As a developer looks to turn the Liggett Building, an empty historic office building in downtown Seattle, into apartments, KIRO host Gee Scott asks why not?

“It makes way too much sense to take some of these vacant, empty spots and turn them into an opportunity for people to live, and by the way, it shouldn’t be hard for Seattle, because right now Seattle got a Bellevue problem,” Gee said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “Everybody is closing up shop, moving, and a lot of times they move over to Bellevue. So why not? Why not have a situation where some of these empty spots can be used for living? Let’s do that.”

He believes one of Washington’s biggest issues is with inventory, dating back to the Great Recession.

“Probably the biggest problem that we do have here in the state of Washington is inventory,” Gee said. “We’ve had an inventory problem since the Great Recession, back in 2008. The state of Washington and other places have not been on pace to develop more inventory here.”

He pointed to the slew of red tape that blocks developers from getting permits. According to The Seattle Times, developers have submitted at least seven proposals, since 2020, to turn office space into residential living, but many of those fell through.

The Seattle Times noted large conversion projects are difficult because developers have to work with spaces that were never designed for housing.

But Jen Pasquier, the founder of Current Development, is hopeful she can bring the once bustling Liggett Building back to life. Pasquier and the architecture firm Graham Baba Architects have submitted preliminary proposals to the city to transform the building into 93 apartment units.

“I think this is an opportunity where you can do really cool, creative, unique things with these legendary buildings,” KIRO fill-in producer Paul Holden said. “Why not make these interesting communities, where you can have communal spaces on the bottom, the living at the top, kind of turn these office buildings not only into apartments, but centers for the people who live there.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.

The 2026 Seattle Reign season is finally here! On Sunday, March 15, the Reign travel to Florida to take on the Orlando Pride, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. The match kicks off at 1 pm PT and will air on Victory+, a new free streaming partner of the NWSL. It will also be available on Fox 13+ and the FoxLocal app in the Seattle area.

Both teams made limited moves this offseason, betting instead that their young players can grow and thrive alongside their veterans, so the teams have a bit more familiarity with each other than might otherwise be the case for such an early season game.

“We know they like to play,” Laura Harvey told reporters in her pregame remarks. “I think out of all the teams you could play first game of the season, playing the team that you played at the end of the season is always interesting. But but more importantly than that, the fact that they’ve same coach, a lot of the same players means that it’s not like a brand new team where you’re just not quite sure what you’re going to get. I think we know what to expect from Orlando, which will be a really tough game. They’re very good on both sides of the ball. We’ve been able to prepare maybe a little bit more than we maybe could have done if it was a team that had a lot of change.”

Seattle faced some challenges traveling to this game, with lengthy delays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport due to snow on Thursday delaying their flight for over four hours.

Head-to-Head

The Reign are 7-6-8 all-time against Orlando; that includes a 2-4-5 record on the road against the Pride.

Key departures

The Pride saw Carson Pickett and Ally Brazier (formerly Watt) head to expansion club Denver Summit. USWNT defender Emily Sams, who was the 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year, transferred to Angel City, while NWSL veteran Morgan Gautrat departed to play in England. Kylie Nadaner is also out on maternity leave.

Key additions

In the offseason, the Pride added 2025 NWSL Shield winner Hailie Mace from the Kansas City Current along with acquiring Chicago Stars defender Hannah Anderson via trade. Orlando also added TCU forward Seven Castain, Georgetown goalkeeper Cara Martin, Thorns defender Nicole Payne, and Florida State forward Solai Washington.

What to watch

The Reign press: Orlando has been one of the toughest defensive teams the last two years but will be rotating through several new and untested players on the backline. This could give the Reign a chance to press high and pressure Orlando’s defense onto mistakes. The Reign have indicated they want to be a team that puts opponents under pressure this year, a departure from their low block on 2025. Can the Reign set a new tone from the beginning?

Crosses: Last year, the Pride attempt the most crosses in the league and averaged the second most corner kicks. They liked to push their fullbacks high to overlap with wing players, or send balls over the top to their speedy wingers (the Pride led the league in completed long balls). The Reign will need to put pressure on the ball higher up the field to prevent those long balls, and on the wings to limit uncontested crosses into the box. On the other end, can the Reign get in more dangerous positions to cross this game?

Creating chances: The Reign have said they want to build on last year by continuing to be hard to break down while also creating more chances in the attack. The Reign created the fewest expected goals in the league in 2025, but did a good job converting the limited chances they had. Can the Reign keep the ball in their attacking half against Orlando and create more shots in dangerous positions? And who steps up to provide that service?

Who to watch

Barbra Banda: One of the reasons the Pride struggled at times last year was because they lost Banda to injury for the second half of the year. When healthy, she’s one of the hardest forwards to stop. She’s strong, hard to get off the ball, a great dribbler, and a lethal shooter. She knows how to sneak into dangerous spots on corner kicks, too.

Jacquie Ovalle: Before the summer window closed, the Pride added Mexican forward/midfielder Jacquie Ovalle, paying a world-record transfer fee for women’s soccer at $1.5 million. Ovalle is unpredictable and crafty on the ball, she loves pressure, and as she demonstrated in the final regular season game against the Reign, she can whip in a dangerous cross.

Injury / Availability Report

Seattle Reign

OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity leave), Jordyn Bugg (Leg), Shae Holmes (Lower Leg), Sally Menti (Knee), Cassie Miller (Leg – SEI), Holly Ward (not due to injury)

Orlando Pride

OUT: Kerry Abello (Hip), Zara Chavoshi (Lower Leg), Marta (Excused Absence), Cosette Morche (Ankle – D45), Kylie Nadaner (Maternity Leave), Nicole Payne (Knee – SEI), Viviana Villacorta (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE: Angelina (Thigh)

How to watch

Seattle Reign kicks off against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, March 15. The game begins at 1 pm PT and will air on Victory+ nationally, and on Fox 13+ in the Seattle area.

(Friday photo by Jeff Johnson)

Happy Saturday! It’s still just a bit above freezing as we start the day, but the forecast calls for some sun and a high in the 40s. Our notes for today/tonight are as usual mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar:

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Final weekend! Find times and locations for nearby cookie booths using the search tool here.

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: At West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), you can join the Saturday 8 am free group run.

FREE MEDITATION: Get a calming start to your weekend with Heavily Meditated, 9 am free meditation at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).

INTRODUCTORY WALK and WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 9:30 am, walk a mile before the 10 am well-being walk (or just show up for that one). Both start from 47th SW and Fontanelle.

GET IT FIXED! Need help repairing something? Bring it to the fieldhouse at Steve Cox Memorial Park (9:30 am-12:30 pm) for today’s repair event – details in our calendar listing. (1321 SW 102nd, White Center)

SINGALONG BRUNCH: 10 am weekends, sing to classics and enjoy a breakfast buffet at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), ticket link in our calendar listing.

SSC GARDEN CENTER: 10 am-3 pm, open today! New plants in! St. Patrick’s Day sale continues today. North end of campus at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor)

STORY TIME AND CRAFTS: For the kids! 10 am at Highland Park Corner Store. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)

DAHLIA TUBER SALE: 10 am-3 pm sale. (4557 51st Place SW)

MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

VILLAGE GREEN OPEN HOUSE: Learn about senior living at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) by visiting during today’s open house, 10:30 am-noon.

FREE WRITING GROUP CANCELED: 10:30 am free, weekly, in-person, critique-free group will NOT meet today.

FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), for families with kids up to 5 years old.

FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open, noon-4 pm (61st SW and SW Stevens).

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open for community visitors on Saturdays, noon-3 pm. Free. (2236 SW Orchard)

‘CHAOS NO MORE’ WORKSHOP: 1 pm, get ready for spring cleaning! Workshop at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska)

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: Open 1-6 pm on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Special event today: “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Join us for mystical wine, corned beef and colcannon!”

DROP-IN SEED PLANTING: 1-2:30 pm today and tomorrow for members of the Growing Gardeners Club at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor).

CABI SHOWCASE: Fashion at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California sW), 2 pm.

LEARN ABOUT PREPAREDNESS VOLUNTEERING: Neighborhood Emergency Hubs are where you’d go in case of catastrophe – and they run on volunteer power. 2 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), come learn how to be part of yours.

FREE MASSAGE: 3-5 pm walk-in clinic offering short, specific massages at Nepenthe. (9447 35th SW)

‘ROOTED IN WHITE CENTER‘: At its new White Center HUB (8th SW and SW 108th), the White Center Community Development Association hosts the first official screening of its new documentary, 6:45 pm.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm at C & P Coffeehouse (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Travis Bear and Friends with acoustic music including Celtic sounds and fiddling. Free, all ages.

RANGER AND THE RE-ARRANGERS Live at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm, with “Hot Club Swing“ – get tickets here.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE MEAD CENTER: 7 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), The She-Shandies, perform a special St. Patrick’s Day show. No cover, all ages.

LIVE AT TIM’S: Irish Fest 3 at Tim’s in White Center, 7 pm. $10 cover. (16th SW & SW 98th)

NORTHWEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: “Music for the Soul” concert, 8 pm at Holy Rosary Church (42nd SW and SW Genesee), presenting “epic and uplifting pieces,” including two by Northwest composers. Tickets at the door.

REVELRY ROOM: 9 pm, Soul Focus FM with the tunes tonight. (4547 California SW)

SKATE PARTY: 9 pm-midnight at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk & hip-hop, $18 plus $5 skate rental.

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Want to sing? Karaoke with Rone starts at 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)

Have a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar, where listings are free of charge, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!