ANNUALREPORTDOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION

2010/11

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LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION

TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS & PARKING

URBAN ENVIRONMENT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESTINATION MARKETING

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

COMMUTE SEATTLE

DSA 2010/11 LEADERSHIP

DSA DOWNTOWN CHAMPION AWARD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

There’s no getting around that the economic downturn of

the last few years has left its mark on Downtown Seattle.

But if our 2010/11 year is any indication, the tide has

begun to turn toward a promising future.

To measure progress, we pay close attention to four key

indicators: Downtown as a place to live, to work, to shop

and to play. If all four indicators are moving in the right

direction, chances are high that our Downtown will be

healthy and vibrant.

This past year we had much to celebrate in each of these

areas including the groundbreaking for nine new

apartment towers; the opening of new headquarters for

Amazon, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dendreon

Corporation, NewBay Software, PATH and Russell

Investments; the arrival of retailers All Saints Spitalfields,

Forever 21 and later this year, Target; as well as the

opening of several restaurants including Hard Rock Café,

Michael Mina’s RN74, Sullivan’s and five new Tom Douglas

eateries. And let us not forget the Seattle Art Museum’s

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris

exhibit which attracted 405,000 visitors and an

estimated $66 million in statewide economic impact.

Even with these and other signs of an improving

economy, our continued office and retail vacancy rates,

budget cuts, high unemployment, changing political

landscape and a rattled consumer confidence have

taught us that no one is immune, and that we must have

a plan in place to emerge from the recession well

prepared and well positioned.

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So this year we embarked on a strategic planning effort

involving hundreds of DSA members and non-members

alike in the development of a five-year strategic plan for

the DSA and Downtown Seattle. The plan, introduced at

our annual meeting, focuses on eight strategic initiatives

in addition to five projects seen as transformative for

Downtown, as well as steps to improve the organization’s

governance, branding and community relations.

We hope you will take time to acquaint yourself with our

strategic plan and to read the following pages of this

annual report which highlight our numerous efforts and

accomplishments of the past year. More importantly,

if you aren’t already involved please consider

participating in one of our many committees, task forces

and advisory groups –

FOR DOWNTOWN’S CONTINUED SUCCESS, TODAY AND TOMORROW, REQUIRES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

MESSAGE FROM DSA PRESIDENT KATE JONCAS & BOARD CHAIR JAMES HENDRICKS, PhD