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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.