How you can help shape the future of ‘Downtown West Seattle’

| How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(2023 photo by Paul Weatherman, Summer Fest stage/beer garden area on California north of Oregon)

The West Seattle Junction business district has been nicknamed “Downtown West Seattle.” Its businesses comprise the West Seattle Junction Association, one of more than a dozen such “business improvement associations” around the city, and it’s led by a board. Right now that board has three vacancies, and we learned this week from WSJA executive director Chris Mackay that one of those board spots is open to community members who are not part of the business community. You’d be expected to attend a monthly in-person meeting – fourth Wednesdays, except August and September, noon at Windermere West Seattle (4526 California SW) – and to serve for three years. The WSJA oversees and organizes events from West Seattle Summer Fest, Hometown Holidays, and the Halloween/Fall Festival to Art Walk, Wine Walk, and Book Club, as well as a variety of other programs and services large and small, from flower baskets to flags to cleaning and security services. Want to be part of overseeing all that? Contact Mackay at chris@wsjunction.org – applications are open until February 15, and new members will be elected at the annual membership meeting in late March.

Seattlite January 16, 2025 (1:10 pm)

When the Alaska Junction decides to add some much needed anchor stores (well known clothing, shoe, specialty stores) that are customer draws then it could be called “Downtown West Seattle.” What would happen if the Alaska Junction actually had tenants like Crate and Barrell, Pottery Barn, The Gap, Anthropologie, Madewell, etc.)? Currently, it is just a small shopping area with minimal parking that does not fulfill the needs of many in my opinion.Westwood Village has Target, Ulta, QFC, Marshalls but these anchor stores, in my opinion, do not attract a lot of customers. University Village did it right.

Question Authority January 17, 2025 (7:50 pm)

The size and demographic of greater West Seattle does not justify an investment by that level of retailers, because of the “island” peninsula and transportation network available there’s not enough market to pencil out. University Village is very near to some of Seattle’s most affluent neighborhoods and shoppers.

dc January 16, 2025 (3:07 pm)

Holding meetings at noon on a weekday is deeply self-limiting and pretty much excludes a huge chunk of the potentially-interested community from expressing interest

K January 17, 2025 (4:41 pm)

Strong agree. Much like the city council meetings.
SantiagoU January 19, 2025 (2:15 pm)

University village is a shopping mall, westwood village is also a shopping mall. Those car centric places are a dying breed. Anchor stores used to work for those malls to support suburban lifestyles. This is a proper city neighborhood, we deserve better.Better to have many independent stores and lots of space for pedestrians. There’s already a lot of parking in the junction, no need for more. You probable have to walk more from University village parking to whatever store you wanted to go than the parking spots at the Junction.I prefer that our “Anchor Stores” are places like Easy Street Records and Bakery Nouveau!
FedUp January 22, 2025 (10:35 am)

Agreed. Meetings in late afternoon or evenings would work best. Would allow those who aren’t retired to apply.

K.A. January 16, 2025 (5:40 pm)

It’s a shame the Board positions are only for retired people, self-employed people and at-home parents. Those of us working full time at jobs with typical 8:00-5:00 schedule are apparently not welcome on the Board.

Al King January 22, 2025 (12:33 pm)

K.A. Understand your point. But we live in a 24 hour world. A schedule that works for you will make it impossible for someone else to participate. What do you then say?

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