Jon Scholes is president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association where he is responsible for the operations and programs of the DSA, a 2100 member association formed in 1958 to create a healthy, vibrant downtown. In his capacity, Jon is also responsible for the management of the 285 block business improvement district that was established in 1999 in Downtown Seattle to provide cleaning, safety, transportation, marketing and public realm management services in Downtown. He was appointed president and CEO of the DSA in November of 2014 following six years as DSA’s vice president of advocacy and economic development. Jon has spent more than twenty years working in nonprofit advocacy, local government and in senior positions on political campaigns at the regional and state levels. Jon served for five years as Chief of Staff to King County Councilmember Julia Patterson and as Research Director and Senior Communications Advisor on Governor Gregoire’s successful 2008 reelection campaign. Jon is currently a member of the Seattle Center Advisory Commission, and serves on the boards of Visit Seattle, Transportation Choices Coalition, the International Downtown Association and Downtown Emergency Services Center. He has served on a number of city and county task forces on transportation, homelessness and housing and was recognized in 2016 as a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Jon is a graduate of Leadership tomorrow and attended the University of Texas in Austin, before graduating from the University of Washington. He lives in Downtown Seattle with his wife and their twelve-year-old twins.
Program Notes by Merrill Mayer.
Intro
Every great city has a healthy urban core It matters to the whole region
Mission
Downtown Association’s mission is to create a healthy downtown. Started 1958. Brings private sector, nonprofits and residence together. Provides cleaning, events, park management. Advocate and influence government at the state, city and county level.
Pandemic
Prior to pandemic downtown had 20 year period of record growth. Then private employers sent workers home. While good for public health, economic impact was immediate. 500 permanent closures of street level businesses mostly retail and restaurants. 90 conventions cancelled. Resulted in single digit hotel occupancy. Many layoffs. Arts and cultural organizations had significant losses.
Recovery
Summer provided reopening opportunity. Partnered with city to invest in reopening. Ensure safety, police, homeless outreach, address tent encampments. Clean downtown – remove graffiti, pressure wash, bring in art. Use outdoor spaces for events such as concerts, festivals. Give people a reason to come downtown. Reach out so people come downtown. Let people know what is going on downtown.
Hotel occupancy increased. Same with foot traffic, pike place market. Cultural institutions reopened Not much change in office workers downtown. Delta variant prevented workers returning.
Conventions have come back. Sports have brought people downtown. Helps fill bars, cafes,hotels.
Challenges Remaining
- Walkable, safe and healthy. Be with other people
- Leverage unique assets. Arts, culture, sports, entertainment. doesn’t expect all workers to come back. Many will work hybrid so downtowns can’t just rely on office space to drive the economy.
- Stay relevant to the diversity of people. Adapt to changes in market needs of today.
- Control shoplifting , organized crime, drug and human trafficking problems. It’s not just a poor person stealing food.
- Need to rebuild police staffing