2017 seems to be the “Year of the Alley Activation” in Seattle. Two separate alley activation projects just wrapped up in Chinatown and the University District, and two more projects are still on the way for Pioneer Square later this year. The most successful and beloved active alley known to Seattleites and visitors alike is Post Alley, which weaves its way through the Pike Place Market Historic District featuring a mix of restaurants and specialty shops, the famous gum wall, and its iconic namesake signage.
Canton Alley Rehabilitated
Canton Alley, as it is known, has been fully rehabilitated making it a clean and comfortable alleyway for people to walk through. The alley is particularly unique because a variety of historic business entrances front upon it. Sun May Co still actively uses the alley as a main entrance, but other businesses simply treat their entrances as backdoors. By investing in improvements and activation strategies in the alleyway, the community and City of Seattle hope to see it rejuvenated as a lively space for restaurants and general business. Similar efforts are underway at nearby alleys in Pioneer Square.
Improvements to the alley included replacing the concrete surface and adding new pavers down the middle to create a sense that this alley is different from the rest–it’s for pedestrians. The old surface was patchy, dull, and broken–an unwelcoming environment for walking through.
