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

Seattle Police Department Announces “Safe Place” Initiative

Is your business a SAFE ZONE?

safe zone

Recently, Seattle’s Chief of Police, Kathleen O’Toole, addressed Seattle business owners, organizations, students and residents to describe the program and gain support.

Dear Seattle Business Owners, Organizations, Students and Residents,

The Seattle Police Department is proud to announce its new “SPD SAFE PLACE” initiative. This program is specifically designed to reduce hate crimes and harassment involving our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) residents and visitors. It also aims to stop LGBTQ student bullying in Seattle area schools and to encourage the victims of these crimes and harassment to report incidents so that the perpetrators can be held accountable.

We request your participation by posting “SPD SAFE PLACE” decals and/or posters at the front entrance of your business, organization or school as an easily identifiable symbol of safety. We encourage you to educate your employees, staff and students to fully understand what the “SPD SAFE PLACE” concept means and how important their support is in assisting anyone who is a victim of hate crime. We are also requesting your assistance by helping the victims of hate crimes by providing them with a temporary “SAFE PLACE” until Seattle Police officers arrive.
“SPD SAFE PLACE” is a new model of police and community collaboration aimed at reducing hate-related crimes and harassment. Together, we will send a strong message to those individuals who commit these crimes that the City of Seattle will not tolerate hate or violence of any kind!

For more information about “SPD SAFE PLACE”, please see our website at spdsafeplace.com or call the SPD’s LGBTQ Liaison (Officer Jim Ritter) at 206-386-1793.
Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Kathleen M. O’Toole Chief of Police

While Seattle is generally one of the safest and most progressive cities in the United States, crimes and discrimination related to the City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) residents and visitors unfortunately still occur. SPD is committed to the safety of all LGBTQ residents and visitors.

Seattle Police Department (SPD) SAFE PLACE signage is being displayed by local supporting community members, businesses, schools and organizations that work closely with the Seattle Police Department in an effort to reduce anti-LGBTQ crimes, reduce LGBTQ student bullying and encourage the reporting of LGBTQ crimes.

If you would like to be a supporting member and receive your free poster of stick to display then sign up today!