Alliance for Pioneer Square – Page 94 – The Alliance for Pioneer Square works to help preserve what makes Pioneer Square the most authentic, engaging and dynamic neighborhood in Seattle.

Update to the Neighborhood – March 2013

Two Things this Month

Changes to the Pioneer Square BIA

A goal critical to the future of the Alliance and the neighborhood… aligning the Pioneer Square BIA with the Historic District boundary was originally articulated in the Pioneer Square 2015 neighborhood plan. After many months of work the BIA Ratepayer Board and the Alliance for Pioneer Square are ready to make this happen. Comprehensive outreach for petition signing will begin in the next few weeks with a goal of having an expanded BIA in place in January of 2014.

Interested in learning the details and impact on your business? Interested in hosting a gathering for neighboring businesses or helping in other ways? Please contact leslie[at]pioneersquare.org.

Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are special assessment districts, or “self help mechanisms” whereby business owners choose to assess themselves to revitalize and enhance neighborhood business districts. The oldest BIA within the City of Seattle, the Pioneer Square BIA was formed as a local business community effort to remain competitive in the marketplace. The legal authority for the establishment and management of BIAs is set forth in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 35.87A and Seattle City Ordinance 111244.

Annual Update to Stakeholders

Mark your calendar for Monday, March 18^th 4:30 to 6:30 pm at HubSeattle, 220 2nd Ave South, (Masin’s Furniture Building). Want to know more about what is going on? Want to talk to the Mayor or other city officials about Pioneer Square?

You are invited to join Mayor Mike McGinn and the Alliance for Pioneer Square for an update to the neighborhood. Please plan on attending the open house to learn about the numerous projects going on around the neighborhood and hear about progress on goals to date.

Hope to see you there!

P.S. While reservations are not required, for planning purposes would you let us know if you will be attending? Email to RSVP.

Leslie Smith

Executive Director

Alliance for Pioneer Square

Community & Business Development Update – March 2013

Bar Sajor is open and building a loyal following. A few of the others we’ve been watching are poised to open their doors as well.

Much continues to unfold behind the scenes. Some you know about….some you don’t. But we assure you that you’ll be hearing more soon.

Karen True

Business & Community Development

Alliance for Pioneer Square

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program Construction Update – March 2013

Milepost 31 Speaker Series – Preparing for the SR 99 tunneling machine’s arrival

Bertha, the world’s largest-diameter tunnel boring machine, is being shipped from Japan to Seattle this spring. Before she arrives, join us for an engaging discussion about how crews will transport her 40-some pieces from a ship at the Port of Seattle to the 80-foot-deep pit to the west of the stadiums where she’ll begin tunneling this summer. You’ll also get a sneak peek at the support facilities we’re building near the launch pit, including a soil-removing conveyor belt that will stretch a whopping two miles by the end of construction.

6 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 7

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 more information about participating garages.

And don’t forget you can track Bertha’s journey to Seattle on Twitter by following @BerthaDigsSR99.

Archaeology and the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

Kevin Bartoy, Cultural Resources Lead for the Washington State Department of Transportation, recently led a discussion at the Museum of History and Industry’s History Café lecture series. Kevin described how state projects must consider cultural resources and some of the mitigation strategies developed as part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. Kevin went on to discuss the history of Pioneer Square and SODO, focusing on the changing coastline, historical development and the diversity of uses over time.

To dig into the history of the area and discover how Pioneer Square continues to be a hub of transportation and extreme engineering, visit the project information, Milepost 31, at 211 First Ave. S. A video of Kevin’s lecture is also available on the KCTS website.

For more information about the SR 99 Tunnel Project, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.