Only in Seattle Marketing Campaign

OED has an ongoing, citywide marketing campaign featuring business districts throughout Seattle. The campaign focuses on local, independently owned businesses that provide customers with high quality goods and services, plus an authentic experience reflective of the district where they are located. Business district organizations can apply to be added through the annual Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Check out the onlyinseattle.org website to find stories that will connect you to a collection of Seattle treasures - independently owned and operated retail stores and restaurants - and to the authentic, historic, and diverse neighborhoods in which they thrive. The onlyinseattle.org website captures just a few of the many hidden gems that populate Seattle's eclectic neighborhoods. You will find more than just a few reasons why "buying local" takes on a whole new meaning. Because these gems offer far more than neighborhood conveniences. They represent the passion, taste and experience of their owners. And they offer you well-informed, unique experiences at every turn.

• onlyinseattle.org - a website promoting the "hidden gem" retail stores in Seattle

Participating neighborhoods

• Ballard, Columbia City, Georgetown, Rainier Valley, West Seattle (2010).
• Belltown, Capitol Hill, Chinatown/International District, Greenwood/Phinney, Madison Valley, Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and the University District (2011).

Contact Theresa Barerras at (206) 684-4505 or theresa.barerras@seattle.gov for more assistance.

Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

OED supports current and forming Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). A BIA provides an annual budget to fund services and improvements in neighborhood business districts by assessing property and/or business owners who benefit from the improvements. BIA funds can be used for services such as parking, joint marketing, cleanup and maintenance, security, special events, beautification, and professional management. The City contracts with each BIA, and each BIA is governed by a ratepayer's advisory board. The City collects the assessments and reimburses BIA expenses.

Business districts interested in learning about creating a BIA or revising an existing BIA, can apply through OED's annual Only in Seattle Initiative Request for Proposal (RFP) process to work with experienced city staff and consultants.

Current neighborhoods with BIAs are Broadway, Chinatown/International District, Columbia City, Downtown, Pioneer Square, University District, and West Seattle.

• The BIA Handbook - Provides a reference for current and potential BIAs

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Create a Thriving Business District

OED's “Create a Thriving Business District” web guide provides business districts with a “one-stop shop” online resource for information about business district improvements. Each section provides project ideas, descriptions of products and services, commonly asked questions, and City and neighborhood contacts. Topics include beautification, maintenance, parking, signs, traffic control, use of public areas, public safety, and funding.

• Click here to visit OED's "Creating a Thriving Business District" website

Demographic Data

Looking for data about your neighborhood? Check out these resources for demographic and other data:

• Seattle PI Webtowns
  
• Puget Sound Regional Council
• Downtown Neighborhood Profiles
• How to Create a Neighborhood Data Profile - Acrobat PDF 183 kb

• Check out Living Seattle - a look at activities a Seattle visitor or local might experience during a week (Acrobat PDF 415 kb)

Neighborhood Business District Access Intercept Survey

To better understand the purpose and patterns of travel by visitors in various neighborhood business districts, SDOT and OED partnered with six (6) neighborhood business districts (Admiral, Ballard, Capitol Hill, Columbia City, Fremont, and Othello) to conduct a survey of visitors to these districts. SDOT hired a market and opinion research firm to conduct this sidewalk survey and analyze the results. Survey results provide local chambers and city departments with data to better understand:

• How often people visit neighborhood business districts
• The purpose of their visit
• What modes people use to access these districts
• What factors affect their mode choice
• What improvements would support their patronage

• Check out the more at SDOT's website.

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