Friday, October 22, 2010

Coming Soon…Infrastructure improvements downtown

Despite the down economy the City of Tacoma and private property owners are planning for exciting investments in buildings, streetscapes and services that will help pull downtown out of the recession. Register now for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s quarterly City Center Luncheon on November 19th to learn about:

Pacific Ave. Streetscape improvements
With help from the Federal Government, the City of Tacoma is planning for a major reconstruction of Pacific Ave. between S. 7th and S. 17th in the core of downtown. Plans are still in development, but will likely include new sidewalks, street trees, storm water enhancements, street furniture, lighting and bike lanes. Learn more about the plans at the luncheon from City Manager Eric Anderson.

New Tacoma Link station
Tacoma Link was built with a gap in the system, a stop that serves the businesses in the downtown core. The new stop, to be constructed on Commerce St. between S. 11th and S. 12th Streets will drive traffic to near by offices and retailers. Join us to learn about what to expect from the construction and the new stop.

Plans for the Foremost Dairy
The Foremost Dairy building on the corner of S. 25th and Pacific was originally built in 1927 for Royal Ice Cream and Milk Company. After sitting vacant for years, the historic building was purchased in 2008 and is on track for redevelopment (some work has already begun). Come learn how this redevelopment is helping to spur growth in downtown.

It’s your Business Improvement Area
The Downtown Tacoma Business Improvement Area provides safe and clean services (and the hanging flower baskets in the summer) for 84-blocks of downtown. Join us to learn about how you and your business can take advantage of BIA services and meet your clean and safe crews.

The luncheon program is still being developed. Check back regularly for new information.

When: Friday, November 19th, 2010
Time: 11:30 (registration) 12:00-1:30 (program)
Location: Pacific Grill Event Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402.

Please consider walking, biking or carpooling to this event.
If you must drive, validated parking is available in the Convention Center.

To register for the luncheon visit the Chamber’s website, call or email Cathy Thompson (253) 627-2175, cathyt@tacomachamber.org

Trick-Art-Treat in downtown with Mayor Strickland

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland invites you don your best costume and Trick-Art-Treat with her in downtown Tacoma Oct. 28 from 5 – 7 p.m.

The Trick-Art-Treat celebration is Spaceworks Tacoma’s Round II opening of vacant retail spaces transformed into creative enterprises and art installations. Trick-Art-Treat will feature many new exhibits by local artists, film, performance art, music and more. Pick up a map of the Spaceworks Tacoma spaces at any of the locations below.

Highlights include:

913 Pacific Ave.
• Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Theater Company
• PiƱatas by Cheryl Rux and Nichole Vandever
• Stick around for a preview of Titus Andronicus at 8 p.m.

915 Pacific Ave.
• Chiffon: original fashion, jewelry and vintage collections
• Raffle for a unique piece of jewelry
• Costume party complete with a DJ, treats and henna tattoos

906 Broadway
• fly: the best in renegade craft and art

1114 Pacific Ave. Residency Suite
Meet the artists and see some of their latest work.
• Meghan Lancaster, textile artist  - See the new installation and enjoy refreshments.
• Josh Everson, photographer - Get a Halloween portrait taken.
• Isaac Olsen, filmmaker - He will be projecting his new, feature-length film, “Quiet Shoes” (as seen at this year’s Tacoma Film Festival).
• Michael Kaniecki, painter - Come see him at work.

The opening will also feature new installations by Barbara DePirro, Scott Huette, Sisy Anderson, Holly Senn, Alyson Piskorowski, Alexandra Opie, Alice DiCerto, Kyle Dillehay, Jessica Bender, Tania Kupczak, Craig Snyder and Ruth Marie Tomlinson.

Spaceworks Tacoma, which aims to activate empty storefronts and vacant space in downtown Tacoma, is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma, Shunpike and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The initiative makes no-cost and low-cost temporary space available to artists, fledgling creative entrepreneurs, organizations and community groups, and allows a diverse range of art installations and performances, artist residencies, creative enterprises and pop-up events to occur.
For more information, visit http://www.spaceworkstacoma.com/ or e-mail rsolverson@cityoftacoma.org.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Link to close later than planned for Biden visit

The Tacoma Link closure schedule has changed for Friday's visit by Vice President Joe Biden.  In coordination with the Vice President's visit Tacoma Link will not run starting at 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m..  Morning commuters parking at Tacoma Dome Station and riding link into downtown will still be able to do so on their regular schedules.

Check out our previous post for details on street closures and transit impacts.

Note that closure times and locations may change...it's the Vice President of the United States. Thanks for being flexible.

P.S.:  Received at 11:00 p.m., Thursday: 

The Tacoma Link closure schedule has changed for Friday's visit by Vice President Joe Biden.  In coordination with the Vice President's visit, Tacoma Link will not run starting at 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m..  Morning commuters parking at Tacoma Dome Station and riding link into downtown will still be able to do so on their regular schedules.

Major Street Closures Downtown on FRIDAY, October 8th

There will be major street closures and transit impacts in downtown Tacoma this Friday, October 8th, in coordination with Vice President Joe Biden’s visit. The Vice President will be speaking at the University of Washington Tacoma campus in the afternoon.

Tacoma Link service will be shut down from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

All streets around the UWT campus will be closed, no through traffic or parking:

- Pacific Avenue between S. 21st and S. 17th

- S. 21st between Pacific Ave. and Market St.

- S. 17th St. between Pacific and Market St.

- Jefferson St. between Pacific and Market

- Likely Market St between S. 17th and S. 21st St.

Buses in the area will be rerouted to different streets. Contact the transit agencies directly for more information about impacts to transit service. Sound Transit, 206-398-5000; Pierce Transit 253.606.4626.