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Major Expansion Of Pike Place Market Set To Begin

Pike Place Market

A major addition is coming to the Pike Place Market. The $65 million dollar project includes a pedestrian connection to the waterfront. Monday, the Seattle City Council approved selling $34 million in bonds to help pay for it.

Now, when you gaze out at the ferries and Olympic Mountains from the Pike Place Market, you look out over all the traffic on the Highway 99 viaduct. But, now that the viaduct is coming down, city leaders say it's an opportunity to connect the historic market to the water and expand the market at the same time.

“It has been 40 years since the market has seen an upgrade, but this project is about so much more than just an extended market,” said Seattle City Councilwoman Jean Godden.

On the space that has been used a lower parking lot, the Pike Place Market expansion will include a new building, more space for artisan stalls and a plaza, as well as low income housing and parking. 

Here is a video of the project, produced by the Pike Place Market Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3E1NKicNjU#t=17

The state is picking up part of the tab for the project. There are state funds to offset the loss of parking spaces under the Alaskan Way viaduct. Construction on the market expansion is expected to begin this year.

Paula is a former host, reporter and producer who retired from KNKX in 2021. She joined the station in 1989 as All Things Considered host and covered the Law and Justice beat for 15 years. Paula grew up in Idaho and, prior to KNKX, worked in public radio and television in Boise, San Francisco and upstate New York.