SEATTLE -- Wednesday marks the start of a significant expansion for Pike Place Market.
A groundbreaking event will kick off a $73 million project made possible by the planned removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
New public space will allow views of Puget Sound, provide more room for farmers and artists, and provide low-income housing for seniors. Three hundred new public parking places and a new pedestrian connection to the waterfront are also part of the plan.
The city approved $34 million for the project in March. The state and other organizations have made up the difference.
The change in appearance will be more noticeable along the waterfront where there is currently a parking lot.
Most of the east front of the market will look the same. The iconic signs, brick roads, and familiar shops will not go anywhere, according to officials.
Mayor Ed Murray will be joined by city and state officials for a short procession at the market before the groundbreaking ceremony near the waterfront at 1 p.m.
