The Dispute Resolution Center of King County (KCDRC) is thrilled to announce our move to a new office space in the heart of downtown Seattle. This transition represents more than just a change of location; it’s an investment in accessibility, community connection, and our role in supporting the revitalization of the city.
For years, we had been searching for a new office space that could accommodate both our team and our vision. Our former location, as well as the fully remote office, became challenging in some ways. As our Executive Director, Dave Martine, shared, “We realized that our location was becoming a barrier to the community we serve. Moving to downtown offers a place that’s easier to access for everyone.”
After a thorough search, Seattle’s downtown became the clear choice. While there were initial concerns about parking and safety, Martine explained the shift in thinking: “We want to be where the people are. Being downtown means we are more centrally located, and it’s easier for both our team and the public to reach us.”
This move also aligns with KCDRC’s values of equity and accessibility. “It’s really about being accessible to everyone,” said Martine. “We’re a people business, and downtown Seattle opens doors to new opportunities for collaboration with other organizations and businesses that we couldn’t have imagined five years ago.”
In addition to accessibility, the new office presents exciting prospects for community engagement. “We want it to be a place used by the community, our volunteers, and staff,” Martine added. “Ideally, it could become more of a social hub—maybe we’ll even host events like ‘conflict coaching’ hours, where people can come to us instead of heading to the bar after dealing with a difficult coworker.”
KCDRC is also proud to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Seattle, a city still grappling with post-pandemic recovery. “When we first started looking, the occupancy rate downtown was around 37%, which has probably worsened,” Martine said. “But you still see people there—it’s not a dead zone. By establishing ourselves here, we’re not only placing a foothold in the community, but we’re also supporting the growth and vibrancy of the area.”
A special thanks goes out to the team who helped make this move possible, including our real estate agents, board members, and staff like Michelle, Caroline, Daniel, Ryan, Meg, and others. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” Martine shared. “This new chapter for KCDRC marks an exciting step forward, and we look forward to continuing our work in serving King County from the heart of Seattle.”
This article was initially posted in our newsletter: for more updates, sign up here.