[mhays]

This is a fairly big deal for Pioneer Square. It's a neighborhood defined by stadium events, homeless, bars, and rug shops. It's still an arts community though that's diminished. Lately it's become a major diversified tech haven. But it's had relatively few plain ol' residents who aren't destitute. The 500 (eventually 750) housing units won't turn it into a beehive, but it'll be a little bit of glue to hold things together, attract some everyday retail, etc. Further, as shown in the diagram, Downtown's largest parking lot will be half as big, kept unfortunately by the stadium to use for events, staging, parking, etc.