PIONEER SQUARE DISTRICT

On Thursday, September 16th, meet up with your friends for happy hour at The New Orleans in Pioneer Square, all to support CASH.  Washingon CASH, that is.  The Community Alliance for Self-Help.

Enjoy music, free appetizers, and discounted happy hour cocktails, all to benefit an amazing non-profit helping people in our community become small business owners.  Party with a purpose.  That’s the goal.

Suggested $10 donation at the door will directly benefit Washington CASH clients.

RSVP: Sonia@washingtoncash.org

Have you ever wondered what goes into the creation of the annual Map & Guide for Pioneer Square?  Check out the latest blog post by Studio SC – the local firm who designed this years publication.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick one up we encourage you to do so.  They can be found in Pioneer Square businesses, the information kiosk in Occidental Square Park and in over 200 distribution racks throughout western Washington (including SeaTac airport and the Washington State Ferries).

This year the publication was a joint effort between the Alliance for Pioneer Square and the Metropolitan Improvement District.

On the third Thursday of each month, WSDOT and SDOT, in cooperation with the Alliance for Pioneer Square and the New Pioneer Square Blog, host a public meeting to discuss plans to replace the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall. The purpose of these meetings is to provide information, and give neighbors an opportunity to comment and ask questions about how viaduct replacement and other relevant projects and programs will affect the Pioneer Square neighborhood.

This month’s meeting is at noon on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Klondike Gold Rush Museum (319 Second Ave. S.).  Meeting topics include:

• Viaduct construction update: Construction to replace the southern mile of the viaduct is now underway. Find out how current and upcoming work will affect you, and what state and local agencies are doing to keep the neighborhood vital during construction.
• Alliance for Pioneer Square update: In June the Pioneer Square Community Association unveiled its new name and a new mission. Program Director Lisa Dixon will explain why changes were made and how the organization is working to revitalize the neighborhood.
• First Hill Streetcar update: The City of Seattle is developing the First Hill Streetcar through an Interlocal Agreement with Sound Transit. SDOT Rail Transit Manager Ethan Melone will present information about the project and how it will affect Pioneer Square.

Please let us know if you have any questions or topic ideas for future meetings. Also, if you haven’t already, please take a moment to fill out our neighborhood survey. Survey results will be used to help us keep neighbors informed during construction.

Thanks, and we hope to see you on Thursday.

For current program information, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org

The 4th Annual Pioneer Square Singles Bocce Tournament, sponsored by The Alliance for Pioneer Square,  will be August 2 – 5.  The tournament consists of 16 local Pioneer Square employees and enthusiasts!  Games kick off at 11 am, 11:45 am, 12:30 pm , and 1:15 pm Mon – Wed.

Art Walk/Championship Thursday 08/05  will kick off at 11:45 am, one set of group winners will playoff in a semifinal to determine who would play the against the winner of the other set of group winners’ semifinal playoff for the championship/2^nd place, with the losers of each playoff game playing for 3rd place.   Participants are competing for both glory and a prize of gift certificates from our local “Italian” businesses!

All slots are full for the tournament, but if you are interested in participating in the future, please email lisa@pioneersquare.org.

SEATTLE – Mayor Mike McGinn invites residents to apply for three open positions (one architect, one attorney and one retail owner in Pioneer Square) on the Pioneer Square Preservation Board. Individuals who have an interest in the historical preservation of the district are encouraged to apply.

The 10-member Pioneer Square Preservation Board reviews land use, new construction, changes of use, façade alterations, signs, and street improvements within the Pioneer Square Preservation District. Members serve a term of three years and are eligible for reappointment. Applicants must reside within the city of Seattle and should send a letter of interest and resume by July 30, 2010.  

The goals of the board are to preserve, protect and enhance the historic character of the Pioneer Square Historic District. The board is composed of two district property owners, two architects and one of the following – retail business owner, attorney, historian/ architectural historian, human services representative, member-at-large, and a young adult appointed through the Get Engaged Boards and Commissions program.

Board meetings are held 9:00 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. In addition, board members may be asked to serve on an additional committee, which also meets twice a month. Electronic submissions are preferred, if possible.

Please email your letter and resume to: