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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.

Update to the Neighborhood – August 2013

Neighborhood Meeting on Street Civility

Close to 100 Pioneer Square residents, business and property owners turned out for an early morning meeting with City staff from the Mayor’s office, Seattle Parks, Seattle Police Department, Human Services and other partners to discuss our parks and public spaces and what we can all do to improve street civility. We heard updates and commitments to more targeted policing, increased Parks Ranger and cleaning services, and systematic outreach from Human Services to figure out who people are, what they need and want and get folks connected to services. These initiatives have begun…we need everyone’s participation and assistance. If you witness illegal or dangerous behavior in the parks please take a moment to call 911. Our collective action is need to make our situation better. If you are interested in attending on-going meetings regarding effort to improve street civility; please e-mail leslie@pioneersqurae.org.

Alliance staff are busy with marketing the neighborhood, recruiting additional restaurant and retail offerings, constantly managing construction impacts, and generally working to improve Pioneer Square for everyone. If you are interested in getting involved in a larger way in neighborhood activities please reach out; we are looking for ways to get everyone engaged.

AND once again, keep your eye on Occidental Square…if you haven’t visited the Wednesday Farmers Market, please step away from that desk and wander on down…the offerings are fabulous.

Thanks again for your support, enjoy the weather, and see you in the neighborhood!

Leslie Smith

Executive Director

Alliance for Pioneer Square