20 Jun Pioneer Square in the News

All links concerning the City’s plan to help our neighborhood (+ the Comcast announcement):

McGinn says Internet will help draw business back to Pioneer Square (DJC)
One broker said retail has been slow but office is strong because Pioneer Square has the kind of space that startups, tech and design firms want.

High-speed Internet, lower parking rates coming to Pioneer Square (KOMO News)
The mayor has laid out a recovery strategy to help revitalize the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood.

Bathrooms, good Internet: Can they save Pioneer Sq.? (Seattle PI)
At a City Hall news conference where he was joined by former mayor and Pioneer Square resident Charles Royer, McGinn also announced that Onehub, a business-file sharing company from Bellevue, was moving into the city’s oldest community next month. Charles Mount, Onehub CEO, said juiced-up Internet was a key factor in the decision to bring his 10-person business across Lake Washington.

Comcast lands Pioneer Square internet contract; Onehub moving in from Bellevue (TechFlash)
Discovery Bay Games, Zynga and other tech companies have chosen to locate in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood because of its character, proximity to downtown and other amenities. But the area is lacking some critical infrastructure, including high-speed internet access.

Seattle’s First Neighborhood: Mayor’s One-Year Update on Pioneer Square Plan (Seattlest)
Last June, Mayor Mike McGinn released a plan to bring vitality and viability back to Seattle’s historic, hard-knock neighborhood, Pioneer Square. Today, he’s updated the plan, laying out his priorities for the coming year.

Comcast wins high-speed broadband contract for Seattle’s Pioneer Square (GeekWire)
Now, through a proposal by Mayor McGinn, Comcast will be able to utilize existing city-laid conduit to bring high-speed Internet to the neighborhood. Internet connectivity in Pioneer Square is notoriously bad, driven in part by the old brick buildings and historic designation which makes it tough for ISPs to tear up the streets.

Mayor: Pioneer Square to get ultra-fast broadband (hopefully) (Crosscut)
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn takes a “small tangible step” to keep Pioneer Square growing as a high-tech hotspot, and hopes the idea will spread to other neighborhoods.

Comcast, Metro city plan Pioneer Square broadband (Seattle Times)
The introduction of high-speed Internet is part of the city’s strategy to attract tech companies to the historic neighborhood, he said.

Revitalizing Pioneer Square (Downtown Seattle News)
Mayor McGinn, along with Pioneer Square businesses, community leaders, and former Mayor Charles Royer, are working together to revitalize Pioneer Square into a vibrant urban community, as a destination for new jobs, residents, and nightlife.

OTHER NEWS

Jones Soda moving to Pioneer Square (Seattle Times)
Beverage company Jones Soda plans to relocate this summer from the South Lake Union neighborhood to Pioneer Square’s historical district…

Jones Soda moving to Pioneer Square in Seattle (PSBJ)
Jones said the new location will make it easier to offer free samples to fans attending games at the stadium.

Yarn bombing brightens Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park (Crosscut)
Whimsical Dr. Seuss trees and light poles are springing up in Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park, thanks to local artist Suzanne Tidwell.

Jurors outraged over high court decision to overturn murder conviction (King5)
It was a stunning piece of videotape that lead to the quick conviction of the gunman, 21 year old Kevin Monday, in a 2006 triple shooting in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. But now the conviction has been overturned by the state Supreme Court, who ruled King County deputy prosecutor James Konat made racist comments to the jury.

Sounders FC fans more than spectators (Seattle Times)
In its third season, Sounders FC has mixed results on the field, but fans remain committed to making trips to Qwest Field more than just a night out. They are active participants and dedicated to the community.

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

These limited edition prints are for sale on Seattlewatercolors.com: