• Seattle World’s Fair: In 1962, the Seattle World’s Fair put Seattle on the world’s map, providing Downtown its iconic Space Needle and monorail and leaving a legacy beloved by generations. It remains Seattle’s most massive and successful civic project and is fondly remembered by many as perhaps the best of all the World’s Fairs.
• Housing Resources Group (HRG): Established by DSA leaders in 1980 to build housing for low income citizens, HRG’s efforts have helped make Downtown accessible and affordable to all. After developing more than 2,500 affordable apartments over the last 28 years, HRG has contributed to the diversity and growth in the number of residents who make their homes in Downtown.
• Renaissance of Arts in Downtown Seattle: Beginning with the preservation of the 5th Avenue Theatre in the early 1980s, Seattle saw a steady re-emergence of culture and arts over the next two decades, including the new ACT Theatre, new Seattle Art Museum, restoration of the Paramount Theatre, Benaroya Hall, Experience Music Project, Olympic Sculpture Park, Wing Luke Asian Museum and countless others.
• Washington State Convention & Trade Center and Freeway Park: Building the convention center paved the way for the revitalization of the retail core, attracting millions each year to Seattle for convention and trade business and connecting First Hill to Downtown with a truly innovative urban park.
• Downtown Retail Core Revitalization: By rebuilding the Downtown retail core, Downtown was transformed into an exciting, vibrant destination and economic hub for shopping, dining, business, residential and entertainment.

“Over the past 50 years, the DSA and its membership have had the opportunity to witness events and projects that have turned Downtown Seattle into the healthy, vibrant place we know today,” said Kate Joncas, president of the Downtown Seattle Association. “Honoring our 2008 Legacy Champions provides us an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come as a city and set our sights on the amazing possibilities for our future.”

For the past five years the DSA has awarded its prestigious Downtown Champion Award to a company or organization that advances the DSA’s mission “To champion a healthy, vibrant urban core.” Past recipients include the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (2004), Plymouth Housing Group (2005), Seattle Art Museum and Washington Mutual (2006) and FareStart (2007).

Looking Ahead

After celebrating highlights from the past 50 years, the DSA invites community members to join in a dialogue about Downtown’s future. Simply go to the “Let’s Talk Downtown” section of the DSA website and take the brief online survey about Downtown priorities that shape our future. Take the survey by July 31, and be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to one of the following downtown restaurants:

• Andaluca
• Daily Grill
• El Gaucho
• The Capital Grille  

About Downtown Seattle Association

Established in 1958, the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) – representing business, non-profits, arts and educational institutions throughout Puget Sound – is a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to the revitalization and development of Downtown Seattle into a thriving, world-class place to live, work, visit and conduct business.

DSA is led by many of the community’s most respected leaders working in collaboration to champion a healthy, vibrant urban core.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contact information for representatives from each of the 2008 Legacy Champion initiatives is available upon request. Please contact Kristin Mattison (kristinm@downtownseattle.org) for more details.