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Alley Corridor Project in Pioneer Square

Our partners at the International Sustainability Institute (ISI) are leading the effort to create new resurfacing and lighting design for alleys in Pioneer Square. The effort is known as ISI’s Alley Corridor Project and is funded by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

The need for a new alley surface design came about from the diverse needs of the community. Residents, visitors, local businesses and their employees need a clean and safe pedestrian experience to use Pioneer Square’s alleys. The Pioneer Square Preservation Board requires that the neighborhood’s built environment adhere to historical standards. Utility workers frequently need to dig up alleyways in conjunction with construction projects in the neighborhood. ISI is tasked with creating an alley surface design that will balance all of these needs.

From ISI:

In 2013, ISI kicked off the Alley Corridor Project with funding awarded by the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to design a cost effective, historically appropriate “shovel ready” surface design and lighting concepts. An opportunity to restore alley surfaces to new standards is occurring as alleys are retrofitted with new utility infrastructure. The outcome of this project – a design that is cost effective and approved through SDOT’s Street Improvement Permit (SIP) process and Pioneer Square Preservation Board, will clear hurdles for resurfacing any of the neighborhood alleys, positioning Pioneer Square to use alleys as active public spaces full of historic character. The design will be led by SvR Design with Olson Kundig Architects and Leni Schwendinger Light Projects Ltd.

To get involved, join the Information Gathering Open House in Nord Alley from 5 to 7 pm on September 5th, 2013. Share your ideas, meet designers SvR and Olson Kundig Architects, and help design Pioneer Square’s alleys. For more on the Alley Corridor Project timeline, see ISI’s Alley Activation page here.

ISI has made tremendous progress in activating Pioneer Square’s alleyways. Through the Alley Network Project, ISI has programmed Pioneer Square’s Nord Alley since 2008 with World Cup and Tour de France viewing parties, art and lighting installations, and more. They also headed the effort in organizing this year’s first-ever Alleypalooza event, which celebrated a transformative pedestrian experience in the heart and soul of Seattle.

Community & Business Development Update – August 2013

Yep, I’m still leaning on you again to get out for a summer neighborhood walk. What better time to take another look at new developments in Pioneer Square?

Add Madboy Electric Vehicles to the “must see” list. They’re on 1^st Avenue South, just a little south of Railroad Ave. Not only will you discover the coolest electric bikes, there’s a good chance you’ll be convinced to take a test ride. Even if you’re not in the market for an electric bike, you’re going to love meeting Daniel and Maggie. And the things you will learn…
The official opening of AXIS Pioneer Square will be August 1 during the First Thursday art walk. A nod to the Globe Building’s rich history is evident throughout the space. The connection between the sidewalk on 1^st Ave South and Nord Alley in the back offers yet more opportunities to activate these unique public spaces.
The lease is signed. Finally. Manu Alfau will open La Bodega in the Prefontaine Building this fall. Stay tuned. This is welcome news.
The new Mediterranean Mix is open on Occidental Avenue between Yesler and S Washington, a welcome addition to the block.
Another First Thursday opportunity. The Nolo at Stadium Place will be giving hardhat tours August 1, 4:00-7:00 PM.
Have you heard that the Seattle Design Festival is coming to Pioneer Square? The dates are September 13-22. “The hub of the Festival will be at the ‘Design Block’ at Occidental Avenue South in Pioneer Square featuring large scale installations, design competitions, activities, and demonstrations investigating design’s impact on active lifestyles and healthy communities….” (From the Design Festival website.) Wow. Aren’t you curious?
Don’t forget to watch for the new Trail to Treasure kiosks around the neighborhood…since you’ll be out and about.
Only in Pioneer Square: Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you should check out the “March to the Match” that starts in Occidental Park one hour before every home Sounders game. These folks know how to have fun! (Click here for the Sounders FC schedule.)

I’ll be getting out of the office more in the upcoming weeks to look for retail and restaurant businesses that we might like in Pioneer Square. Who would you like to see in the neighborhood? Email me at karen@pioneersquare.org.

Final negotiations are underway on a few exciting retail/restaurant leases, but they’re not quite ready for prime time. We hope we’ll be ready to share more next month. If you’d like to get this kind of news when it breaks, follow us on Twitter @PioneerSquare.

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Update – August 2013

Bertha begins: digging officially underway in Seattle

This time, there were no crowds or fanfare. It was just Bertha, the world’s largest tunneling machine, finally getting the chance to do what she was built to do: dig.

Bertha got her first taste of tunneling on July 30, officially starting the 2-mile journey beneath downtown. Early in the afternoon, Bertha’s 5-story-tall cutterhead broke through the north wall of her 80-foot-deep launch pit. She’s expected to emerge in about 14 months near the intersection of Sixth Avenue North and Harrison Street.

Crews working with the Washington State Department of Transportation will push forward slowly at first, digging about 6 feet per day. By the time the machine is beneath downtown, she will dig up to 35 feet per day.

The tunnel route is divided into 10 separate zones, each with its own underground landscape. In the first zone, crews strengthened or replaced fill soils dumped there by the city’s early settlers while building protected areas where they can inspect the machine.

“We designed the project so that we would have opportunities to test the machine and make sure she’s functioning properly before we get beneath downtown,” said Linea Laird, WSDOT administrator for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. “If Bertha was learning to ride a bike, this initial section would be her training wheels.”

To track Bertha’s progress, visit the Follow Bertha Web page and follow her on Twitter: @BerthaDigsSR99.

Milepost 31 speaker series – tracking Bertha’s progress beneath downtown

Join us for this month’s speaker series to learn what Bertha will encounter as she digs through different types of soil, passes beneath other tunnels, and digs as deep as 200 feet beneath downtown.

Thursday, Aug. 1

6 to 7 p.m.

Milepost 31

211 First Ave. S., Seattle

Admission is free.

After the talk, be sure to leave enough time to explore the rest of the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Milepost 31 is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and stays open until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays. Free parking is available for First Thursday art walk patrons in Pioneer Square. Please visit www.FirstThursdaySeattle.com for information about participating garages.