Importance of Preserving Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is the number one attraction in Seattle, and 33rd in the world. The “Market remains the ‘soul of Seattle,’ a meeting place for old friends and an icon of the Emerald City for new visitors” (Pike Place Market 2007, 9). Opened in the year 1907, Pike Place Market was a city-sponsored experiment to help reduce the high cost of local produce and “It was created as a means for local farmers to sell directly to shoppers, without benefit of middlemen who were suspected of inflating prices. An immediate success, it thereafter became a permanent fixture near Pike Place and First Avenue” (Seattle Department of Community Development 1894–1990). In the heart of downtown Seattle, the Market remains an easy access and hotspot for everyone. Though, the historical background is too important as it is the area that circulates the Market. The PDA had and continues to have influence throughout the Market, while the popular icons that benefited the growth and noticeable changes in the Market remain, the overpopulation issue that had been resolved. Pike Place is an important historical site within the community of Seattle, and it is imperative that the citizens and community preserve the space, like in 1969 when over 53,000 friends of the market voted to save the Market from the wrecking ball when it was proposed that the city rejuvenates the Market by replacing the historical buildings with skyscrapers. Preserving the different landmarks, and the historical buildings within the perimeter of Market has been important since the beginning of the PDA and since, it has been one of the biggest focuses for those associated with the Market.
The idea of preserving the Historical nine-block acre had changed with time. When the Market began, “On August 17, 1907 the first rainy Saturday it was open for business, the 8 farmers who came that day quickly sold everything they had brought to the crowd of nearly 10,000 eager shoppers” (Nyland 2017). It was difficult to keep up with the ever-growing crowd. In an annual message of Mayor John F. Miller, in January 1909 he writes “Honorable Body carefully consider various means of enlarging the area of the market place, with the object of increasing the present accommodations at last fifty per cent (50%)” (Miller 1909). Because the Market was small and very populated, there was lots of traffic both on feet and in car which made it difficult for people to get through the area. In a statement by the White Home Grower’s Association, “Pike Place is only 400 feet from the Bon Marohe’ which is the center of foot and car traffic” (Morasch 1920). With growing visitors weekly, and little to no space to drive, the viaduct was built. It was written that “Planning for the Alaskan Way Viaduct began in the early 1930s, primarily to relieve this congestion. Planners also wanted to provide a direct route through downtown and connect to Aurora Avenue on the north end of downtown” (Viaduct History 2011). The Alaskan Way route was built because it was cost effective and the city already owned most of the space that the viaduct would pass through. It helped to diminish some of the traffic that travelers sat through and allowed for more visitors to drive through the market while avoiding those traveling by foot. However, this was a not following the hopes to preserve the space. Building the Viaduct diminished Seattle’s downtown waterfront, but created the best way to meet the city’s traffic needs. Today, the viaduct has created many safety issues, as the foundation does not have enough support, as seen in the 2001, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that sunk several inches of the Viaduct. The City of Seattle is now planning to replace the viaduct to provide another faster and safer street to travel.
Landmarks help to distinguish various locations and spaces. Pike place is known for many things like it’s large neon sign, gum wall, mascot, and many other things. These landmarks help to distinguish Pike Place Market, and preserving them over the last few decades have been important. The main arcade, being the most important spot had greatly changed since the construction of Pike Place. In 1985, “The ‘Pave the Market Arcade’ tile project began … as a way to restore the Main Arcade’s rotting wood floors. Local businesses and individuals made donations to the Market in exchange for an imprinted tile. In all, 46,500 tiles were laid” (Pike Place Market 2007, 87). Pike place still owns each tile which has been there for decades. As for the Market’s mascot, “Rachel the Piggy Bank is the mascot of Pike Place Market and one of our best public fundraisers. She has been “bringing home the bacon” for The Market Foundation since 1986, raising more than $200,000 and counting … to support social services in Pike Place Market. Legend has it that if you rub Rachel’s snout and make a donation, you’ll have good luck” (Pike Place PDA 2017). As the pig is a greatly photographed spot in the Market, the Gum Wall tops it. The gum wall being one of Pike Place’s biggest attraction “began in 1991 when theater-goers started sticking their gum to the wall as they waited in line” (Wagner 2015). The most gleaming icon of Pike Place is the “famous Public Market Center sign on the corner of First and Pike, which dates back to 1927 and is one of the oldest outdoor neon signs on the West Coast” (Visit Seattle 2017). As many of these important geographical features date back to the 1900’s, they still continue to be well preserved.
The Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) is not-for-profit public corporation that is responsible for managing the nine-acre Market Historic District. After building the viaduct, the views on how to preserve the land changed. It had been earlier seen that the Market was not important to the Seattle City, but over the years and many votes later that perspective of the Market had changed. The PDA was charted by the City of Seattle in 1973 and since has preserved, rehabilitated, and protected the Market’s Buildings. With 12 volunteer members, each are hand selected from either the Mayor, Constituency, or the PDA council. In the late 1970’s it was because the initiative to save the historic buildings and redirect federal urban renewal fund that the PDA was created and given ownership to many of the buildings within the Market. It is presented on a Washington Government site that “[PDA] operates approximately 300 low income housing units, which provide living quarters in downtown Seattle for approximately 375 people. The PDA also provides market facilities in downtown Seattle for approximately 220 merchants, 200 crafts persons, and 100 farmers” (“Teamsters, Local 117 v. Pike Place Market — Order Determining Eligibility Issues, Decision 3989 — B 1992). Since 1973, all decision regarding Pike Place have gone through the council and has since held all the hierarchy power over the City of Seattle. Operating independently of the PDA, the Market Historical Commission has the specific mandate to preserve the Market’s physical and social character as “the soul of Seattle.” The Commission must approve any substantive change in the use or design of buildings and signage in the Historical District, even when these actions are taken by the PDA itself. Since 1973, all decision regarding Pike Place have gone through the council and has since held all the hierarchy power over the City of Seattle. It continues to be their job to preserve all aspects of Pike Place Market, while each of the 12 board members are relied on to watch over everything that goes on and to preserve the almost sacred grounds for the generations to come.
Pike Place has a special place in the hearts of every local Seattle resident. A large variety of people continue to help preserve the aspects of Pike Place that makes it what its known for. It had become a way to restore the growing population and high-priced fruits and vegetables. As Pike Place Market was one of the first ever opened, it is very known on an international level. Today, Pike Place is one of the most visited sites in Seattle, for both locals and visitors, and is a workplace for many citizens. To keep the traditions going, many of the workers and their families have worked in the Market for years and created a home like place, where many friendships have been made throughout the market as well. The PDA continues to impact every decision made in the Market, the icons of Pike Place remain and are more known than ever before, and the viaduct remains for the time being. Many aspects implemented to increase the productively in Seattle has continued to do so for many decades, where as it has yet to be changed today. It is important to continue to appreciate the history of Seattle and appreciate all that the people have done to preserve it.
Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
Miller, John F. 1909. “Pike Place Market -Mayor’s Messages (1802-C2).” Accessed June 1. http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/online-exhibits/pike-place-market-centennial.
Morasch, John. 1920. “White Farmer opinion- Comptroller File no. 78459.” Accessed June 1. http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/online-exhibits/pike-place-market-centennial.
Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. 1992.“Teamsters, Local 117 v. Pike Place Market — Order Determining Eligibility Issues, Decision 3989 — B (PECB, 1992).” Accessed June 1. https://perc.wa.gov/databases/rep_uc/03989-B.htm.
Seattle Department of Community Development. 2017. “Pike Place Market Records.” Accessed June 1. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv26684.
Secondary Sources:
Nyland, Kathy. 2017. “Seattle Department of Neighborhoods — Pike Place Market.” Accessed June 1. http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/programs-and-services/historic-preservation/historic-districts/pike-place-market#undefined.
Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. 2007. Pike Place Market: 100 Years. Seattle: Sasquatch Books.
Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. 2017. “Rachel the Piggy Bank.” Accessed June 1. http://pikeplacemarket.org/rachel-piggy-bank.
Strohl, Daniel. 2011. “Seattle Washington, 1974.” Accessed June 1. https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2011/09/02/seattle-washington-1974/
Viaduct History. 2011. “Viaduct Beginnings — Planning.” Accessed June 1, 2017. http://viaducthistory.com/history.htm.
Visit Seattle. 2017. “Come Explore Seattle’s Heart & Soul.” Accessed June 1. http://www.visitseattle.org/things-to-do/sightseeing/pike-place-market/.
Wagner, Laura. 2015. “Sticky Situation: Seattle’s Famous Gum Wall To Be Melted Clean.” Accessed June 1. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/11/05/454877027/sticky-situation-seattles-famous-gum-wall-to-be-melted-clean.
