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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