, and after experiencing the ocean’s gentle giants in Australia, she was determined to learn more about them. She returned to Seattle to study natural science illustration and oceanography at the University of Washington and has since combined her love of art and love of science with her works.
Mark Your Calendars: First Thursday Art Walk
June 6, 5-10 PM

Every First Thursday of the month, Pioneer Square welcomes you to join us in the venerated tradition of Art Walk with exceptional artists, innovative works, and creative kinship. During Art Walk, parking is FREE from 5-10 PM! Make sure to grab your voucher from a participating gallery or studio to park for free at one of three neighborhood garages.


NOTE: The July 2019 First Thursday Art Walk will be held on July 11th instead of July 4th due to the Independence Day holiday.
From the Public Realm
Announcing Q2 Neighborhood Clean Walk

In Mid-March, Neighborhood Property Managers, Alliance for Pioneer Square staff, along with representatives from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) Solid Waste and the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) walked the neighborhood as part of our Clean Walk pilot program.

 The next Clean Walk takes place on Friday, June 21 from 9-10am starting at the offices of the Alliance for Pioneer Square (105 S. Main St.) and will continue on to Jackson Street from Alaskan Way to Fourth Ave.

Interested in participating in the next Clean Walk? RSVP here.
Summer/Fall Hanging Flower Baskets Installed

Look up and around the next time you are strolling through Pioneer Square! City Planters recently installed the summer/fall hanging flower baskets throughout the neighborhood. Thank you, City Planters, for beautifying Pioneer Square for 35 years with your hand-crafted hanging flower baskets! Read more about City Planter's flower basket cultivation in our staff interview with Liz.
Neighborhood Construction Updates
Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

WSDOT continues to remove the Alaskan Way Viaduct from Seattle's waterfront to make way for the City of Seattle's   Waterfront Seattle Program .

Click here  to see real time demolition progress and  join the email list to receive weekly updates.

Questions? Visit the website, email to viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov, or call 1-888-AWV-LINE (298-5463).

The next Viaduct Demolition Progress meeting- hosted by the Alliance for Pioneer Square, WSDOT and Kiewit- will held on Wednesday, June 29nd from 12-1pm.

Can't make it? Check out our walking tour video , led by representatives from WSDOT and Kiewit.
Pioneer Square
Areaways Program
SDOT recently implemented a strict vehicle weight limitation and increased commercial vehicle enforcement. An assessment of current load zone placements will occur in response to a structural analysis of the underground areaways in Pioneer Square.

Throughout 2019-2020, SDOT will install a monitoring system and conduct a complete assessment of the areaways to determine a long-term plan of action to repair necessary areas. In the meantime, our goal is to provide adjacent businesses and residents with accurate and timely information as we move forward to improve safety.

Visit the project page for more information.
Proposed New Cruise Terminal Information Session Follow-Up

The Port of Seattle Commission recently approved $348 million to invest in the future of the Seattle’s working waterfront. A key investment is a proposed cruise terminal at Terminal 46 (King Street and Alaskan Way). On May 30, the Port of Seattle hosted an information session regarding the proposed terminal. Visitors learned about the proposed cruise terminal and timeline, Seattle's cruise industry and its passengers, and background on how cruise terminals work and operations on a typical day. Missed the information session? Stay up-to-date on the proposed cruise terminal at Terminal 46 though the Port of Seattle's project page .
Press Highlights
What Are We Up To This Week?
Learn more about what the Alliance for Pioneer Square teams are working on by reading our weekly staff highlight features.
  • Read about Nikki's deep connection to the Pioneer Square neighborhood.  
  • Read about Jennie's public art collaboration with Urban ArtWorks.
  • Read about Lisa's strategy to build our organization's 2025 vision.
  • Read about Liz's role in the Alaskan Way Viaduct removal program.
Monthly Resource
Pioneer Square Business Marketing Toolkit
Are you a Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area stakeholder? There are a number of resources you can take advantage of to help your business thrive, while providing extra benefit to your customers. We want to make sure you’re using the full benefit of these - leveraging social media, the online calendar, local transit options, and parking programs to reach customers and empower them to visit the neighborhood and support Pioneer Square. View our Business Marketing Toolkit .
Stay Engaged!
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. Follow us today!

Alliance For Pioneer Square | 206.667.0687