|
|
|
Dear friends and neighbors,
Last week I announced the details of our Downtown Activation Plan, a comprehensive approach to revitalize our city’s center and build the downtown of the future.
Downtown is the heart of our city and must be a place where families, workers, neighbors, and visitors of all kinds can live, work, shop, and play together. This effort aims to cultivate Seattle’s core into a safe, welcoming, and lively neighborhood for all and includes visionary "Space Needle Thinking” to reconsider what’s possible for the future.
Our goal is a robust neighborhood with more housing and amenities – ensuring Downtown is more than just a great place to go to work, but also a place where residents can afford to live, children have opportunities to learn and grow, local entrepreneurs can start their own small business and thrive, and so much more.
With several events that will bring crowds to our city this summer, now is the perfect time to go all-in on this work. Next week’s MLB All-Star Game, the Bite of Seattle festival later in July, and a reimagined Bumbershoot in September are exciting activities that are boosting our plans to bring downtown into a new age.
When we unite around our common values of making Seattle a safer, more equitable city, the possibilities are endless. Together, we will make our vision a reality.
Bruce A. Harrell
Mayor of Seattle
Working Together to Build One Seattle
|
|
Mayor Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan outlines goals and initiatives to revitalize downtown Seattle. The plan includes efforts the City will pursue across three different timelines: bold actions happening right now, near-term initiatives that will happen over the next three years, and visionary possibilities for the future of downtown Seattle. These items will build on actions the City has already taken, including reopening City Hall Park, hosting an office space conversion competition, relaunching the Graffiti Abatement program for private property, and convening a Fentanyl Systems Work Group.
-
Promoting unique retail experiences: Filling empty storefronts with small businesses and art installations through the Seattle Restored Program.
-
New pedestrian-only street: Piloting a green and healthy street by closing Pike Street between First and Second Avenues for pedestrians only.
-
Encouraging more residential development: Waive SEPA requirements for all residential projects and upzoning portions of Third Avenue to allow for more high-rise residential development with incentives for providing childcare and education facilities.
-
Allowing more street level businesses: Expanding the permitted uses for street level spaces to include office, conference room, laboratory, and residential amenities.
-
Supporting more food businesses and a vibrant streetscape: Temporarily waiving street-use fees for food trucks and carts and special events that bring people downtown.
-
Investing in cleaning: Investing in the Metropolitan Improvement District for expanded cleaning, safety, and hospitality services this summer and fall.
-
Space Needle Thinking: Innovative thinking to “push the needle” on what the future of downtown could look like, like creating a maker’s campus to provide new economic opportunities, lidding I-5 and growing more tree canopy, and developing an arts and entertainment district with a connected streetcar.
Seattle is gearing up to host a variety of large-scale events this summer that will attract visitors from around the country and world, stimulate economic activity, and connect residents with their community. This will be the most active summer in Seattle since the beginning of the pandemic with activities like sporting events, music and arts festivals, and other community gatherings.
Some exciting events include:
-
MLB All-Star Week: The biggest baseball event of the summer comes to T-Mobile Park next week! The MLB All-Star Game is an annual competition between teams comprised of the all-stars of the two major baseball leagues, the American League and the National League. The days leading up to the match brings with it many activities for baseball fans, such as the HBCU Swingman Classic, the Celebrity Softball game, and the MLB Draft.
-
Bite of Seattle: After a three-year hiatus, the Bite of Seattle is returning to Seattle Center on July 21-23. Featuring over 200 food vendors and 50 musical performances, the Bite of Seattle is a great way to experience Seattle’s world-class culinary scene in a single weekend and support local restaurants and small businesses.
-
Seattle Art Fair: The Seattle Art Fair will return for its 7th edition from July 27-30, showcasing the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant arts community as well as local and international galleries at Lumen Field Event Center.
-
Bumbershoot: Bumbershoot returns this year for its 50th anniversary on Labor Day weekend as Seattle’s biggest arts and music festival. Recentering itself around local creators and performers, its multi-disciplinary lineup marks a return to the festival’s original mission to gather the community around local art.
|
 Mayor Harrell joined community members and youth for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly renovated Magnuson Community Center, which includes more space for multigenerational programming.
|
 Mayor Harrell celebrated the launch of Seattle Fire Department’s Energy Response Unit, a first-in-the-nation collaboration with Seattle City Light to fight energy-related fires and protect critical infrastructure.
|
|
 Bringing together all corners of City government and community members, Mayor Harrell formed a 24-person work group to address the crisis of fentanyl and synthetic drugs use on Seattle’s streets.
 Mayor Harrell joined civic, business, and community members in June to celebrate the reopening of City Hall Park, which was refurbished and given enhanced amenities and robust activation activities.
 At Kerry Park, Mayor Harrell introduced new Building Emissions Performance Standards, a bold new proposal to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Seattle’s buildings and build a more sustainable future for the city.
|
 Following a unanimous approval of the Housing Levy Proposal by City Council, Mayor Harrell signed legislation to place the levy on Seattle voters’ ballots in November. The levy supports the development of over 3,100 units of new affordable housing and fund other tools to prevent homelessness and ensure housing stability for more than 9,000 low-income households.
 Coming together with Seattle students, education partners, and youth health professionals, Mayor Harrell announced Reach Out Seattle, a new youth mental health initiative focused on prevention and early intervention of youth behavioral health challenges.
 In collaboration with the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Tabor 100, Mayor Harrell announced the Liberty Project, a new business growth program that aims to accelerate revenue growth and expand opportunities for businesses owned by underrepresented communities in Seattle.
|
|
|
“I took the light rail today to Pioneer Square for an appointment and the city looked great! The station was clean, the street was clean, and I felt very safe. Thank you for pushing hard and taking action!” –Bryan R., 5/15/2023
“I am feeling very encouraged by all the programs and support that the Mayor's office is providing for our downtown community to feel more vibrant and safe. Appreciate all the efforts.” – Jill R., 5/18/2023
“I want you to know that I think you are doing an amazing job as Mayor of Seattle. You took the reins at a really rough time. We still have serious issues to deal with, but the progress and the positive movement is noticeable, and it’s appreciated. Keep moving in the direction you are going.” – Randy S., 5/20/2023
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ for turning this city around. As I drive around the city now, there is a noticeable change - graffiti is being removed and encampments are disappearing. You're gradually turning this city back into the great city it once was. Thank you for your efforts and please don't let up!” – Ed C., 6/12/2023
“I would like to thank you for the increasing efforts you have made to curb crime in the downtown area. I work downtown and feel the streets are safer when walking to and from my job.” – Colleen S., 6/23/2023
|
|
|
|
|
