PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION AGENDA

7a

Item No.
Date of Meeting

August. 9, 2011

DATE:

August 3, 2011

TO:

Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer

FROM:

Joe McWilliams, Managing Director, Real Estate Division

SUBJECT:

Presentation by Waterfront Seattle on Central Waterfront planning

The City of Seattle currently is engaged in a broad-based effort to plan for development of new
public spaces along the city's central waterfront. The Waterfront Seattle project, along with the
Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall replacement programs, will play a key role in establishing
new connections between the city and the waterfront.
The city has engaged the Port of Seattle, along with numerous community, business and labor
leaders in this design process that covers 26 city blocks from King Street to Broad Street. The
core project includes:
 Removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct
 New public spaces along the waterfront and in Belltown
 A new Alaskan Way surface street between King and Pine Street serving all travel
modes
 A city street connection between the waterfront and Belltown connecting Alaskan
Way to Elliott and Western Avenues
Additional Waterfront Seattle projects, to be identified and developed through a Framework
Plan, include:
 Waterfront public spaces, including redesign of Pier 62/63 (the "concert pier") and
Waterfront Park
 Improved connections to the waterfront, including east‐west pedestrian connections
(green streets, hillclimb assists, pedestrian bridges)
 Redesign of additional street segments such as the north portion of Alaskan Way
between Pine and Broad Street and Railroad Way
The nationally recognized design firm of james corner field operations is leading the design
effort for the public space. The firm presented its first design concepts at a public meeting May
19, 2011. The framework plan and conceptual design efforts will be underway through 2012.
Construction of public spaces, street and utilities could commence in 2016 following completion
of the proposed bored tunnel. Work to identify sources of financing for the waterfront
improvements is underway.

COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
August 3, 2011
Page 2 of 2

As a major property owner and engine for economic activity, the Port has a significant interest in
this planning process. The Port owns the Pier 66 cruise terminal, Bell Harbor International
Conference Center, the short-stay marina as well as an uplands office building. Pier 69 is the
Port's administrative headquarters and the home of Victoria Clipper providing daily connections
to Victoria and other destinations.
Demolition of the Viaduct and construction of the deep-bore tunnel will create exciting new
opportunities for connections between the city and the waterfront. At the same time, surface
Alaskan Way will continue to be an important corridor for access to the Port's cruise and fishing
businesses and connectivity between north and south industrial areas. The Commission has
stated that planning for the waterfront's public spaces should reflect the corridor's economic and
transportation importance to the city and the region.
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BRIEFING:


Waterfront Seattle PowerPoint presentation