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Greater than 1,100 civic and enterprise leaders gathered not too long ago for our annual State of Downtown on the Seattle Conference Heart to rejoice the progress made to revitalize downtown Seattle and assess our challenges. For the primary time in a number of years, a majority of the Seattle Metropolis Council attended — extra proof that the spirit of partnership between Metropolis Corridor and the enterprise group has been reborn.
Beneath the management of Mayor Bruce Harrell and the non-public sector, downtown is in a a lot stronger place relative to 2 years in the past. However downtowns are fragile, and we proceed to face vital threats, elevated competitors and modifications in habits influenced by the pandemic. To maintain shifting ahead, we should advance daring concepts, seize the alternatives earlier than us and tackle urgent challenges with actions that ship actual outcomes. The continued revitalization of downtown issues to all the metropolis.
Downtown Seattle has three distinct benefits that any city middle would envy. First, we’re revitalizing from a powerful base with a wealthy mixture of makes use of that construct on enterprise and commerce. For many years, we’ve labored to find arenas, stadiums, arts, tradition, music venues, main points of interest, conference facilities and cruise traces in proximity to 1 one other. Downtown’s residential inhabitants has additionally grown to a file 106,000. Not like San Francisco, the place greater than 70% of downtown constructing sq. footage is dedicated to places of work, in downtown Seattle it’s simply half. Briefly, this various combine provides the equal benefit of a various inventory portfolio.
Second, regardless of latest financial uncertainty, the private and non-private sectors proceed to take a position. Over a five-year interval, greater than $5 billion of public infrastructure could have taken form in Seattle’s middle metropolis. This features a remade ferry terminal, gentle rail and speedy bus line extensions, the brand new waterfront park, the conference middle addition and Local weather Pledge Enviornment, in addition to plans for a significant renovation of Memorial Stadium.
Third, Seattle’s model stays sturdy throughout the nation and all over the world. The summer season of 2023 noticed a file cruise season and the only most income generated in downtown motels when Taylor Swift shook up Lumen Discipline in July. Greater than 6.5 million guests got here downtown final summer season, slightly below 2019 figures, and foot site visitors in and round a few of Seattle’s main points of interest, together with the Area Needle, outpaced 2019 numbers. Seattle stays engaging to cruisers, convention-goers and leisure vacationers who drive huge spending and large tax receipts for the town.
But, we face critical challenges that require pressing focus and motion.
Downtown has misplaced relevance with locals for the reason that pandemic. Immediately, the frequency of visits to the core of downtown by those that reside inside 10 miles is roughly half of pre-pandemic ranges, whereas visits by locals to leisure and retail facilities in different components of the area have almost absolutely recovered. Vacationers are crucial to downtown’s success, however downtowns should first be related to and desired by locals.
To draw extra locals, we should first guarantee it’s secure, clear, wholesome and welcoming. Whereas violent crime downtown has declined, human struggling and distress have elevated. The fentanyl disaster continues to worsen, with a file variety of fatalities in 2023 in King County. This can be a ethical, medical and potential financial disaster that can hold guests away and dissuade new retailers and restaurateurs from opening up store and filling vacant storefronts. Seattle’s drug disaster has absolutely intersected with the unsheltered disaster. Medication at the moment are the main explanation for demise amongst these residing exterior or in emergency shelters. The disaster additionally continues to burden the EMS system. In downtown, 911 overdose calls elevated greater than 100% from 2022 to 2023.
Downtown Seattle has substantial benefits over peer cities and a few very actual challenges that demand pressing consideration and motion. Fortunately, there’s now vital alignment between Seattle voters, the council, mayor and enterprise group. Let’s benefit from this second with a bias for motion and advance daring options that intensify our strengths and mitigate our threats. The very way forward for Seattle is dependent upon it.
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