bia – Page 2 – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Happy New Year from the Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area (PSBIA)!!

Existing BIA compared to Pioneer Square Historic District — This map shows the previous BIA boundaries compared to the larger proposed boundaries that encompass all of the Pioneer Square Historic District. City Council passed the expansion of the boundaries in 2013.

As many of you know, a huge effort was made in 2013 to expand the Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area (PSBIA) boundaries to match the Pioneer Square Historic District boundaries, and I’m pleased to say that effort was successful. The result is that we have a bigger, better opportunity to make a positive impact on behalf of the people who work, live and play in the Pioneer Square neighborhood and to support the businesses in the neighborhood … all very exciting stuff!

One of the best things about being in a Business Improvement Area (BIA) is that the money raised and all the efforts made are directed by the Ratepayers. This creates an opportunity for Ratepayers to weigh in on what you think will make Pioneer Square a better place to work and do business. We have a fantastic staff working on our behalf, a strong partner in the Alliance for Pioneer Square, and a great opportunity to make significant improvements to our neighborhood.

We are looking for PSBIA Ratepayers to step up and serve on the PSBIA Board of Directors. We need a Board that adequately represents the various types businesses in the neighborhood, and we are looking for individuals with the energy, enthusiasm and vision to help make the neighborhood a better place to work and do business. We have several very qualified people already volunteering, and if you are a Ratepayer and are interested in joining us we’d love to hear from you! Email bia[at]pioneersquare.org for information.

Thanks for your support, and here’s to a great 2014!

[button text=”BIA Ratepayer Board Application” title=”BIA Ratepayer Board Application” url=”https://allianceforpioneersquare.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Application.pdf” align=”left” target=”_self”]

Apply to be on the Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area Ratepayer Board. Download the BIA Ratepayer Board Application and email it to bia@pioneersquare.org or send to 310 First Ave S, Ste 201, Seattle, WA 98104.

Barry Blanton, Blanton Turner

Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area Ratepayer Board Member

Update to the Neighborhood – January 2014

Happy New Year. Hope you had a lovely holiday season and are ready to get back to it.

The Alliance staff and boards are looking forward to a very busy year. In addition to our on-going work in neighborhood advocacy, marketing and promotion, and recruiting even more retail and restaurants we will be launching some additional initiatives.

We will be updating the neighborhood revitalization plan. The neighborhood has delivered on its revitalization commitments from the prior plan and an update will be a great way to take stock, inform and include more people in a vision and shared set of strategies for maintaining our momentum. We are committed to Pioneer Square being a fabulous neighborhood for everyone.

The newly expanded BIA has an interim board in place but that too will be expanding; ensuring inclusive and broad representation of our diverse businesses in Pioneer Square. We anticipate electing the permanent board during the 1^st quarter of 2014. Please let me know if you would like to participate.

We will be adding new staff positions: 1) a person to do B2B outreach, specifically focused on the subsidized parking program and managing our parking supply to ensure parking for shoppers, diners, and clients and 2) a person to coordinate and communicate across the various construction projects in the neighborhood and take on the work of improving the pedestrian realm.

We anticipate continuing our critical work to improve street disorder and safety with the new administration, working towards humane solutions that work are critical to the future of Pioneer Square and all of downtown.

Stay tuned, there will be many opportunities to become informed and involved. Thanks for your support and see you in the neighborhood.

Leslie Smith

Executive Director

Neighborhood Update – October 2013

Two wonderful pieces of news for the neighborhood.

1. The Pioneer Square BIA expansion was passed unanimously by City Council on Monday September 23rd. This ensures that Pioneer Square will have resources for on-going economic development for years to come. What does this mean to me you ask? If you want additional information please visit our BIA Expansion page on our web-site or e-mail BIA@pioneersquare.org and one of our team will answer your questions. On behalf of the BIA Ratepayer Board, I would like to thank all of the neighborhood business owners and staff who stepped up to ensure that this happened. It was truly a team effort. Well done everyone!

2. Yesterday afternoon the City Council passed a piece of legislation that allows the development at 200 Occidental to move forward (PDF of Council Bill). The Community Benefits of this development include several components….activating the east edge of Occidental Park (something the neighborhood has long wanted/needed), brings much needed market rate residential apartments to Pioneer Square, and lastly, the developer will be purchasing and installing a Portland Loo….something else Pioneer Square has long needed. This too was an effort that required many partners. Our thanks to everyone who worked on the various aspects of this project.

Thanks to everyone for their on-going support and belief in a better Pioneer Square. See you in the neighborhood!

Leslie Smith

Executive Director

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE