![]() Such a safeguard could be crucial in the midst of our building boom, the architects of which Plusquellec views as insufficiently creative. So if a developer builds condos next to an existing nightclub (ahem, Kremwerk), the developer must soundproof the units rather than the nightclub having to turn down the volume. Agent of change is simple: The business or person responsible for a change is responsible for managing the impact. Most excitingly, he is spearheading an "agent of change" policy that he hopes the city council will take up next year. His appeal to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board for a later last call was met with "not interested at this time," which Plusquellec's lobbyist instincts see as an open door for a future conversation. He is working with SDOT on a management strategy for the weekly Capitol Hill ride-hail flood, which sees 20,000 to 30,000 weekend visitors. "Scott is fantastic-really responsive and helpful," she said.Įlsewhere, Plusquellec has organized active-shooter, sexual-harassment, and naloxone anti-overdose trainings. Owner Denise Burnside downplayed the issue-"just a little bump Scott helped us work through"-but sang our night czar's praises. Plusquellec also lent a hand to Beacon Hill establishment Clock-Out Lounge, due to confusion over zoning for an old building with records still on microfiche. (Wang did not return a request for comment.) Once Wang received the unfortunate news, Plusquellec said that he walked him through an expedited permitting process to remedy the error. Vue owner Chuck Wang had been wrongly informed that he did not need a change of use permit for his building. ![]() Such was the case with Vue, a Belltown club-heavy on bottle service and scantily clad servers-that opened last fall. "Our first step is not to close something down our first step is to figure out how to keep something open," he said. He insists that the era of the state tax on dance floors is behind us, and that Seattle has a pro-nightlife view that's enshrined in the city's Nightlife Establishment Handbook. "Cities are waking up to the idea that nightlife isn't a nuisance to be gotten rid of, but an economic driver to be supported," he said. Plusquellec brings that experience to bear on his now two-year-old role, which comes after five years as the city's lobbyist in Olympia. and what it's like to be starting your day when others are wrapping theirs up." He told me he was previously an actor, which "gave me the flavor of what it's like to make your living after 6 p.m. ![]() But you can call Plusquellec our "night czar."Īt the start of a recent workweek at the Seattle Municipal Tower, Plusquellec was dressed in Monday casual-blue jeans and a teal polo shirt-and fresh off a Saturday night show at Fremont Abbey to see Flock of Dimes. It's a wonky title similar to many of his peers across the world, who often shy away from that powerful word "mayor" in their official job titles. Scott Plusquellec is the city's nightlife business services advocate. ![]() ![]() So as Seattle's storied nightlife grapples with our constant growing pains, do we need a night mayor to stand up for Seattleites who relish the 5 to 9 more than the 9 to 5? The good news is that we already have someone. In 2012, Amsterdam kicked off a global trend by designating a nachtburgemeester, which translates from the Dutch as "night mayor." Despite the moniker, the club promoter Amsterdam picked was not a city employee but rather head of the outside voice of the nightlife industry with a direct conduit to city hall-not unlike the Downtown Seattle Association's role on behalf of downtown business owners. The city has many well-enforced rules about amplified sound, building use, alcohol sales, operating hours, and the other minutiae of nightlife businesses.īut plenty of other growing cities around the world have decided that, in fact, what happens after city hall closes up for the evening is no less important than what happens during daytime business hours.Įnter the night mayor. Compared to, say, building another Amazon tower, the City of Seattle is not known for making it easy to open a spot for a DJ to lay down a late-night set of scintillating '90s house while you throw back a tallboy of Rainier. ![]()
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