Council member Saka requested city council support for the Alliance for Pioneer Square’s application to the Washington State Arts Commission and asked colleagues to sign a support letter. Council member Saka said the mayor had already signed the letter and described the designation as bringing recognition, startup resources and technical assistance to the neighborhood.

Why it matters: state creative-district recognition pairs symbolic recognition with technical assistance and small capital project support, which council members said could benefit the historic Pioneer Square business and arts community.

Council member Saka, who introduced the request, said there are 18 creative districts statewide and that Seattle currently has one in Rainier Valley; the proposed designation would be Seattle’s second. Council President Nelson thanked Saka and congratulated the Alliance for Pioneer Square for its community outreach behind the application.

On a clerks roll call, the seven council members present—Strauss, Kettle, Moore, Rink, Saka, Solomon and Council President Nelson—recorded “aye,” and the clerk affixed seven signatures to the support letter. No dissent or abstention was recorded in the briefing meeting.

The letter and signatures will accompany the Alliance’s application to the Washington State Arts Commission as required by the state's process for creative-district recognition. Council members did not take further committee action on the item during the briefing.