(The Center Square) – The Seattle Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects is putting $2.4 million toward the Bell Street Improvements Project in the Belltown neighborhood as part of the work to revitalize the city’s waterfront.
Construction is set to start at the beginning of 2025 and is expected to take six months to complete. It was originally intended to start in mid-2024. The project’s goal is to enhance connections between the Belltown neighborhood and the Waterfront.
The project will specifically create a new two-way bike lane, widen sidewalks, and add greenery and seating along Bell Street.
A sign featuring a rendition of the Alaskan Way viaduct bridge will also be placed at the Bell Street and Western Avenue intersection. The sign will illuminate at night and serve as a gateway to the Belltown neighborhood, according to Waterfront Seattle.
“The Bell Street project will create a seamless connection between Belltown and the Seattle Waterfront, improving accessibility and prioritizing pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility,” Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects Director Angela Brady said in a news release. “Community input has helped shape the final design and the project reflects the neighborhood’s desire for a revitalized Bell Street.”
The project’s design was the result of the city’s work with community members. The city held two online open houses and attended multiple Belltown Community Council meetings last year.
The $2.4 million project is part of the city’s larger $739 million Waterfront Seattle Program. Downtown property owners are subject to a local improvement district tax with the revenue generated going toward improvement projects near the Seattle Waterfront.
Property owners within the Seattle Waterfront district area contribute to a portion of the area’s improvement costs. They pay an annual assessment payment based on a $1,000 assessment paid over 20 years at a 3.8% interest rate.
According to the Waterfront Seattle website, the total payment from 2022 through 2041 would be approximately $1,586 based on a $1,000 annual assessment for a property owner within the district.
