This is what people think of when they think of city grit.
It’s the sand chafing our society.
And, they would just go away the city would be great.
Well, they can’t. Not without a hand up.
Grit also polishes.
people
People of Pioneer Square: Kerry
“Someone bought one of my Mr. McGoo paintings for $100.”
Kerry works on the stoop every night after 6pm or
when the doors officially close to the office building and it’s not raining.
He lives and works in one of the local galleries.
The owner hires him to clean his supplies and do evening security.
How great that one artist is helping another.
Cool and Distinct
“I came out from Boston, so I like the history in this part of the city.
From SoDo-up, it’s just cool and distinct.”
There is a nice .com vibe here
“Well, Uber is here (we work there). There is a nice .com vibe with a lot of interesting companies.
This part of town is going to be so cool in 10 years.”
We Get You Through It
Wouldn’t it be great if we all didn’t wait so long to help folks…
Wait, Let Me Give You My Smart Guy Face
“I live and work here. The more time I spend here the more hospitable it is.”
“Wait, let me give you my ‘smart guy’ face.”
What a great line!
Unique
“Well I don’t spend a to of time down here but I think there are a lot of unique restaurants.”
Diversity
“Diversity: you have the Seahawks fans…the #Sounders fans…all the business people…”
Our Community Ambassadors…Are Great Guys
“The history.”
“No, the diversity.”
“No, the art. You can see all this cool art on one block and then go another block and…’crazy.'”
“We aren’t supposed to talk to press, but you aren’t press so maybe it’s ok.”
These guys are great and I’m thankful for all they do.
It’s Always Crying Here
“You’ll have to forgive my English, I’ve only been here for 3 months.
Pioneer Square is great there is much business opportunity.
But it’s nothing like Bangladesh.
The weather is always crying here.”
Pete
“I’m just getting back from seeing my wife in the nursing home.
We’ve been together since 1952.
She’s been there 8 years but I tell her two days. She says it feels longer.”
“Can I take your picture?”
“If I wasn’t so good lookn I might not let you.
I coached Jo Hipp in the 1995 wrestling competition against Mike Tyson.
Tell them that. Would have been great, the next fight was for $10 million.
But you gotta win.”
And he did coach Joe Hipp. Hipp began his professional career in 1987, at age 25.
He went on to become the first boxer of Native-American ancestry
to compete for a version of the heavyweight championship.
Dosen’t say anything about Pete, though. Maybe he was assistant coach.
Less Gentrification Than Anywhere Else
“It’s a part of town that hasn’t been completely gentrified yet.
You still get a bit of everything.”
Robert Surless
“Pioneer Square is friendly.
I throw (football) passes at folks that I know ;
I’ve been through about 6 footballs on this corner.
One car stopped in the middle of the intersection
and just drove off with one of them.
Someone else brought me a new one two days later.
Jon Young gave me his NFL ball; he has 6 NFL passer rating titles.
He said he gave the ball to me because he thought I would appreciate it
and I could always sell it if I needed to.
I haven’t sold it.”
Robert Surles is sort of a local celebrity.
Well I’m the perfect person to ask
“Well I’m the perfect person to ask!
I think it’s friendly here. People are nice and the are good homeless services here.
I like your dogs.”
There Are Too Many Homeless
“There are too many homeless here.
I’ve been in many different locations; Southcenter was the best.”
On To Bellingham, Where Everyone Is Happy
“We just got here from LA so we don’t know much about Pioneer Square yet.
People seem stressed, maybe bc of all the one way streets.
But we think we want to continue on up to Bellingham where everyone is happy.”
It’s Beautiful And Unique
“Well…it’s beautiful, and unique.”
“And, I can’t get my parking receipt out. I wonder if they will ticket me.”
This Is My Personal Starbucks
“I just moved here from Denver because I always wanted to check out Seattle…
I kept hearing about it.
I was a mobility instructor for the blind and the ended up blind in one eye (not related).
This is my personal Starbucks. I like to hang here in the morning and get my caffeine.”
I’ll Take The Bad Any Day
“This is such a great part of town.
Yes, there are lot of homeless, but I’ll take the bad any day.”
How Seattle Riots
“Everyone gave from all over, it was really great.”
Seattle artist Amanda Gallagher Quinn set up the #howseatleriots funding campaign. More here.
Emerge
“Emerge” was created by Seattle-based artist Jeff Jacobson, aka #Weirdo.
He received two grants from the Alliance of Pioneer Square
and Kickstarter.com to fund the aerosol project.
Standing at approximately 17 feet tall and 120 feet wide,
this piece of art took four weeks to complete.
Take a walk downtown. You can’t miss it.”
Left Behind But Snuggled In
Quiet
Community Has A Sense Of Place
“My background is in fine arts and I would love to do a mural project in and for pioneer square.
I think it’s important for a community to feel the importance of ‘place’.”
Pioneer Square is the Heart of Seattle
“Pioneer Square was the heart of the city historically and architecturally…and should be again.”
People of Pioneer Square 