Fortson Square Redevelopment

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 was actually a triangle rather than a square. Its roughly 5,000 square feet of public space is located in the right-of-way. Its shortest borders were buildings and wide sidewalks. Its longest edge sat next to a protected bike lane. The brick pavement was uneven and uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. There were also no benches or other sitting options. So people usually sat on the stairs. Naturally, people tended 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 gave us a great opportunity to redesign and improve this small but important public space. The square and the new development together are now 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 looks like: 

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

Now that the space is complete, it is a great spot to relax, meet with friends, and connect with the history of Pioneer Square. 

Funding 

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

Public Outreach Materials 

See how we worked 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 

Related Links 

• Yesler Crescent Public Life Action Plan
• Crosscut | Seattle is Seeing a Surge of Indigenous Public Art
• Seattle Times | Meet the Native Artist who will Carve Pioneer Square's Towering Welcome Figure