The Power of the People

On this date the Pike Place Public Market and the surrounding buildings were saved from becoming garages and office buildings.  It is hard to believe that somebody thought removing the place would be beneficial, but greed is an odd thing.  Back in 1963, the market wasn't as untouched as it is today.  It was in fact rather run down.  So the Central Association, or the group of downtown businesses that needed more space and parking, suggested removing the market, resulting in the city deciding it couldn't do without the Market.  The city made a bold move and pledged to preserve 10% of the Market.  For folks like Victor Steinbrueck that wasn't good enough, they wanted all of the Market saved.  So in 1971 things came to a head with the "Friends of the Market" pitted against the "Committee to Save the Market,"  Friends wanted to save the whole 17 acres that is the market district whereas the Committee was going to reluctantly allow the 1.7 acre core to remain.  The people of Seattle preferred friends over committees and the Market was saved. 

It is hard to image the city without the market, it is a tourist trap and it is more than a tourist trap.  I mean by that, the there is a community there and a very proud one at that.  It is also a grounding point, where the elite mingle with the other 98% on common ground.  In the last 20 years Seattle has taken to homogenizing its neighborhoods into rows of earth-toned condos, so the Market, more than ever, has become the soul of the city, thanks in large part to the "Friends."  You wonder if there had been "friends" for Ballard and Fremont would they retain the character that we so dearly miss. 
That question however is for another time and place.