Construction in Pioneer Square is scheduled to finish in November, but shopkeepers say they’re at a disadvantage having work going on outside their stores over the summer.
SEATTLE — Business owners in Pioneer Square say ongoing construction of the neighborhood’s waterfront project has led to less traffic and sales.
Work in the neighborhood is expected to begin in January and continue through November.
But the biggest problem is that construction work will take place right outside the businesses during the summer, when the businesses typically generate the majority of their revenue. Business owners said they rely heavily on the summer tourist season because there aren’t many office workers or residential properties frequenting the area.
“It just boggles the mind to think of what it’s been like for not just us, but this whole neighborhood,” said Sarah Upshaw, owner of OHSUN Banchan Deli & Café. “What’s the point of landscaping if it means we have to close our business?”
Upshaw said construction has been going on near her store since January, with work set to begin next week on the sidewalk in front of her store. She said sales dropped in January and have not recovered since.
Though the city said it would make sure the entrance would remain open during the sidewalk work, she still worries: She said the busy summer tourist season is the worst time for this disruptive construction.
“We asked to move some of the events that take place right outside our house to the fall, but scheduling doesn’t allow that,” Upshaw said.
Upshaw said the city hasn’t shared enough details or offered enough assistance, so he’s had to reach out to the city himself to get information.
“Until we are informed of all the details and how it will impact our business, we cannot plan around it,” Upshaw said. “Unfortunately, summer is the only time we can all look to thrive again.”
Another business owner down the street, who recently had work done on the sidewalk in front of her house as part of the project, said she was told the work would take two weeks but it actually ended up taking closer to eight weeks.
“It’s terrible, it’s killing business,” said Rachel Wilcox, owner of the bar Underbelly.
She said construction just outside her home caused her profits in May to reach their lowest point ever.
“People will see the construction from below and when they see this, they’ll detour to the other side and walk there or walk on Occidental Street,” Wilcox said, referring to an area where people walk because of the construction, which she said is causing people to avoid her store.
She said Pioneer Square business owners seem to have to deal with one problem after another and she wishes the city would do more to help them face challenges like this construction.
“Even if things improve somewhat, we’re going to feel the economic impact for the next six to eight months,” Wilcox said, “but we’re still in the middle of construction.”
As people make their way through the sidewalk construction, business owners are hoping the city will provide better support during this time.
“My biggest hope is that the people in charge who can actually make a difference are going to take it seriously,” Upshaw said.
Upshaw recently posted on social media asking for more help from the city, and she urged her district, Seattle City Councilman Rob Saka, to secure more funding for affected businesses.
“The reason I keep tagging him is because he’s the city councilman for this district, and unfortunately, we never get to see him,” Upshaw said. “I really think Pioneer Square should be the crown jewel of Seattle, but somehow the funding and resources and so forth get put elsewhere.”
KING 5 reached out to Representative Saka, who sent the following statement:
“I have met with business owners in Pioneer Square, and their frustrations are shared by me. Pioneer Square is our first neighborhood and the heart of our city. It is important that we come together as a community to find short-term and long-term solutions that help our neighborhood thrive. I have worked with small businesses there in the past to solve other complex and pressing issues, and I look forward to working with stakeholders to collectively find the best solutions here.. “
KING 5 also reached out to the city’s Waterfront Project. A spokesperson said the entire project is on track to be completed by the end of November. As for delays to certain sections, they said:
“Pioneer Square could be particularly challenging due to aging infrastructure, structurally weak underground areas and vulnerable subsurface utilities. These challenges typically aren’t apparent until after construction has begun and the road and sidewalk surfaces are removed, which could impact construction schedules for certain areas.. “
The spokesman also said they had held information sessions for residents and been in contact with nearby businesses, and that work was due to continue until November, with the aim of carrying it out in phases to reduce the impact.
A spokesperson said they had to work into the summer to meet the deadline because of the city’s “holiday moratorium,” which prohibits construction in Downtown and Pioneer Square from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
