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Survey Shows Increased Optimism About Downtown’s Revitalization

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Visitors to Pike Place Market

A new survey of 500 Seattle voters, commissioned by DSA and conducted by EMC Research from Feb. 6-12, shows that optimism about the direction of downtown is on the rise. One of the most noteworthy takeaways from the survey is that of the respondents who visited downtown recently, 72% said they had a positive experience.

Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said things are going in the right direction compared to 33% in 2023. This positive trend is also reflected in participants’ views on the revitalization of downtown Seattle. While most remain neutral to pessimistic, 21% of respondents say they are optimistic about the progress being made compared to just 12% in 2023.

Other key findings from the survey include:

  • 85% of respondents believe that the revitalization of downtown Seattle is important to the city.
  • The most popular reasons for visiting downtown are restaurants, Pike Place Market, events and shopping.
  • Pedestrian-only streets and the new Ocean Pavilion are preferred by frequent visitors more than infrequent visitors. Infrequent visitors overwhelmingly support more affordable parking and an increase in police.
  • 58% of those surveyed are visiting downtown less often than they did before the pandemic.
  • More than two-thirds of participants say a decrease in crime and public drug use would make them much more likely to visit downtown.
  • 30% say they’re visiting downtown less because of crime and safety concerns, down from 40% in 2023.

The survey also found that people are more likely to visit downtown if there are more free concerts and events, affordable parking options and outdoor dining spaces. Additionally, respondents support policies that make it easier to open small businesses and increase investments in public safety.

Overall, the survey paints a picture of a city that is cautiously optimistic about the future of downtown Seattle. While challenges remain, there is a sense that progress is being made and that things are moving in the right direction.