Business & Community Development Update – October 2014

Velouria's ribbon cuttingThe doors to Velouria opened last Friday in their beautiful space at Stadium Place. Cat and Chika, Velouria owners, borrowed our big scissors and ribbon to do a proper ribbon cutting. When you stop by to introduce yourself and check out their gorgeous clothes, you’ll also notice the interior door connecting them to Cone & Steiner. Such fun.

ribbon cuttingOther recent openings include Fleurt (Sam and the gang used our scissors, too), Drygoods Design, and Quality Athletics. Rumor has it that Clementines might be open in time for tonight’s Art Walk. We’re thrilled about the direction of retail in our neighborhood. And work continues behind those papered windows at Sprout (nice looking menu), Good Bar, and Elm Coffee, as well as the Nordo Culinarium.

Ward Van Allen, one of the partners at Altstadt, is teaming up with Paul and Tom Lyman and Chef Rodolfo Riveron to bring a new Mexican restaurant to Pioneer Square. Not only will Casco Antiguo be a welcome addition to Occidental Ave between Yesler and Washington, but their plan includes activation of the space in Pioneer Passage Alley, too. What?! Stay tuned!

We’re honored to welcome two new venues to today’s First Thursday art walk. Pilchuck Glass School will feature a preview of select items from their upcoming annual auction gala in their new office and exhibition space in the Pacific Commercial Building at 2nd Ave S & S Washington. One block south, The New Foundation will be welcoming all to visit their new Foundation HQ. While they await the construction of their permanent home in the JANDS Center, the space will house their growing periodical library and presentation space.

To many, it feels like the return of an old friend. Jeff Schoenfeld, owner of the Duncan Building on 2nd Ave S, searched for over a year to find a replacement for the statue that once graced the entrance of his building. Duncan & Sons Saddlery installed the original statue in the 1920s and left it in place even after the business moved to another location sometime in the late seventies. It disappeared during rehabilitation work after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. The Duncan Building is now home to 88 Keys – and one handsome horse.

DuncanBuildingHorseBeen wondering about the plan for the spaces on Occidental Ave between Rain Shadow Meats and Taylor Shellfish? Seattle Sounders FC will convert the spaces into a fan friendly Clubhouse early next year. The Clubhouse will feature events, player appearances, live broadcasts, team interactive displays, historic artifacts, fan polling and viewing parties, all free to the public. Watch for more information on Soundersfc.com.

Don’t let the cooler days keep you inside. Get out for a walk. Visit old friends and businesses. Discover new ones, too. And perhaps this is the year you experience “Thrill the World“, the eighth annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, in Occidental Park on October 25 at 3:00 PM. (Check out a video of last year’s event here.)

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Update – September 2014

BerthaMilepost 31 Speaker Series

Bertha and Progress on the SR 99 Tunnel Project

Seattle Tunnel Partners, the contractor hired by WSDOT to design and build the SR 99 tunnel, is working to repair the SR 99 tunneling machine. Join us to learn more about STP’s plan to resume tunneling by the end of March 2015, and learn about the other work happening to replace the viaduct.

6 – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5
Milepost 31, 211 First Ave. S., Seattle
Admission is free.

 

Seattle Tunnel Partners progress update: Construction of the access pit’s underground walls wraps up, preparation for dewatering begins

With fall just around the corner, we thought it was time for an update on Seattle Tunnel Partners’ progress to build the circular pit (pdf 2.5 Mb) that crews will use to access and repair the SR 99 tunneling machine.

The last time we updated you, STP announced that crews would continue to install the underground walls of the access pit through August. STP has notified WSDOT that they have completed all of the piles for the circular pit. Additional piles will be installed near the pit as part of the support system for the modular lift tower – the large crane that will hoist the machine’s 2,000-ton cutterhead and drive unit out of the ground.

Next up, dewatering wells. STP has notified us that crews will install several dewatering wells both inside the access pit and inside the enclosed area south of the access pit around the tunneling machine. Prep work is beginning now and crews should have them installed by mid-September. These wells will lower the groundwater inside the enclosed areas to make it easier to move the tunneling machine into the access pit, as well as to excavate the pit.

STP has notified us that tunneling machine operators will start Bertha in order to check internal systems in preparation for mining into the circular pit. Also, pieces of the three cranes that will be used to lift tunneling machine pieces out of the access pit are continuing to arrive from around the world. Soon you will see these pieces being assembled next to the access pit.

STP still expects to resume tunneling in March 2015. For a better view of construction, check out our time-lapse camera, or view photos of recent construction on Flickr.

Additional resources

Older, Smaller, Better Neighborhoods

Pioneer Passage Rendering

The Preservation Green Lab figured out why we love Pioneer Square: Older, smaller neighborhoods are better! The Lab studied neighborhoods around the country. Among other discoveries they found:

 1/ Older, smaller buildings provide space for a strong local economy

2/ Older business districts provide affordable, flexible space for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds

3/ The creative economy thrives in older mixed-use neighborhoods

4/ Young people love old buildings

 Join us for a discussion on the Older, Smaller, Better report and how Pioneer Square is a model of the movement to save and reinvigorate historic buildings and neighborhoods. A panel discussion will occur on Monday, September 15, 6:00-7:30pm at the Foster White Gallery, 220 3rd Ave S, Seattle. It’s part of the Design in Public festival and is free and open to the public. Hosted by Feet First. Refreshments served.

Our Panel:

  • Mark Hinshaw, FAIA, LMN Architects (Moderator)
  • Michel Powe, Ph.D, Senior Research Manager, National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • David Yeaworth, Deputy Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square
  • Lisa Quinn, Executive Director, Feet First

Hope to see you there!

 

David Yeaworth

Deputy Director

Alliance for Pioneer Square