Every week, we compile stories of a vibrant, buzzing, and exciting Downtown. To celebrate two years of Good News Downtown, we’re resharing some of the “greatest hits” that happened Downtown in 2024. Check out some of your favorite highlights below!
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A lively neighborhood
- The Overlook Walk opened in September, and during its first week, nearly 50,000 people experienced how the new space connects Pike Place Market to the Waterfront. As Alika Larsen told KUOW’s Joshua McNichols, there is new incentive to come into his Downtown Seattle office. “If I can sneak down here for lunch break, I’m going to do lunch down here…I will come here as often as I can to replenish my soul.”
- Just a few feet from Pier 55, a pilot program of Promenade Pop-Up allowed eight local artists to sell their works right on Seattle’s Waterfront: Seattle artists featured along waterfront in tiny pop-up shops – KUOW.
- In March 2024, Marion Street Pedestrian Bridge opened, making it easier and safer for people to get from the ferry terminal to Downtown Seattle. The bridge includes over 275 lights both above and below the bridge, with the bottom lights able to change to mark holidays and special events in the city.
- Mayor Bruce Harrell joined community leaders and business owners in the Chinatown-International District to celebrate the installation of new canopy and café lighting fixtures at Hing Hay Park.
- A partnership between the Office of Economic Development, Seattle Monorail Services, and Seattle Center brought renewed color to the Seattle Monorail Columns, featuring new designs by local artist, Leslie Nan Moon.
- You asked for more lights, and we delivered! There are more lights across Third Avenue between Stewart and Virginia. This is part of an important Citywide effort to make this area of Downtown more welcoming: New Elevated Lighting Brightens 3rd Ave as part of Seattle’s Downtown Activation Plan – SDOT Blog.
- “Things are looking like they’re going in the right direction; I’m sure having people back in the offices is helping with that. We felt that when they all left. It’s definitely better now that it was a year ago.” GeekWire visited South Lake Union and Denny Triangle, reporting that business owners and workers find the area is a “vibrant neighborhood once again.” Businesses around Amazon HQ are bustling, a year after tech giant’s return-to-office mandate – GeekWire.
- A new play structure at Urban Triangle Park in the Denny Triangle is open! This park is a great example of what we can do when we reimagine what Downtown can be. Before Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased the land at this site, it was an Enterprise Car Rental.
Exciting retail and cultural experiences
- Tabletop Village in the Chinatown-International District builds a community within a community for Pokémon fans of all ages. Brian Myers and his family opened Tabletop Village during the pandemic and work to bring folks together over their shared love of Pokémon. Building Community through Pokémon – Bottom Line.
- The return of Black Tech Night brought more than 200 people together to mingle and discuss the importance of strong community to help grow representation.
- “You basically can’t turn a corner without finding something interesting to see.” Shine On Seattle features the work of five local artists in this nighttime public art installation: Artists light up Pioneer Square in Seattle – KING 5.
- Tidelands, a new Indigenous-owned art gallery, opened near the Waterfront. The gallery cultivates the current and next generation of Indigenous creatives and visionaries while elevating their work in a welcoming gathering space: Tidelands, an Indigenous artistic hub, opens in downtown Seattle – The Seattle Times.
Cheer on our sports
- A franchise record 18,343 people were at the Seattle Storm game on May 22 where they clenched the win against the formidable Indiana Fever. “Amazing. I think it’s great for the city of Seattle,” Storm coach Noelle Quinn said of the turnout. “I think it’s great for women’s basketball (and) basketball in general to have an ability to put new eyes on the game and generate this magnetic energy that’s coming from basketball. I love it. I love that I was a part of it, and hopefully we can keep it flowing.” Caitlin Clark fuels ‘incredible’ night in first game vs Seattle Storm – Seattle Sports (MyNorthwest.com).
- “We went to a Sounders game, and we were so impressed by the turnout and then obviously it’s great to see this, we’re big soccer fans and big fans of women’s sports in general.” Seattle soccer fans filled Westlake Park to cheer on the USA Women’s team as they competed against Germany at the Paris Olympics. Fans cheer on Team USA women’s soccer in downtown Seattle – KING 5.
- Seattle celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with the 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dash over 3,000 people racing through South Lake Union, including a “Kids Leprechaun Lap” for dashers 10 and under. After the race there was live music, a costume contest, and a post dash bash with food and drinks.
- The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race brought 70 boats to Seattle on May 4 following their race across the Pacific Ocean.
A new wave of entertainment
- Under a lease with Seattle Center, the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development took over tenancy at the M5 Creative Building. As OED’s film program manager Chris Swenson told the Seattle Times, “Film productions are nomadic by nature. You need a space for a while, maybe a few weeks or months at a time. Available and affordable offices are rare for this type of work. You want somewhere secure, with plenty of desk space and Wi-Fi, bathrooms, small prop storage and easy access.”
- Seattle Aquarium’s fabulous new Ocean Pavilion opened to substantial revelry:
- “I want people to be inspired to express themselves.” The producers behind Bumbershoot transformed a former Bed, Bath, and Beyond store into a new music and arts venue. The new art space in Downtown Seattle will be called Cannonball Arts. New downtown Seattle art space from Bumbershoot producers slated to open in spring 2025 – KOMO.
A top destination for Seattleites and visitors year-round
- The first Indian Consulate in the Pacific Northwest came to Seattle in March. Located in the Federal Reserve Building, it serves as a gathering place for the Indian community to celebrate holidays and special events.
- The Washington State Convention Center released a report on the activities and results of 2023, the first year operating two locations, Arch and Summit. In 2023, the Center welcomed approximately 350,837 event attendees and hosted 160 events. These events contributed to the continued growth in Downtown’s hotel occupancy, which ended at 68.6%, a 5.8% increase from 2022. Attendee spending, and the resulting sales taxes generated, more than tripled in 2023 compared to 2021. This remarkable economic impact reflects the success of the WSCC and its hospitality partners in the continuing recovery from the pandemic.
- According to AAA, Seattle was the top Labor Day destination in the entire country. Seattle also received this distinction last year, but bookings this year were up 30% over 2023. This City Is Expected To Be The Most Crowded Destination In America During Labor Day – Islands.com.
- The 2024 Bite of Seattle drew 355,670 visits to Seattle Center, a 38% increase from last year. The festival used most of Seattle Center’s 74 acres, with approximately 240 vendors participating, half of which were local businesses.
Healthy, resilient, and green
- Downtown ambassadors picked up more than 100,000 gallons of trash in Downtown Seattle in January, beating out January 2023 by 9,000 gallons.
- Spire, a 41-story building in Downtown, announced new EV charging systems with a robotic flair. The EV charging stations can move throughout the entire garage allowing it to charge all 192 cars parked on location in a 24-hour period. Automated parking garage in Seattle condo tower gets even more robotic with EV charging bays – GeekWire.
- The One Seattle Day of Service brought hundreds of volunteers to Downtown Seattle in partnership with over a hundred businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to give back and take action to improve the city we love. “It’s amazing how thousands of people come out and plant flowers, remove graffiti and pick up litter and feed the hungry,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell.
- Seattle’s Downtown hotels are at the front of the pack for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel rooms, according to Hotelogy.
