Last week, Seattle City Council unanimously passed legislation creating more flexibility for the allowable uses for street-level storefronts in downtown Seattle, South Lake Union, and Pioneer Square. Mayor Durkan signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, August 18.
Under the legislation, new allowable uses include art installations, food processing, craft work, medical services, lobbies, meeting rooms, and shared work spaces, among others. The legislation is designed to promote economic recovery by making it easier to occupy vacant storefronts and promoting additional foot traffic.
The legislation will be in effect for 12 months, meaning there are 12 months to apply for a street-level storefront to be filled by one of the new uses. Permits granted under the new, flexible standard will remain in effect in perpetuity although the space will return to the previously established use at the property owner’s or applicant’s option. Seattle is considering making the additional flexibility permanent and asked the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to transmit legislation to that effect in March 2022.
The Seattle Metro Chamber applauds the legislation’s passage. New and innovative ideas are needed more than ever to promote economic recovery, particularly downtown. As the ordinance moves to implementation, the Chamber urges Council and city departments to work closely with landlords and businesses to understand their expertise, concerns, and requests. The Chamber also requests that the city monitor the implementation of these interim provisions for any unintended consequences before introducing legislation to make the flexibility permanent.
Seattle’s economic recovery is dependent on government and business working together to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Seattle Metro Chamber will continue to work with elected and appointed leaders to champion an equitable economic recovery for our region.