Fortson Square Redevelopment

January 8, 2026

What's Happening Now?

The Fortson Square Redevelopment project has officially begun construction as of January 5, 2026!

During this first three weeks of January (Jan 6-23), we will be doing the following work:

Removing shrubs, bricks, the sidewalk, and tree stumps
Excavating dirt to:
- Build the support walls
- Install the storm drainage system
- Install the electrical wiring

Please note that this work will affect the local residents and passersby, namely:

People will not be able to park along the block of Yesler Way and 2nd Ave Ext S
Construction equipment and vehicles may be in these parking spaces behind a fence
- We will keep a pathway for people to walk around our construction site
Vibrations, dust, and construction noise

Thank you for your patience as we add this pivotal additon to the Pioneer Square cityscape. You can stay informed by coming to this webpage and signing up for our listserv emails.

A Historic Indigenous Space

^{Images adapted from "Djidjila'letch to Pioneer Square," produced by The Waterlines Project, Burke Museum (courtesy WSDOT)}

Significant indigenous history predates the area currently known as Pioneer Square. It was once part of a tidal lagoon where a Duwamish winter village existed. But the Duwamish peoples were banished from living in the city limits. And where water once met the shore, artificial shores and sea walls were built. The area became a shipping bay and port.

Project Background

Fortson Square is actually a triangle rather than a square. Its roughly 5,000 square feet of public space is located in the right-of-way. On its shortest borders are buildings and wide sidewalks. Its longest edge sits next to a protected bike lane. The brick pavement is uneven and uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. There are also no benches or other sitting options. So people usually sit on the stairs. Naturally, people tend to not stay long. In 2020, we noted many local residents and visitors saying that they did not feel that Fortson Square was a safe or inviting space and he current plaza design did not adequately support or encourage people to visit or stay in the space.

Chief Seattle Club’s new ?ÁL?AL building has given us a great opportunity to redesign and improve this small but important public space. The square and the new development together have the potential to create a welcoming eastern gateway into Pioneer Square. 

Project Overview (The Vision)

We worked with the Chief Seattle Club and the Alliance for Pioneer Square to develop a concept design supported by Historic South Downtown, ex-Council Member Sally Bagshaw, SDOT, and a 10-15 person working group. You can learn more about that work in this post from the Alliance for Pioneer Square.

Below is a graphic map of what Fortson Square will look like after construction is completed:

A 25-foot welcome figure, carved by Andrea Wilbur Sigo, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe, on the plaza's northwest corner
A central gathering circle with a decorative paving pattern and concrete tiered walls for sitting
Planters with culturally relevant and native plants and shrubs along the perimeter
Paving patterns with natural finishes
New Pedestrian Lighting

Once complete, the space will be a great spot to relax, meet with friends, and connect with the history of Pioneer Square.

Funding

This project is funded by the 2024 Seattle Transporation Levy, with monies allocated from the People Streets and Public Spaces program.

Public Outreach Materials

See how we’ve been working with the community to turn this vision into a reality:

Letter of Agreement from Alliance for Pioneer Square and Chief Seattle Club for Tree Removal (Spring 2025)
Pioneer Square Preservation Board briefings - Fortson Square Renovation (Aug 2023)
Community-led 30 percent design concept