On September 12, the Tacoma City Council will consider awarding an additional $1,000,000 in taxpayer funds to developer A.F. Evans Development, allowing the Oakland-based non-profit to keep the Winthrop operating as a high-density apartment complex.Mayor Bill Baarsma has likened the decision on near-term redevelopment of the Winthrop as similar in importance to that of the decision to renovate Union Station and the redevelopment that followed. Meanwhile, local developer Tim Quigg is working diligently on a proposal to restore the Winthrop Hotel along with a team of architects, preservationists, historians, craftsmen and Tacoma residents.
Many downtown stakeholders active in the ongoing debate over the Winthrop are afraid that the proposed action would effectively extinguish citizen efforts to restore the historical Winthrop Hotel as a working hotel downtown. Purchase by Evans seems sure to close out the hope that the Winthrop can once again be what it was designed to be--an elegant lodging in a burgeoning, renewed downtown.
Readers who care about the future of the Winthrop should take the time right now to weigh in with members of the Tacoma City Council on this issue.
Pending the outcome of next Tuesday's vote, some additional light may be glimmering at the end of the tunnel. One of Evans' divisions is all about acquisition/rehabilitation--is it possible that they might joint venture with Quigg or another interested party?
I am hopeful that the council will vote to allow and support the Tacoma community efforts to restore the Winthrop Hotel
ReplyDeleteThere is now at least one very serious effort of few dozen professionals in Tacoma and Tim Quigg to restore the Winthrop Hotel.
The people I talk to overwhelming wish to see more historic restoration in Tacoma and specifically the Winthrop.
The Winthrop Hotel is probably the second or third most important historical building in Tacoma.
It is hard to believe we have to even argue that the Winthrop should be restored when there are so many other cities which have done so.
Many downtown stakeholders active in the ongoing debate over the Winthrop are afraid that the proposed action would effectively extinguish citizen efforts to restore the historical Winthrop Hotel
I sure hope that doesn't happen.
The people working on the restoration efforts need the council's support, not opposition. They are having enough challenges as it is.
Historic restoration takes some time to finance and deal with the low income housing and parking issues.