Data shows downtown Seattle's office vacancy rates are nearly the highest in the country, driven by remote work, high costs and businesses relocating outside the city.

A demonstration was blocking traffic in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) reported at 5 p.m. Monday. However, SDOT announced around 6:45 p.m. that demonstrators had cleared out. The gathering appeared to be an “ICE Out for Good” protest headed to the Federal Building, as posted online.

Downtown Seattle has racked up wins and losses over the past year as the area trudges forward in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

New reports show downtown Seattle's office vacancy rate is among the highest in the country, but some are holding onto hope that businesses will come back soon.

MetLife has taken control of Westlake Tower, the 25-story office building above Westlake Center, in a foreclosure transfer that shows just how far downtown Seattle property values have dropped. Completed this month, the deal is one more sign that the city’s core business district is still grinding through a post-pandemic reset in office demand.

Downtown Seattle had one of its most popular holiday seasons in years, as roughly 2.84 million unique visitors came to celebrate in the city throughout December.

More than 921,000 local visitors came to downtown Seattle in December, more than any other month in 2025, according to new Downtown Seattle Association data. A new report notes that more than 921,000 local visitors came downtown in December, more than any other month in 2025.

Expanding its off-price business has long been a source of new customers and a key pillar of the department store’s growth strategy.

The location at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pine Street in the downtown Seattle area has no dining space

Activists and organizations from across the country are calling on Americans to participate in a "National Shutdown" and protests on Friday, Jan. 30.