Food Vending Pilot Takes Off Downtown

Just in time for summer, a “sidewalk vending unit” pilot project (testing less stringent food cart vending regulations from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department) will begin in the BIA (Downtown Tacoma Business Improvement Area).

The Chamber’s Metropolitan Development Manager, Chelsea Levy, who oversees the BIA, “brought a deep knowledge of downtown Tacoma and is a big reason why downtown Tacoma was chosen as the pilot area,” said Tacoma City Councilperson Marty Campbell. “She was instrumental in bringing about the conservation about food carts. [Levy] was able to bring the perspective of many of our business owners and worked hard to make sure this would be a winnable solution for all.”

The hope is promotion and development of street food vending would create a liveliness that would attract more foot traffic and draw more business to the community.

Campbell cited compelling reasons why launching the pilot project in downtown Tacoma is important. “[Not only] will it bring vitality and foot traffic to our streets, along with activating sidewalks and public areas like Tollefson Plaza, it will bring entrepreneurial opportunities to Tacoma. It will provide low cost opportunities to both launch new businesses, but also allow current restaurants to project their presence and a sampling of their foods to people who may be unfamiliar with their menu,” Campbell said.

On June 15, the Tacoma City Council had their first reading of the ordinance changes. Given the level of interest expressed in the program, look for more tasty food choices springing up downtown in the near future.

Potential On-Street Parking Pay Station Locations Indicated throughout Downtown

Noticed those small white triangles on sidewalks throughout the downtown? If you're curious to know what these are and why they are there, read on!

As you are probably well aware by now, on-street paid parking will officially become a reality in downtown Tacoma this September. A voluntary, citizen-led Parking Management Advisory Task Force has been hard at work over the past months offering recommendations to the City of Tacoma on the roll-out of the new on-street system. Details on the on-street system can be found at http://www.tacomaparking.com/.

Over the summer, parking pay station infrastructure will be placed throughout the downtown. In a first cut at placement of these pay stations, the City of Tacoma has sprayed small, white triangles (pictured above) at the tentative location of these stations (example pictured below). The long side of the trangle is the back of the paystation, while the arrow points in the direction of the front side of the pay station where the customer interacts with the machine. The pay stations will be approximately 1 foot square and 5 feet high.

While the tentative locations of these stations is based on the criteria for placement set forth by the Parking Management Advisory Task Force, it is a first-cut at this placement. The City is very interested in property owner, business owner, student, and citizen input before final placement is determined. While this is not a call for debate on whether or not pay stations should be placed downtown at all, it is a call for specific concerns pertaining to placement of specific machines.

Should you have comments on a location of parking pay station, please submit to tacomaparking@cityoftacoma.org by Thursday, June 24th.

Should you want to know more about on-street paid parking in downtown Tacoma in general, including how you can provide more general public comment, visit http://www.tacomaparking.com/.

NEW Walk Tacoma Downtown Walking Maps Now Available!

Interested in walking Tacoma's downtown? Downtown: On the Go!'s 5 new downtown walking maps will get you out and active while showing the many different sides of the South Sound's urban hub.

Branded as Walk Tacoma, each of the 5 routes takes the pedestrian on an interpretive tour of 8-10 sites. Even veteran Tacomans will discover something new as each map blends information on major landmarks and hidden gems. Routes average 1.5 miles in length, range in difficulty, and include estimates for calories burned.

How did the Walk Tacoma maps come about? In early 2010, Downtown: On the Go! convened a group of stakeholders within the downtown community to create downtown focused walking maps. The goals for these maps included: incentivizing walking as a healthy lunchtime activity, encouraging awareness of walkable distances, and cultivating an appreciation of Tacoma’s rich past, present, and future.

The Walk Tacoma maps were then designed by talented students from Pacific Lutheran University’s Design Team, and generously printed by MultiCare’s Center for Healthy Living.

Interested in obtaining copies? Visit Downtown: On the Go!'s website for more information:

tacomabia.org/Services/TacomaTransportation/

Walk Tacoma: A Lunchtime Walking Event to Introduce Five New Downtown Walking Maps

Wear your walking shoes and come ready to walk - Rain or Shine!

When:
Friday, June 4th 11:45am-1:00pm

Where:
The Waterfront Amphitheater
(on the waterfront side of the Museum of Glass and Albers Mill)

What:
Downtown: On the Go! and partners will introduce five new
Walk Tacoma downtown walking maps during this lunchtime walking event.

Enjoy a healthy lunch (free for the first 50 pedestrians), music, a goodie bag full of great giveaways, and a brief interpretive walk along one of the five new walking map routes.

Walk Tacoma Walking Maps Background Info
In early 2010, Downtown: On the Go! convened a group of stakeholders within the downtown community to create downtown focused walking maps. The goals for these maps include: incentivizing walking as a healthy lunchtime activity, encouraging awareness of walkable distances, and cultivating an appreciation of Tacoma’s rich past, present, and future. The stakeholders developed five downtown walking map routes and the maps are now ready for distribution.

The Walk Tacoma maps were designed by talented students from Pacific Lutheran University’s Design Team, and generously printed by MultiCare’s Center for Healthy Living.

Branded as Walk Tacoma, each route takes the pedestrian on an interpretive tour of 8-10 sites. Even veteran Tacomans will discover something new as each map blends information on major landmarks and hidden gems. Routes average 1.5 miles in length, range in difficulty, and include estimates for calories burned.

Bike to a Better Tacoma @ The Hub a HUGE SUCCESS!

More Bike-to-Work Week Events Remaining!

Bike to a Better Tacoma, hosted by the City of Tacoma, took place yesterday at The Hub. Over 65 people attended, crowding the temporary bike racks and delighting Tacoma's bike enthusiasts and mobility planners. Participants enjoyed free pizza, contagious enthusiasm about cycling in and around Tacoma, and an opportunity to provide feedback to the City on bicycle infrastructure.

Like other Bike Month events throughout May, the turnout exceeded expectation, and demonstrated the excitement around the potential for Tacoma's future bicycle network.

Interested in participating in the remaining Bike-to-Work week events (including free movies, Zeit Bike at the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Bike Commuter Lunch & Fashion Show)? Check out PierceTrips.com to learn more!

Eat Fondue with Love Tacoma at the Melting Pot

Come Love Tacoma at Tacoma's finest fondue restaurant, the Melting Pot in downtown Tacoma. This Tuesday, May 18th starting at 5:30PM enjoy mouth-watering samples of cheese and chocolate fondue with old friends and new. The Melting Pot promises an explosive signature cocktail, just for Love Tacoma-- don't miss this opportunity to love this town. http://www.meltingpot.com/

What: Love Tacoma @ Melting Pot
When: Tuesday, May 18, 5:30PM-7:30PM
Where: 2121 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402

Explore. Play. Repeat.

Love Tacoma is an informal monthly gathering of individuals who love Tacoma and enjoy exploring the city’s urban hotspots. It’s a great way to meet new friends and celebrate the places, people and activities that make Tacoma great, while promoting new businesses and undiscovered hangouts in Tacoma’s diverse neighborhoods.

For more information, check out our website at http://lovetacoma.com/

Exciting Events during Bike-to-Work Week: May 17th-21st

During Bike-to-Work week, regular and not-so-regular cylists are incentivized to dust off those bikes and get to work without their cars.

Aside from biking to work everday and/or forming a workplace team, you can also participate in any one of the several events and activities planned by the City of Tacoma, Pierce Transit, Pierce County, and Downtown: On the Go!.

Daily Bike Commuter Stations
7am-9am
*Monday, May 17: REI at Narrows Bridge Memorial Park
*Tuesday, May 18: Tacoma Bike, 309 Puyallup Ave
*Wednesday, May 19: Old Town Bicycle, 3009 McCarver St
*Thursday, May 20: Rainier Cycle Sports, 3816 N 26th St
*Friday, May 21: Bike Tech, 5408 S. Tacoma Way
Commuters can stop by for some coffee and snacks, and talk to staff about bike maintenance, good commuting routes, and upcoming events. Bike technicians will be available to give recommendations and hand out coupons for specials on bike tunes and gear.

Monday, May 17th
Bike to a Better Tacoma at The Hub
5pm-7pm
Location: The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. South
Join with fellow bicyclists and City staff members to get happy and updated on the Mobility Master Plan. Talk with a bike Technician from REI, and take advantage of valet bike parking! And, if you bike to the Hub, grab a free slice of pizza, enjoy night-long happy hour specials, and be entered into a drawing for a $50 or $25 Hub gift certificate.

Wednesday, May 19th
Bike Movie Series: American Flyers at The Red Hot, co-sponsored by New Belgium
8:30pm
Location: The Red Hot, 2914 6th Avenue
Bike down to the Red Hot for good brews, American Flyers on an outdoor screen and a raffle with great gear from New Belgium Brewing. This event is ages 21+ only.

Thursday, May 20th
Zeit Bike at Tacoma Art Museum’s Third Thursday
5pm-8pm
Location: Tacoma Art Museum
Come see innovative kinetic bicycle sculptures by local artists at the venerable Tacoma Art Museum. Also, watch the Olympia documentary, “Necessary Folly”, chronicling one man’s kinetic bike adventures. Admission is free as part of Third Thursday.

Bike Month Movie Series: Necessary Folly
during Zeit Bike event, see above
Watch this Olympia documentary, chronicling one man’s kinetic bike adventures.

Friday, May 21st
Bike to Coffee with City Council Members
7am-9am
Location: Market Street Satellite Coffee Co and UWT Starbucks
Start the last morning of the Commuter Challenge off right with a free cup of coffee served up by a City Council Member.

Friday, May 21st
Commuter Picnic & Bike Fashion Show at Wright Park
11:30am-1pm
Location: Wright Park
Celebrate a successful Bike-to-Work Week with fellow Commuter Contest participants at a lunch-time picnic in Wright Park sponsored by Downtown: On the Go!. Free lunch will be provided for the first 75 cyclists. For some entertainment, watch local cyclists strut their stuff on the catwalk during the Bike Fashion Show!

Saturday, May 22nd
Bike Movie Series: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure at the Grand Cinema
10:30 am
Location: The Grand Cinema, 606 South Fawcett Ave.
Come enjoy Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, a fun family film about bikes! Free admission!

To learn more about these great events and more, and to register for great Bike-to-Work Week prizes including $250 and $100 gift certificates, check out the full list of events and the trip logging calendar at www.piercetrips.com.