Articles about Downtown Seattle Association

Five years in, new analysis links Seattle’s ‘JumpStart’ tax to downtown decline

A new Downtown Seattle Association report says the city’s JumpStart payroll tax has helped drive jobs and office value out of downtown over its first five years, pointing to booming Bellevue as the contrast. Supporters, including Mayor Katie Wilson, call the tax a success. Read More

‘City at your fingertips’: Seattle powers up first digital wayfinding kiosk near tourist hot-spot

The first of dozens of IKE Smart City digital wayfinding kiosks planned for downtown and around Seattle was unveiled on Tuesday at the busy intersection of First Avenue and Pike Street. Read More

The view from Bellevue: Seattle has the foundation for future growth — if it can fix its taxes

At a Bellevue Chamber panel, regional business leaders warned that Seattle’s aggressive tax policies threaten to undermine its world-class economic foundation. Read More

Seattle’s downtown paradox: Commercial engine sputters amid improved safety and visitor growth

Seattle is witnessing a curious role reversal in its economic narrative. While the city finally gains ground on perennial challenges like crime and transportation, its traditional growth engine — the tech sector and downtown employment — is beginning to sputter. Read More

Worker foot traffic rises in Seattle after Amazon’s RTO shift, but wider office vacancies spark concern

More than half a year after Amazon called its corporate and tech workforce back to the office five days a… Read More

Seattle council gives final OK to large digital kiosks, paving way for installation of devices on city streets

The Seattle City Council approved a permit ordinance Tuesday that paves the way for the installation of large digital wayfinding… Read More

Proposal to bring digital kiosks to downtown Seattle streets moves forward with latest City Council vote

The Seattle City Council passed a resolution Tuesday granting conceptual approval to allow for large digital wayfinding kiosks in the… Read More

Get a look at the large digital kiosks that could bring wayfinding — and ad money — to downtown Seattle

Like a giant smartphone with content tailored to the needs of Seattle citizens and visitors, a large digital wayfinding kiosk… Read More

In step with what officials want to see, Amazon helped Seattle worker foot traffic jump in January

Amazon’s return to office five days per week has had an immediate impact on worker foot traffic in downtown Seattle… Read More

Proposal to bring digital kiosks to Seattle streets raises debate: Public benefit or landscape clutter?

A proposal to bring 30 interactive digital kiosks to downtown Seattle — in the hopes of enhancing public safety, wayfinding, Wi-Fi… Read More

From vacant storefronts to vibrant hubs: Revisiting ‘third places’ for urban resilience

In Seattle, city government and the Downtown Seattle Association continue to build on the “Amazon Great Return” through a variety… Read More

Seattle business leaders want city to suspend JumpStart and B&O tax to revive downtown

In a letter sent earlier this month to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and his executive leadership team, three organizations invested… Read More

The future of downtown Seattle: Reasons for hope, concern — and opportunity to change for the better

By some statistical measures, Seattle’s downtown is back. Residents have returned in pre-pandemic numbers. Tourism, certainly at Pike Place Market,… Read More

Exit interview: Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on the pandemic, Amazon, and fighting the city council

To suggest that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan had a pressurized run as the Emerald City’s top elected official is to… Read More

Seattle business leaders request ‘immediate action’ from the city to improve safety in downtown

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect comments from council members Andrew Lewis, Lisa Herbold and former council… Read More

Amazon CEO: Relationship with Seattle City Council has become ‘rougher,’ but hope remains

Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy admitted his company’s relationship with Seattle political leaders has become rocky over recent history,… Read More

‘The heart of Seattle is open’: Video offers hopeful view of downtown after a year of pandemic pain

Washington state’s move Monday to Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan has the Downtown Seattle Association buzzing for business.… Read More

Downtown Seattle Association CEO sees tech holding us together as pandemic keeps us apart

While some point to past pandemics as driving people apart, thanks to technology, Jon Scholes sees the novel coronavirus pulling… Read More

‘The heart of our city is quiet’: Video shot through and above downtown Seattle captures emptiness

As painful as it is to witness the empty streets and boarded up storefronts in downtown Seattle and throughout the… Read More

Two small businesses rally to support others with online gift card sales that act as ‘microloans’

While efforts to limit movement and interaction in Washington state appear to be slowing the novel coronavirus outbreak in the… Read More

Downtown Seattle Association CEO: Tech industry ‘unfairly blamed’ for housing crisis

Downtown Seattle has added 85,000 jobs since 2010, and nine out of 10 of new jobs in the city are technology-related.… Read More

Study: 1 in 10 Seattle residents live downtown and nearly 75% of commuters don’t drive alone to work

Seattle is speeding toward some of its density and transportation goals, according to a new study from an organization that… Read More

Downtown Seattle construction boom at a record $5 billion — 40 percent higher than last year

If the cranes dotting the skyline weren’t a clear enough indication, a new report from the Downtown Seattle Association says… Read More