Revitalizing Downtown Seattle: A Community-Driven Vision

How Do You Rebuild a Downtown That Works for Everyone?

Seattle Office of Economic Development logo with blue emblem

Client: City of Seattle, Office of Economic Development (OED)
Services: Project Management, Community & Stakeholder Engagement, Facilitation, Cross-Sector Partnerships
Focus Areas: Economic Development, Public Sector

Driving a Community-Centered Strategy

Post-pandemic, downtowns across the country have faced a reckoning—Seattle included. Shifting work patterns, a struggling retail landscape, and an affordable housing crisis left the city searching for a way to reinvigorate its urban core. But how do you align city departments, business leaders, and community voices to create a thriving, inclusive downtown? The Mayor of Seattle and the Office of Economic Development (OED) turned to Kinetic West to lead the Downtown Activation Plan (DAP)—a strategic roadmap designed to shape the future of Downtown Seattle through community-driven priorities and bold city action. Our approach centered on deep community engagement and data-driven insights to create a vision that was both ambitious and achievable.

We knew that revitalizing downtown would require more than just policy shifts—it needed buy-in from the people who live, work, and invest in the area every day.

Infographic detailing the steps taken to revitalize downtown Seattle. The left section highlights goals like increasing foot traffic and creating a family-friendly, affordable, small business hub. The middle section summarizes feedback from Seattle residents, stakeholders, and city leaders. The right section outlines the roadmap with goals and initiatives for downtown revitalization.
A text document detailing values and design principles for Seattle's Downtown Activation Plan. Key areas include 'People First,' emphasizing relevant language for real people; 'Ambitious Vision that Takes a Stand,' focusing on a visionary approach; 'Race, Economic, and Social Justice,' highlighting social justice values; 'Resilience and Climate Justice,' addressing climate change impact; 'Humanity and Safety,' emphasizing safety and humanity; 'Balanced Timeline,' promoting sustainable change; 'Accountability,' requiring measurable outcomes; and 'Collaboration' among various sectors.
Infographic detailing Seattle's Downtown Activation Plan with seven goals: enhancing safety, transforming downtown into a livable neighborhood, creating a unique retail experience, making downtown a desirable workspace, celebrating arts and culture, establishing it as a top destination, and promoting a healthy, green environment. The plan emphasizes the importance of addressing public safety first.

Select pages from the Downtown Activation Plan. For more information, visit www.DowntownIsYou.com

Our Approach

Unprecedented Community Engagement: Between July and November 2023, we engaged over 650 Seattleites, ensuring that historically overlooked voices were central to the conversation. Our multi-modal engagement strategy included:

  • Day-in-the-Life Interviews with residents and workers

  • Civic Big Think Event at the Space Needle

  • Focus Groups & Listening Sessions across key neighborhoods

  • Surveys & Polling to capture broad sentiment

  • Pop-ups & Walking Tour Interviews to engage people where they live and work

  • Collaborative Planning & Broad Stakeholder Input: Before the DAP launched in June 2023, we shared a draft plan with over 800 individuals, met with 60+ partner organizations, and surveyed over 140 community members to refine the strategy.

  • Multi-Sector Coordination: We facilitated a Steering Committee of leadership from 8 City Departments, aligning public sector initiatives with private sector and community priorities.

People at an outdoor information booth under a blue tent, with post-it notes and a board displaying ideas for community improvement.
Orange quotation mark symbol

Collaborating across levels of government and with private, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners, we are building a new Downtown that embodies our One Seattle values and vision. Our possibilities are endless, and together we will make them happen.

- Bruce Harrell, Seattle Mayor

Yellow quotation marks icon on a transparent background

A Downtown Plan That Reflects Community Needs

With input from residents, workers, and businesses, we co-developed a Downtown Activation Plan that will:

  • Prioritize economic growth strategies that support local businesses and attract new investment

  • Align city resources to drive revitalization and ensure cross-sector collaboration

  • Strengthen public spaces and infrastructure to improve safety and livability

  • Address housing challenges with policies that increase affordability and accessibility


Why It Matters

Downtown Seattle isn’t just an economic center—it’s the city’s cultural and social hub. The Downtown Activation Plan is a roadmap to a more inclusive, dynamic, and resilient downtown. By ensuring deep community engagement and aligning key stakeholders, we’ve advanced a vision that reflects the needs of the people who make downtown Seattle thrive.

Two people interacting at a table under a tent at an outdoor event. The table is covered with various art supplies, including markers, colored pencils, and paper. There are informational pamphlets and a sign that says, 'Complete the sentence: A family-friendly downtown.' In the background, people are seated and a stroller is visible.

Let’s Talk

Are you tackling complex urban challenges and need a strategic partner? Let’s discuss how our expertise in economic development and stakeholder engagement can help. Email Cat at cat.tarvin@kineticwest.com to explore how we can support your efforts.