Coming Soon… Pacific Avenue Construction

Roadway construction on Pacific Avenue between S. 17th and S. 25th Streets is scheduled to on Sunday, August 23rd. According to the City of Tacoma Public Works Department, this section of Pac. Ave. “desperately needs repair and is failing rapidly.”

The primary goal of the Pacific Avenue Improvement Project is to remove and replace both the base section and the asphalt surface of the street. The project will also repair sidewalks, curbs and gutters, where needed.

Constructions will take place between now and winter 2008 in the following stages:
1st Phase: 17th to 21st Street (west side)
2nd Phase: 17th to 21st (east side)
3rd Phase: 21st to 25th including 25th from Pacific to C Street (west side)
4th Phase: 21st to 25th (east side)

The Good News:

• The construction work is scheduled to take place at night between the hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• No construction work will be done at the concrete intersections.
• Angle parking will be maintained within the area during the day.
• Sidewalks will remain open.
• The City and contractor will work with businesses to accommodate delivery schedules.
• No utility work will be done at this time since it was done when the Light Rail was constructed.
• When the project is complete (scheduled for winter 2008) we’ll have a new road and nicer sidewalks

The Bad News:

• The street will be torn up!
• There will be less access to shops, restaurants and other businesses along this segment of Pacific Ave.
• Road construction projects often create a noisy, dirty and inhospitable environment.
• During construction times (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) the road will be restricted to local and emergency vehicles only.
• BIA sidewalk cleaning service along this segment of Pac. Ave. will be limited for the duration of the project.

The City of Tacoma Public Works Department is holding an Open House for residents and business owners to learn more about the scope of the work, the construction schedule and answer any questions about the potential impacts.

The Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 708.

For more information regarding this project, please contact Karrie Spitzer in Community Relations at karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org or by phone at (253) 591-5790, or contact Dan Seabrands with Public Works at dseabran@cityoftacoma.org or by phone at (253) 591-5150.

Tollefson Plaza Moves from Vision to Action

It is official: the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber have signed the contract for Tollefson Plaza that will have the Chamber manage the Plaza and its growth as the center for Tacoma’s civic life.

Bordered by the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Courtyard by Marriot Hotel, Tacoma Art Museum, University of Washington Tacoma, and retail shops and restaurants, an activated Tollefson Plaza will tie together a multitude of interests into one high-profile hub of activity.

Funding for the project received an early supporter when Rainier Pacific Bank became the first to donate $10,000—an encouraging boost representing the significant value that activities in the Plaza will add to downtown.

Events anticipated to activate the space include: Friday lunch markets, big screen movie nights, annual holiday festivities such as a Holiday Tree Lighting and a New Year’s celebration, and a Harvest Festival, among other events. The addition of tables, chairs, and all weather covering along with other aesthetic improvements, will soon create a more inviting environment.

The Chamber is convening area stakeholders to discuss future details and strategies for the Plaza.

For more information contact Joanne Buselmeier, JoanneB@tacomachamber.org

A Reason to Come to Tollefson Plaza…Showcase Tacoma

Showcase Tacoma, a multi-disciplinary arts experience takes place in the heart of downtown Tacoma next Friday and Saturday, August 8-9, 11am-9pm.

This 3rd annual event features the exploding local and regional arts scene! Enjoy visual and performing art exhibits and demonstrations, art installations, and performance activities for people of all ages!

Here’s what you can expect:

Awesome music for all tastes: The live music on the Main Stage will include indie rock, jazz, blues, and performances from some of the best high school musicians. The Helio Sequence is headlining on Friday night and has proven to be quite the draw! Before that, you can check out the Iron Artist competition at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Thought provoking poetry: On Saturday Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green will be reading with special guests. The literary component has exploded this year, so if that is your scene there are readings galore throughout the event.

Art to buy and make: Indie craft artists will be selling unique wares. Try your hand at chalk drawing, ceramics, puppetry, knitting, and even break-dancing. There will broad range of activity and art forms represented from contemporary art installations to little ballerinas.

Good Food: The food and beverage are provided by all our local downtown (predominantly) restaurants/vendors: Pacific Grill, the Harmon/Hub, Maxwell’s Speakeasy, Two Koi, NW Popcorn (great ice cream), Kenya’s Italian Ice, Hot Dog Rod, and Cutter’s Point Coffee.

For more information check out the Metro Parks website here.

Broadway LID Phase 2 Begins Early

Phase 2 of the Broadway Local Improvement District (BLID) will begin July 28th, three months ahead of schedule.

Business owners had previously been told that improvements on Market Street, between South 9th and South 7th Street, would begin in October. Instead, starting next week, Wm. Dickson Co. will begin work on Phases 1 and 2 of the BLID concurrently. This work will include utility upgrades, sidewalk repairs and other streetscape improvements.

The contractor and the City chose to move forward on Phase 2 sooner than planned to take advantage of the dry summer weather, which is generally ideal for street work. Also, by doing Phase 1 & 2 simultaneously, the project timeline will speed up 1 to 3 months, with a winter break. (At no additional cost.)

Additionally, according to the City’s project website, moving forward on Phase 2 now will allow streetscape improvements to be made at the same time as the storm drain work, eliminating the need to tear up the street more than once. Was the plan really to dig up the street twice!?

This schedule change will mean more traffic restrictions along Market Street between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, all on street parking will be eliminated from the work area.

WANTED: Comments on Wayfinding Sign Designs

On Thursday representatives from Rusty George creative presented two new concepts for wayfinding signage in downtown. The intention of the signs are to more effectively direct visitors to Tacoma to sites, attractions and areas of interest in downtown Tacoma and other business districts.

The design of the signs is based a few guiding principles:

• Use established best practices for effective signage (Font size and type, arrow shape, ADA needs)
• Simplify and prioritize information
• Be consistent
• Information should be logical, visible and easy to follow
• Colors, words and symbols should compliment not compete

The new concept designs will be presented to the Economic Development Committee on August 29th. Please review the designs here. We welcome and encourage your comments. Please email all comments to ChelseaL@tacomachamber.org

What's Happening with Wayfinding in Downtown?

Come Thursday, July 17th, 5:30pm-6:30pm to Room 248 in the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street) to find out.

Overtime many incomplete efforts have been made to provide signage directing visitors and residents to important and interesting sites, venues and attractions downtown. These efforts have left downtown with incomplete and mismatched informational signage.

The current wayfinding effort seeks to provide some uniformity and clarity to the existing wayfinding schemes downtown.

Please join us Thursday, July 17th, 5:30pm-6:30pm in Room 248 in the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street) to learn about and provide input on current wayfinding plans.

City Center Lucheon features Point Ruston, Urban Waters and Tollefson Plaza

The City Center Lucheon is this Friday! RSVP today!

Events and activities are heating up in downtown Tacoma this summer.
The City Center Luncheon,
Friday, July 11th, 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. at The Tacoma Club,
will showcase ground breaking events and opportunities in downtown Tacoma.

Topics include:

Center for Urban Waters ground breaking
Presenter: Jim Parvey, City of Tacoma
The Center for Urban Waters is a 56,000-square-foot office and laboratory building to be located on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway. The LEED certified building, which is scheduled to break ground this summer, will house the City's Environmental Services Division labs and offices, University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) research labs, and an office for the Puget Sound Partnership.

Point Ruston development plans and timeline
Presenters: Mike Cohen, MC Construction & JJ McCament, McCament and Rogers
Point Ruston is the Northwest’s newest waterfront neighborhood. Point Ruston is planned as a comprehensive community that will include nearly 1,000 new residences made up of waterfront condominiums, townhomes, and single family homes, a four-star hotel, parks and public art, miles of waterfront walkways and a host of fine restaurants, nightlife, cultural events, and shopping.

Tollefson Plaza plans and programming
Presenter: Joanne Buselmeier, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce
Tollefson Plaza will hold Friday lunchtime concerts and food vendors—just in time to enjoy lunch outdoors in the Northwest summer. More activities and plans are currently in the works.

Showcase Tacoma, a multi-disciplinary arts experience
Presenter: Phedra Redifer, Metro Parks & Amy McBride, City of Tacoma
This 3rd annual event features the exploding local and regional arts scene! Enjoy visual and performing art exhibits and demonstrations, art installations, and performance activities for people of all ages! Friday and Saturday, August 8-9 at Tollefson Plaza in the heart of downtown Tacoma.

The cost of the event is $25 for members pre-paid and $30 for non-members pre-paid; corporate tables are available. To reserve your seat contact Janice at the Chamber, 253.627-2175 or janiceh@tacomachamber.org