The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) announced today that it was seeking $300 million bailout from the federal government to stay afloat. The WSCC’s ambitious $1.8 billion expansion project is midway through construction but in jeopardy due to the economic crisis. The project will run out of money
Throughout the development of the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) expansion, the WSCC has repeated in marketing materials and public meetings that the project would be funded by existing taxes and no new taxes would be needed. However, very quietly, the WSCC also lobbied the state legislature for an expansion
Housing policy was a big issue during the 2018 legislative session in Olympia. Washington legislators considered dozens of housing-related bills, including bills to end to the state’s ban on residential rent regulation, require additional notice time to terminate a tenant’s lease agreement, and create a property tax exemption
The Urbanist will be joined by members of the Community Package Coalition (CPC) at our November 15 meetup. The CPC is a unique grassroots alliance of neighborhood groups and nonprofit advocates who recently negotiated an $80+ million public benefits deal with the Convention Center, which is expanding their facilities. Several
The Urbanist will be joined by members of the Community Package Coalition (CPC) at our November 15 meetup. The CPC is a unique grassroots alliance of neighborhood groups and nonprofit advocates who recently negotiated an $80+ million public benefits deal with the Convention Center, which is expanding their facilities. Several
One of the biggest questions swirling around the new $1.6 billion expansion of the Washington State Convention center–apart from whether it will actually get used, and who benefits from it–is how much the developer, Pine Street Group, will have to compensate the citizens of Seattle in exchange
The Urbanist’s tour series takes you to the hidden nooks and splendid neighborhoods across Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region. Join us with local experts to explore and learn about our built and natural environments. For July we are partnering with the Community Package Coalition. They are a
The Washington State Convention Center’s (WSCC) expansion project is being examined both at the county level for the sale of Convention Place Station and at the city level for public benefits required by the street and alley vacations requested by the WSCC. Regarding public benefits, the WSCC has come
The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) will present an updated public benefits proposal to the Seattle Design Commission this Thursday, May 18th, 9:00 AM, at Seattle City Hall Room L2-80. We are a coalition of nonprofits, community organizations, and advocacy groups serving neighborhoods adjacent to the proposed WSCC Addition.
Downtown transportation impacts loom large as policymakers grapple with the appropriate size of the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition’s public benefits package. One Center City is the project intended to rescue Downtown Seattle from big traffic delays when Addition construction displaces commuter buses out of the Downtown Seattle
On Tuesday morning, the members of the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition Board gathered within the convention center they hope to supplement to get updated on the $1.6 billion expansion project. Matt Griffin, managing partner at Pine Street Group, said the WSCC Addition, despite a few unforeseen hurdles,
At the first public benefits hearing of the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition, Seattle Design Commissioners danced around a tough truth: planning good public spaces around freeway trenches is difficult. A clear goal of the Community Package Coalition–a collective of nine community groups–is focused on improving bicycle
Last week King County announced a tentative deal to sell perhaps the largest remaining undeveloped property in Seattle’s city center. The 4.1-acre Convention Place Station will be sold for $161 million to the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) for its major expansion project. The move heralds the long-expected
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently introduced legislation to the Metropolitan King County Council to approve the sale of Convention Place Station (CPS) to the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) to facilitate a planned $1.6 billion convention center expansion. The press release from King County touted how the sale
Yesterday both the City of Seattle and Community Package Coalition told the planners of the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition that the public benefit package was too small for the 1.5 million square foot project that is still holding out hope to break ground this year. The WSCC
The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) expansion is a massive undertaking that will reshape four city blocks in Seattle’s urban core. We, a coalition of community organizations serving adjacent neighborhoods, believe the project’s size, central location, public ownership, and extensive request for public right-of-way compels the WSCC to
The City of Seattle and the Puget Sound region are growing rapidly. As a result, residents are facing huge spikes in housing costs, overburdened transportation infrastructure, and a shortage of space for everything from schools and parks to artist studios and small businesses. Residents have cried out for more of
The Urbanist Board of Directors has submitted a letter to the Seattle Department of Transportation endorsing several neighborhood organizations’ public benefit requests for the Convention Center Addition. The project would redevelop the entire site at Convention Place Station in Downtown Seattle as well as two isolated blocks to the north
The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition will be a $1.4 billion, 1.5 million square feet structure that doubles visitor and exhibition capacity. John Feit, chair of the Pike/Pine Urban Neighborhood Council (PPUNC), is partnering with Scott Bonjukian, our Education and Programming Director, to bring you an
The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition will be a $1.4 billion, 1.5 million square feet structure that doubles visitor and exhibition capacity. John Feit, chair of the Pike/Pine Urban Neighborhood Council (PPUNC), is partnering with Scott Bonjukian, our Education and Programming Director, to bring you an