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Pike Place Market is a thriving nine-acre historic community of farmers, shop owners, restaurateurs, craftspeople, buskers, residents, social service providers and operations staff, all bound by a desire for opportunity and a hope of greater social connection in downtown Seattle. But it currently faces a range of operational and external challenges, including rising operating costs, declining local patronage, aging infrastructure, a recovering downtown, fast-changing retail conditions, existential threats to local family farming, and sustainability demands brought by climate change.

In 2024, the Pike Place Market Preservation Development Authority (PDA) released a Master Plan, supported by an interdisciplinary team of consultants that serves as a guiding document for ensuring the Market’s long-term vitality. Since the release of the Master Plan, the PDA has launched the process of implementation, grounded in convening the community and building trust to advance the Plan’s four strategies: Pacific Northwest Food Life to reattract locals and reenergize the Market’s farm program; business supports to promote local entrepreneurship and craftspeople; sustainable physical investments to maintain and adapt the Market; and partnerships to amplify the Market as the “Soul of Seattle.”

Join Mithun principal Evan Bourquard for “Pike Place Market Master Plan: Refreshing the District Through Community-Driven Planning,” a panel presentation that will focus on challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from both the process of developing a Master Plan as well as launching community-driven implementation. Featured panelists include the new executive director of the Pike Place Market PDA, Rachel Ligtenberg, and representatives of the consultant team, including Sulin Carling, a principal with HR&A Advisors, which led the overall Master Plan and economic strategy; Allegra Calder, a principal with BERK Consulting, which led the Master Plan community outreach process; and Evan Bourquard with Mithun, which developed physical design and sustainability interventions in the Master Plan.

Date Posted: 06.13.2025