By Misa Murohashi
On June 8th, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced that the repaving construction to reactivate Canton Alley in the International District has been completed. The construction started in April this year, with city and state funding.
The project is part of the City’s historic Alley reactivation project, and similar repaving constructions are currently taking places in Pioneer Square’s Nord and Pioneer Passage alleys. The Canton Alley project has been led by SCIDpda in collaboration with the Chinatown Historic Alley Partnership (CHAP), a group of community stakeholders. SDOT explains “what had been just another urban alley, primarily used for deliveries and garbage, is now a public space easily activated for community events,” in its announcement.
Historically, Canton Alley has served as a hub of commercial, residential, and community based activities in the Chinatown/International District. As part of the alley reactivation effort, CHAP worked closely with local property and business owners and the BIA (business improvement area) to implement the City’s Clear Alley Program, removing dumpsters from the public alleys. Jamie Lee, SCIDpda Program Manager told NAP that they are “currently working on the lighting and signage of the alley and hope to have it installed later this year.”
The opening celebration inviting Chinese American author Dale Hom will be held on Thursday June 15th 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Hom will do signing for his book: “Walk Don’t Run: Growing Up Asian in Seattle” at the event.
