Dan Biederman, of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, is the force behind the revitalization of Bryant Park in New York. The Alliance for Pioneer Square began working with Dan and his staff in April to develop a business and activation plan for Occidental Park. Our partners include The Seattle Parks Foundation, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association and the Metropolitan Improvement District, and the City of Seattle Parks and Planning and Development.
This work was generously funded by the RD Merrill Company, with many hours of staff time from the Alliance and partner organizations. Dan and staff were in the neighborhood this week meeting with stakeholders. We expect to receive the first draft of a plan in the coming weeks. Since so many of you have asked, we are sharing their most recent presentation here.
DSA surprises Leslie Smith with the Downtown Champion 2014 Award at the DSA Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Award presented at Downtown Seattle Association Annual Meeting
SEATTLE –The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) has named Alliance for Pioneer Square Executive Director Leslie Smith as the recipient of the 2014 Downtown Champion Award at today’s DSA 56th Annual Meeting.
The award was presented in recognition of Smith’s ongoing commitment to Downtown Seattle and for her leadership in the revitalization of Pioneer Square, which this past year has welcomed hundreds of new residential units and numerous new businesses, including eight new bars and restaurants, with another seven expected to open in the coming year.
Leslie Smith, Executive Director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square, accepts DSA’s 2014 Downtown Champion award.
Each year the DSA presents the Downtown Champion Award to an individual, company or organization that has made a significant impact in furthering DSA’s mission.
“Leslie personifies the title Downtown Champion,” said DSA President & CEO Kate Joncas. “She loves this city, loves her neighborhood and has made an unbelievable difference in the ongoing improvements to Downtown’s most historic neighborhood. Leslie and her team have really elevated Pioneer Square.”
Last year’s “Downtown Champion,” Seattle developer Matt Griffin presented Smith with the award on stage at The 5th Avenue Theatre in front of an audience of more than 600 Downtown Seattle residents, business and community leaders. Also joining in the presentation were Alliance for Pioneer Square co-chair and president of Daniels Real Estate, LLC Kevin Daniels, fellow Alliance for Pioneer Square co-chair and former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer, and Mike Flood Vice President of Community Relations for the Seattle Seahawks – presenting sponsor of the event.
Griffin, applauded Smith for her tireless effort and numerous successes already realized in spurring more economic and residential activity in Pioneer Square.
Daniels and Royer also praised Smith for her leadership and perseverance in the effort to rejuvenate Seattle’s oldest neighborhood.
Also participating in the award presentation were Pioneer Square residents Jen Kelly and Tija Petrovich, E. Smith Mercantile ower Kate Poole and Vulcan Community Relations Manager Phil Fujii.
Joining the Seattle Seahawks as DSA annual meeting sponsors were platinum sponsors Mack Urban, ShareBuilder 401k by Capital One and Vulcan Inc.; gold sponsors Amazon, Clise Properties, Comcast Business, Cushman & Wakefield| Commerce, GLY Construction, Helsell Fetterman, Howard S. Wright, McCullough Hill Leary, PS and Washington Holdings; media partners Seattle Channel and The Seattle Times; and venue sponsor The 5th Avenue Theatre.
In addition to Griffin, previous award recipients include: Tom Douglas (2012) Charles Royer (2011), Vulcan Real Estate and Seattle Parks Foundation (2010), FareStart (2007), Seattle Art Museum (2006), Plymouth Housing Group (2005) and Pike Place Market PDA (2004). In 2008 – the year of the DSA’s 50th anniversary – the award was presented to an initiative from each of the previous five decades including the Seattle World’s Fair, establishment of Seattle Housing Resources Group (now known as Bellwether Housing), Downtown’s cultural arts renaissance, Washington State Convention Center and Freeway Park, and Downtown’s Retail Core revitalization.
About DSA
Established in 1958, the Downtown Seattle Association (http://www.downtownseattle.com) is a member-based non-profit organization that champions a healthy, vibrant urban core. By advocating on behalf of business, non-profit, arts and residential interests throughout Downtown Seattle, DSA ensures that Downtown is a world-class place to live, work, shop and play.
Please join the Alliance for Pioneer Square, the Pioneer Square BIA, and the Pioneer Square Residents Council to share your concerns and ideas about public safety in our neighborhood. Your input is vitally important and will be key in developing a multifaceted set of strategies regarding street civility and public safety. Those strategies will include:
Advocacy with the Mayor, Police Chief, City Departments and the City Council
Implementation of tools and strategies for neighborhood residents and businesses
Communication strategies
Help us spread the word. Share this open house with your co-workers, neighbors, and friends. Then mark the date on your calendar and drop by any time between 8 AM and 7 PM to join the conversation. This is an all-day open house format so everyone can drop by as schedules allow.
One more thing. Please take a moment to complete our survey regarding your observations and perceptions at http://bit.ly/PSQsafety2014.
