Greater than 1,100 civic and enterprise leaders gathered just lately for our annual State of Downtown on the Seattle Conference Middle to have a good time 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 neighborhood 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 adjustments in habits influenced by the pandemic. To maintain shifting ahead, we should advance daring concepts, seize the alternatives earlier than us and handle urgent challenges with actions that ship actual outcomes. The continued revitalization of downtown issues to the complete 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 sights, conference facilities and cruise strains in proximity to at least one one other. Downtown’s residential inhabitants has additionally grown to a document 106,000. Not like San Francisco, the place greater than 70% of downtown constructing sq. footage is dedicated to workplaces, in downtown Seattle it’s simply half. In brief, this various combine affords the equal benefit of a various inventory portfolio.
Second, regardless of current financial uncertainty, the private and non-private sectors proceed to speculate. Over a five-year interval, greater than $5 billion of public infrastructure can have taken form in Seattle’s middle metropolis. This features a remade ferry terminal, gentle rail and fast bus line extensions, the brand new waterfront park, the conference middle addition and Local weather Pledge Area, in addition to plans for a serious renovation of Memorial Stadium.
Third, Seattle’s model stays sturdy throughout the nation and all over the world. The summer time of 2023 noticed a document cruise season and the only most income generated in downtown inns when Taylor Swift shook up Lumen Subject in July. Greater than 6.5 million guests got here downtown final summer time, just under 2019 figures, and foot visitors in and round a few of Seattle’s main sights, together with the Area Needle, outpaced 2019 numbers. Seattle stays enticing to cruisers, convention-goers and leisure vacationers who drive massive spending and massive tax receipts for town.
But, we face critical challenges that require pressing focus and motion.
Downtown has misplaced relevance with locals for the reason that pandemic. Right now, 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 practically absolutely recovered. Vacationers are vital 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 protected, clear, wholesome and welcoming. Whereas violent crime downtown has declined, human struggling and distress have elevated. The fentanyl disaster continues to worsen, with a document variety of fatalities in 2023 in King County. This can be a ethical, medical and potential financial disaster that may 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 neighborhood. Let’s take advantage of 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 determined by it.
