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Workshop 2 and related engagement

Overview

On July 17, 2024, Sound Transit, in partnership with the City of Seattle and King County, hosted the second workshop of the South Downtown Hub plan, a series of workshops focused on developing overall concepts for improvements to streets and public spaces in South Downtown. Workshop 2 focused on public spaces and potential transit-oriented development at and around existing and potential future transit stations in these neighborhoods. The goal in this second workshop was to share concepts that represent different levels of change to support active, affordable, and equitable spaces for the community and to welcome input on those concepts.

Sound Transit and partners also launched an exhibition alongside Workshop 2 that summarizes feedback from Workshop 1 and earlier engagement. The exhibition includes a finding of broad support for transformative options that reclaim roadway space for pedestrians and public spaces, as well as analysis to respond to concerns for how changes could affect traffic patterns throughout the Chinatown-International District (CID) and Pioneer Square neighborhoods. The exhibition will be up through the end of 2024 in Union Station’s Great Hall.

More than 85 community members participated in an interactive and facilitated small-group activity during Workshop 2 that used transparency overlays of street and infrastructure concepts and photo cards to depict urban design features and amenities. Similar to the first workshop, staff introduced multiple options and helped participants visualize and navigate the benefits and challenges of each to create vision boards for three focus areas. Notetakers captured feedback, questions, and general sentiment throughout the exercise which we will summarize on this page once that information is available. Community feedback from the workshop will then be factored and built into our next workshop and future engagement. Community members participated in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin-facilitated conversations. Staff also had Vietnamese interpreters available at the second workshop.

To bring the activity to other groups and organizations that weren’t able to attend the workshop, an online survey, which is live through Aug. 31, shares the vision board activity in a digital format to invite additional comments on the South Downtown Hub Plan. A summary of what we hear from the online survey will also be added to this page once the outreach efforts are complete.

The feedback shared at the workshop and online survey will inform our understanding what the community would like to see prioritized in public spaces, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and potential new transit-oriented development.

Facilitators guide workshop participants in Cantonese and English through an interactive and creative process of creating a new vision for public spaces in the Pioneer Square and CID neighborhoods.
Facilitators guide workshop participants through an interactive and creative process of creating a new vision for the Pioneer Square and CID neighborhoods.

Workshop focus areas

The focus areas for discussions about public spaces and potential transit-oriented development at and around existing and potential future transit stations included:

Map showing the Union station and surrounding plazas focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the Union Station and surrounding plazas focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
Union Station and surrounding plazas. (Click on image to view more info)
Map showing the CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
CID Station at S Dearborn Street and Seattle Blvd S. (Click on image to view more info)
Map showing the Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
Midtown Station at James St and City Hall Park. (Click on image to view more info)

The busy intersection of 4th Avenue South, 2nd Avenue Extension South, and South Jackson Street is in between active regional and intercity rail service at King Street Station as well as light rail service at the existing International District/Chinatown Station adjacent to the historic Union Station. A number of barriers between the CID and Pioneer Square neighborhoods exist in this area since it’s an intersection of major roadways and regional freight and passenger rail.

Three blocks south of Union Station, South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard have long felt like a barrier at the south end of the CID and unsafe for pedestrians due to arterial streets and auto-centric infrastructure. Home to the INSCAPE Arts and Cultural Center and a potential new light rail station, this area is already part of the International Special Review District.

Three blocks north of Union Station sits the historic City Hall Park and King County’s Civic Campus, an underutilized area in Pioneer Square poised for reimagining and redevelopment.

All three of these areas are considered as part of the same comprehensive improvement package. Improvements to connection and activation can benefit communities and regional access to the neighborhoods now. The following summarizes the activity as it relates to each focus area.

The focus at this location is to bridge physical barriers between these two transit centers and complement that with greater community use of Union Station and surrounding plazas. We are also exploring ways to bridge physical barriers between the CID and Pioneer Square neighborhoods.

Workshop, forum, and survey participants considered ways these public spaces could be improved to better serve and connect these historic neighborhoods. A summary of feedback from Workshop 2 will be shared on this site once it’s available.

Map showing the Union station and surrounding plazas focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the Union Station and surrounding plazas focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
The intersection of 4th Avenue South, 2nd Ave Extension S, and South Jackson Street near the historic Union Station and surrounding plazas.
Map showing the individual improvements for Option 1 for Union Station and surrounding plazas. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 1 shows street changes to create public space at the intersection of 2nd Ave Extension South and South Jackson Street, a potential new crossing of 4th Avenue at South King Street, a new outdoor connection from the plaza to 4th Avenue, upgrades to the plaza at the existing CID light rail station, and opens Union Station great Hall to the public.
Option 1 for Union Station and surrounding plazas

Focuses improvements to existing station plaza on King St, opening up sight lines, improving walking surfaces, and reconfiguring planters. Adds mid-block public connection from plaza to 4th Ave S in partnership.

Union Station Great Hall could be opened to the public with community-based programming and uses.

Map showing the individual improvements for Option 2 for Union Station and surrounding plazas. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 2 would bring the same changes as Option 1, with the addition of greater updates to the plaza at the existing CID light rail station, and would also open Union Station Great Hall, the Union Station concourse, and would create more public serving uses at Union Station.
Option 2 for Union Station and surrounding plazas

Expands improvements to existing station plazas, including reconfiguring openings, removing and replacing canopies, upgrading paving, and reconfiguring planters. Adds mid-block public connection from plaza to 4th Ave S in partnership.

This could include further activation of Union Station with public and community-serving uses on lower levels and Concourse, though this may be complicated with the 4th Ave station alternative, which uses the concourse behind Union Station as the principal entrance lobby and vertical circulation zone.

The focus in this area was to think about different approaches to development surrounding a potential new light rail station near the INSCAPE Arts and Cultural Center including what uses to prioritize, level of density, and connections to public space. A new light rail station could facilitate new development and public space for the neighborhood without displacing existing residents and businesses.

Workshop, forum, and survey participants considered ways to create new public spaces and connections between neighborhoods, transit services, and regional event destinations. A summary of feedback from Workshop 2 will be shared on this site once it’s available.

Map showing the CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
The intersection of S Dearborn Street and Seattle Blvd S is the location for a potential new CID Station.
Map showing the individual improvements for Option 1 for CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 1 would create a new connection to the Sounder station and Stadiums from Seattle Boulevard South, change Dearborn Street for better pedestrian usability, would create parking and service loading/unloading near a potential new CID South light rail station, would create a new courtyard/plaza near a potential new CID South light rail station, and would realign the 6th Avenue South and Maynard Avenue South intersection to the east of the potential new CID South light rail station.
Option 1 for CID Station at S Dearborn Street and Seattle Blvd S

Realigns 6th Ave S to intersect with Maynard Ave S.

Transit-oriented development includes a mix of buildings that could include up to 120 homes and 320,000 square feet of commercial/industrial uses, framing a potentially publicly accessible courtyard/plaza.

Expanded sidewalks around station entrances on Seattle Blvd, 6th Ave S includes shared-use path connecting to Georgetown to Downtown Trail.

Map showing the individual improvements for Option 2 for CID Station at South Dearborn Street and Seattle Boulevard South. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 2 would create the same changes as Option 1, but would make even more pedestrian friendly changes to Dearborn Street, and would realign the street grid at Seattle Boulevard South, South Charles Street, and Maynard Avenue South to create better connectivity and pedestrian access.
Option 2 for CID Station at S Dearborn Street and Seattle Blvd S

Realigns street grid to calm traffic and create more room for public space or additional development near station entrance.

Transit-oriented development includes a mix of buildings and could include at least 400 homes and 12,000 square feet of active ground floor uses, framing a potentially publicly accessible courtyard/plaza.

Potential to partner with adjacent property owners on a grand public connection to Inscape Arts site.

The focus in this area is to think about different approaches to development surrounding a potential new light rail station near Seattle City Hall and King County Courthouse, including what uses to prioritize, level of density, and connections to public space. Transit-oriented development such as housing, retail, cultural uses, and green space could reinvigorate underutilized buildings and spaces.

Workshop, forum, and survey participants considered ways to improve and expand existing public spaces and build residential transit-oriented development. A summary of feedback from Workshop 2 will be shared on this site once it’s available.

Map showing the Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park focus area. The map shows is a zoomed out aerial view stretching from Lumen Field in the south, Pioneer Square to the north, Alaska Way to the West, and Little Saigon and First Hill to the East. The entire map is greyed out except for the Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park focus area, which also has a dotted line to show the boundaries of the focus area as it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.
The area around James St, City Hall Park, and the King County Courthouse is the location for a potential new Midtown station.
Map showing the individual improvements for Option 1 for Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 1 would create a transfer tunnel under James Street, would create a tunnel option under Jefferson Street, would expand and improve sidewalks around existing station entrances in the focus area, and would narrow and reconfigure Jefferson Street to vehicle traffic.
Option 1 for Midtown station at James St and City Hall Park

Compliments Parks plans for a renovated City Hall Park.

Transit-oriented development includes a mix of high- and mid-rise buildings that could include up to 800 homes and 30,000 square feet of active ground floor use.

Expanded sidewalks around station entrances on 4th Ave, Jefferson St, and Terrace St.

Map showing the individual improvements for Option 2 for Midtown Station at James Street and City Hall Park. The map shows the focus area with text discussing each improvement, and arrows to show where each improvement would be made. Option 2 would employ the same improvements as Option 1, with the addition of narrowing and reconfiguring Terrace Place to prioritize pedestrians and buses, and would convert Jefferson Street into a pedestrian plaza east of 4th Avenue.
Option 2 for Midtown station at James St and City Hall Park

Compliments Parks plans for a renovated City Hall Park.

Transit-oriented development includes taller buildings that could include up to 1,700 homes and 400,000 square feet of commercial uses, along with public hill climb.

Narrowing of Terrace St, pedestrian plaza conversion of Jefferson St east of 4th Ave.

Workshop 2 Materials

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