EVENING MARKET

WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION AND HOW DOES IT ADDRESS THE CRISIS?

The proposed recommendation involves implementing a weekly evening market in Westlake Park and Occidental Square. These markets would occur during the late afternoon and evening, and would highlight local retail, food, and organizational vendors based in the areas by inviting them to expand out onto the sidewalks, streets, and open space. The pandemic has left these two areas with minimal economic activity and foot traffic, so our recommendation will draw visitors to these areas in the evening by providing experiential opportunities, and will also provide economic opportunities for local businesses and vendors.

WHO WILL THIS SERVE?

This evening market will be a fun activity that will invite and encourage visitors, residents, and employees to visit and stay longer in the Pioneer Square and Pike/Pine Retail Core areas. It will also be a space for local businesses to engage with visitors, residents, and employees in the area and provide new economic opportunities as we transition out of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. As this pandemic has disproportionately negatively impacted BIPOC communities, the contracting of complementary vendors will provide an opportunity to address health equity with the prioritization of BIPOC businesses for the limited vendor spaces.

WHY IS THIS THE BEST SOLUTION?

The evening markets are a fun, feasible, and efficient event to draw people to Pioneer Square and the Pike/Pine Retail Core while also providing opportunities for local businesses and vendors who may be suffering from the impacts of the pandemic.

This market will occur at a time where visitors will be ending their work shift or departing from a previous activity (such as sports games), so that visitors will be encouraged to remain in the space in the evening. Due to the ability to start small and gradually expand, the market can also be operated at different stages to meet the current demand.

HOW CAN IT BE FUNDED?

There are many viable funding opportunities for the proposed market interventions and many potential strategies to allow for a more accessible entry for vendors. Based on prior events organized in our study areas, the City of Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association, and the Alliance for Pioneer Square would be the primary source of funding for the launch and operations of public programming.

Vendors may need to pay a General Business license annual fee of $56 alongside a Washington state business license of $90 (if they are a new business) alongside a Park Use Permit or other applicable fees. Our recommendation hopes that funding can also cover the centralization or expedition of the permitting process for markets and special events to create a low-barrier entry for vendors impacted by the pandemic.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE TO MOVE FORWARD?

The proposed intervention should be implemented via a “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” model by starting small and gradually expanding. This event has the potential to turn into an extensive weekly community event in both study districts, however its implementation should start out small during the Summer of 2021 and expand over time responding to evaluation of its success.