News – Page 12 – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Business & Community Development: February 2016

Kinesia Pilates

Many of you are already familiar with Kinesia Pilates. Christl Marcontell opened her original space in Pioneer Square in 2004 and just moved into the Nord Building at 314 1^st Ave S. Kinesia is all about head-to-toe general fitness and agility training for improved athletic performance. In addition to offering “Pilates training to help you do what you want to do everyday”, the new studio includes a retail storefront with quality activewear. Feeling good and looking good – what a lovely addition to the neighborhood! We’re delighted Christl is part of the Pioneer Square story.

Karen True
karen(at)pioneersquare.org

Pioneer Passage Lights

With all the lights up during the holiday season, you may have missed the new permanent lights in Pioneer Passage, the alley located just south of Yesler between First & Occidental. Overhead LED lights now crisscross the alley from building to building. Planning for the project started back in 2013. For several years residents and businesses have been bringing life to this alley. Before people got involved and started keeping an eye on the alley, illegal dumping was often a common occurrence. Now garbage pick-up is more under control. Planter baskets and art line the alley buildings. Last year Casco Antiguo installed a back patio, proving to be a popular destination in the sunnier, warmer months. Even with these improvements, the alley still had low-light levels.

The Metropolitan Improvement District and Alliance for Pioneer Square provided the funds to make the light installation a reality. Olson Kundig donated design expertise in developing the Preservation Board application, materials and hardware for the project. Adjacent buildings generously agreed to cover utility costs. The International Sustainability Institute and the Alliance for Pioneer Square executed the project. And Nikki Somers at the Alliance persisted in finding solutions to get the design permitted.

The overhead lighting now makes it even more inviting for people to walk through Pioneer Passage. To learn more about lighting options for your alley, check out the Pioneer Square Alley Lighting Guidelines.

Business & Community Development Update: January 2016

Cool businesses. Beautiful spaces. Fabulous people. That’s what we love about Pioneer Square, right?

Here are a few new ones to add to your must-see list for this first month of 2016:

Estates Wine Room is the latest addition to Occidental Mall. Enjoy a wine-tasting, a glass of wine and nibbles, or buy a bottle of something special to take home. The integration of vineyard photography into the design of the space is also worth seeing.

Nirmal’s opened for lunch before the holidays and will start serving dinner on Thursday, January 14. It was worth the wait. The space is beautiful and you’ll understand the fuss about Chef Nirmal Monteiro when you taste the food. Stop by to welcome Nirmal and owners, Gita and Oliver Bangera, to Pioneer Square.

Millheads Hair Cutting Company is now open at the base of the Pioneer Square Best Western Hotel on Yesler Way. Paul Pugliese and his team of stylists are pros, providing a fabulous experience in a fabulous space. (And thanks to Christian at The Belfry for encouraging Paul to consider Pioneer Square!)

And Sudden Printing-Seattle Printing is open for business in their new digs at 605 2nd Ave, just up the hill from their old space.

4Culture is now accepting grant applications for Preservation Special Projects and Heritage Projects, something of particular relevance to our neighborhood. Feel free to share this with neighbors, businesses, colleagues, landlords, and more. Applications are due February 24, 2016. Questions? Contact Brandi Link at 206-263-1593.

If you haven’t heard, two Pioneer Square buildings recently changed ownership. Level Office just purchased the Pioneer Building and plans to include co-working office spaces in the Pioneer Building. Brickman Realty recently closed the deal on the purchase of the Olympic Block Building.

Pioneer Building, Pioneer Square

And if your re solution includes being more attuned to what’s happening in the neighborhood, here are a few sites you might want to bookmark:

Though we still see a few of the Pioneer Square Gift Guides lying around, the holidays are old news. Great sales are happening and incredible deals are to be found in stores throughout the neighborhood, though they won’t last long. Yet another reason to grab your raincoat and head out for a walk. Here’s to 2016! It’s going to be a great year!

Karen True

karen(at)pioneersquare.org