Project History

The site of the future Pike Place MarketFront was home to the Municipal Market Building, built for Market farmers and producers in the early ’20s. In 1974, the building caught fire and was demolished. Multiple feasibility studies and development proposals in the following years failed to be economically viable; development constraints included an active Burlington Northern Santa Fe train tunnel beneath the site and height restrictions within the historic district zone.

After decades of study, the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) is realizing a decades-long goal to complete the last piece of the Market Historic District. The timing of the $75 million project is driven by the future replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct; the project will deliver 300 underground parking spaces before the Viaduct removal.