22 Feb Pioneer Square in the News

IMAGE OF THE WEEK
Is actually a painting of the week, by David Patterson. (sigh) I’m in love:

NEWS

To gain housing, Pioneer Square needs a boost (Crosscut)
The planets are finally lined up for a renaissance in Seattle’s historic neighborhood, but only if the City Council will provide the legislation to help overcome the inherent difficulties of building housing in South Downtown. Here are three things the council should do. [by former mayor Charley Royer]

Thank heavens: Okinawa Teriyaki serves up platters of celestial food (Seattle Times)
Big portions, low prices, delicious teriyaki, ramen and katsu: It’s Pioneer Square’s Okinawa Teriyaki, run by the friendly Yi family

McGinn Announces $1 Million Investment In Neighborhood Business Districts
On Weds., Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn joined neighborhood business district leaders and local business owners at Thompson’s Point of View in Seattle’s Central District to announce a $1 million investment in 18 neighborhood business districts as part of the Seattle Jobs Plan (including $100,000 for Pioneer Square)

Seattle’s history: ‘S’ is for ‘Fake’ (Crosscut)
Seattle embraces a fake history and fake future to create the city and heritage we love, even if it never happened. [PSq pergola and the trolley featured]

Luke Haynes: The Artist Takes Over the Gallery
When Howard House closed last summer, the gallery seemed destined to remain dark for months, a forlorn reminder of Pioneer Square’s problems for all who passed it during subsequent First Thursday art walks. Then a funny thing happened. In September, a new guy with a giant quilting machine took residence.

Safeco Field taxes bill finally drops with money shifting to arts, housing and convention center expansion
House Bill 1997 by Des Moines Democrat Tina Orwall would divide up the half-cent food and bar tax and two chunks of car rental taxes, both collected only in King County. The money would go to 4Culture to low-income housing and to a new fund to pay for tourism-related projects in the Pioneer Square and International District neighborhoods near the baseball and football stadiums.

Marchers Clash With Police in Downtown Seattle (WSBT)
Officers used pepper spray on the crowd after a police car window was smashed and another time when marchers tried to go past officers into Pioneer Square.

Detour ahead: On-ramp to Alaskan Way Viaduct coming down (NWCN)
The warning signs are everywhere. More big changes are coming to the the south end of Pioneer Square, as the state DOT prepares to tear down the south half of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and begin drilling the tunnel.

Inscape: Good Foundations (Seattle Weekly)
Near Pioneer Square, facing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the 619 Western Building is one such example: 100 years old, sitting on mud and fill, and likely headed for demolition due to the planned deep-bore tunnel below (which would fatally weaken its foundation). Next year, some 100 artists will lose their workspaces in the charming if dilapidated former warehouse. (Even if there’s a costly seismic retrofit, they still have to move out for that.)

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