A Facelift for Freighthouse Square

After two years of strenuous conversations over the location of the new Tacoma Amtrak station, the Washington State Department of Transportation is happy to announce that the new location will be located at the historic Freighthouse Square. 

The new station and construction will be necessary because passenger trains will now be using new routes starting in 2017. Instead of the existing station on Puyallup Ave, the new location with be at the to-be renovated Freighthouse Square. The new location will cut eight minutes off travel time for those going to and from the Seattle-Portland stations and will relieve congestion on the waterfront line. Along with these improvements, Amtrak will be increasing the number of passenger trains traveling from Seattle to Portland from five daily trips to seven in 2017. The Washington State Department of Transportation are putting the final touches on the plans and will be advertising for bids in February and are hoping that construction will begin mid-spring. 

So far the plans for Freighthouse square include the middle portion of the building to be demolished and replaced with the new station, on the original footprint. Currently WSDOT is still negotiating details and selling price with the building’s owner, Brian Borgelt. While the process has been rather long and drawn out, Borgelt is hopeful that everything will be settled soon. 

One thing that comes to mind when talking about Freighthouse is all the small business located within the building. Borgelt has made it one of his goals to keep the businesses in the non-demolition location open and viable for business. The businesses located within the breakdown sight have already been moved out in preparation. 

For more information click here.

Hotels on the Horizon

With the announcement of McMenamins winning the bid a few weeks ago for the Old City Hall building, everyone seems to be making announcements for new and upcoming hotel projects for Tacoma's future. 

Almost eight years ago, Bellevue's Silver Cloud Inn and Hotels announced that they would be developing an 180 room hotel on Point Ruston, and it has just been announced that construction is finally underway. The delay can be attributed to a slow moving recession coupled with disputes over land-use permits with the City of Ruston. Bellevue's Silver Cloud Inn and Hotels is set to open in 2018 and planned to include one restaurant, a ballroom, meeting rooms, a pool, an exercise room, and a parking garage. 

There are two other major proposals on the table for the future of Tacoma's tourist and business industry. A Chinese investment group, who is still gathering investors, is interested in creating a 24-story, 300 room high rise. It is proposed that this would be a convention hotel along with a condominium complex. The second is coming from Hollander Investments and they have their eyes on the Thea Foss Waterway. Hollander and Investments is planning to build a hotel and an office complex. The first of the buildings to go up will be a nine-story Marriott Residence Inn that will provided 104 rooms. Ground breaking dates have not been set yet, Hollander and Investments are waiting to see how the other proposed hotels do before starting construction. 

If everything goes as planned Tacoma can expect to see five new hotels, at least one more condominium complex, and an increase in office spaces and store fronts in the next few years. Tacoma truly is the City of Destiny and is planning on making a large impact on Tacoma's small business and local economy. 

ead more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article49463305.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article49463305.html#storylink=cpy

Six Years and Waiting

Announced almost six years ago was the purchasing of the Elks Lodge in downtown Tacoma. Roughly a month ago came the announcement that renovations were finally beginning. Why the six year lag you ask? Well, the purchasing company, McMenamins has your answer.

To find the answer you first need to know who is McMenamins? McMenamins is a Portland based entertainment company that holds properties throughout Oregon, Bothell and now Tacoma. They also only work on one project at a time, which explains the gap. With the Bothell building now complete, it is finally Tacoma’s turn.

Another recent announcement was that the City of Tacoma has awarded McMenamins with the bid for Old City Hall, located across the street from the Elks Lodge.

McMenamins has a thirty year history of turning historic buildings into entertainment and lodging locations. They are currently planning on renovating the Elks Lodge to feature an event space and a rooftop garden, accompanied by three restaurants, a bar, and a brewery. To top off this massive renovation, there will also be approximately 46 hotel rooms for guests to stay and play. The Old City Hall, which will be a few years behind the Elks Lodge, will be a complimentary experience for guests. The plan for Old City Hall is to have at least 60 hotel rooms, a gift shop, soaking pools, community and private meeting spaces, along with a jailhouse themed bar and a rooftop restaurant featuring a greenhouse. The Elks Lodge will have more of a unique floor plan with a labyrinth of different types of rooms, while the Old City Hall will keep its classic design consistent throughout the building.

This is looking to be two very large renovations with promising outcomes. These plans will not only take the burden of these two beautiful yet deteriorating buildings off the shoulders of the city but it will also be an amazing new opportunity for tourism and small businesses to flourish.

The Elks lodge has been purchased completely by McMenamins and due to it being a private selling process, no firm timelines were made mandatory for this building.  However, they are hopeful there will be an opening mid-2017. The Old City Hall is on a lease to potentially own status with firm deadlines so as not to experience a six year lag as with the Elks Lodge. Final details, deadlines, and costs have not yet been set but City Council is hoping to have everything approved by early next year. Decisions on if this will be a purchase to own property are still unclear and neither party is giving an indication on which way they are leaning.

With only a handful of historic buildings left to renovate in Tacoma, many people are looking to see what possible projects could be on the horizon for the companies who were outbid for the Old City Hall. Companies such as, Daniels Real Estate, a Seattle based company with experience in historical restorations, lost to McMenamins but is still interested in moving to Tacoma. Some are speculating that the Washington Building on Pacific Ave, the University-Union Club at 539 Broadway, and the Mansion on Broadway may be next to join the ranks of Tacoma’s beautiful historic renovations. Tacoma has a strong grip on their past and is not going to let changing times take away from the rich history that we have to offer. Restoring historic buildings is classically Tacoma and here to stay for many more generations to enjoy.  

Spaceworks Tacoma - Activating Space

Activated space.

It’s one of the most important elements of community development and neighborhood revitalization. It’s importance is understood by both high level urban planners and grass roots community organizers. It speaks both to architectural design and the importance of third spaces for people to gather, and it speaks to everything in between.

In Tacoma we have an inventive and robust effort that understands the importance of activated space - it’s called Spaceworks Tacoma.

Spaceworks is a partnership between the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce that is designed to activate empty storefronts and vacant spaces in the city with art and creative enterprise.

Property owners donate their vacant spaces and Spaceworks makes those low-cost temporary spaces available to artists, entrepreneurs, organizations, and community groups who transform those spaces with creative business, art installations, short term community based projects, or pop-up events.

Spaceworks also provides training, professional development and technical assistance to the participants in the program. 

Have you seen a Spaceworks installation around town? Have you visited a Spaceworks business? Have you attended one of a plethora of creative events and parties held in a Spaceworks activated spaces?

If not, what are you waiting for? They are all around you - in the downtown neighborhood, the Hilltop, the 6th Avenue corridor, and throughout the city.

On June 3rd from noon - 1pm, Spaceworks Tacoma will be highlighted in the Walk Tacoma series for 2015. Spaceworks is hosting a free, guided Public Art Walk that will be lead by Public Art Specialist Rebecca Solverson with the City of Tacoma.

This particular art walk will be 1.5 miles and will explore the local public art and murals found throughout the Hilltop neighborhood. The walk will start at People’s Park on S. 9th and MLK Jr. Way.

One of the more whacky and fun projects that Spaceworks will be involved with is in partnership with the Cartoonist League of Absurd Washingtonians (CLAW) and Downtown on the Go (DOTG).

CLAW has their Open Swim event tonight, May 27th, 7:30 pm at King’s Books. DOTG is sponsoring this open swim event by providing ten blank white bike helmets to be drawn on and decorated by attendees.

The plan is to have the decorated helmets serve as a traveling exhibit for DOTG to be orchestrated by Spaceworks. Rumor has it these helmets might end up on the heads of some well known Tacoma personalities during the Downtown to Defiance event in September. Finally, the helmets will be auctioned off and the proceeds split between DOTG and the CLAW Student Scholarship Fund.

Now that is some creative partnership if you ask me.

The thing about activated space - it is both a function of the space itself and the people that populate it. Spaceworks is doing it’s part. Let’s do ours and populate these spaces with our presence and our dollars.

Charette for Pac Ave Streetscape Project

Exciting changes are coming downtown and the City invites you to get involved.

The City of Tacoma is holding a Public Charette for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project and would like feedback. The public is invited to provide input and comment on conceptual designs completed for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Tacoma Art Museum

1701 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, WA 98402

Phase One of the project will improve the right-of-way from 7th Street to 17th Street and provide a streetscape design that complements the completed Pacific Avenue streetscape (17th Street to 21st Street).

The project will incorporate innovative stormwater management design, complete streets concepts, multimodal transportation and wayfinding. The new streetscape will also be designed to attract and encourage new business in downtown Tacoma.

If you would like more detailed information on this meeting, contact Sue O'Neill or you can phone her at 253.591.5789.

Anyone wanting to submit written comments may do so no later than 5 p.m., December 10, 2010 to Sue O'Neill, Asst. Division Manager, PW Engineering, 747 Market Street, Room 544, Tacoma, WA 98402.

Prairie Line Trail Update

On Monday, August 9, 2010 the City of Tacoma applied for design and construction grants as part of the ongoing process of transforming the abandoned Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad corridor into an urban pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The Prairie Line Trail will be a linear park linking planned redevelopment in the Brewery District to the University of Washington Tacoma, Tollefson Plaza, Tacoma Art Museum and the Thea Foss Esplanade. The trail will provide better access from the south end of downtown to the Foss Waterway and will be a benefit to businesses and employees. Additionally, the Prairie Line Trail will connect to other regional trails including the Historic Water Ditch Trail and the Scott Pierson Trail.

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.

Luzon to be Demolished Saturday

City Manager Eric Anderson announced at this afternoon’s City Council Study Session that the historic Luzon Building will be torn down this Saturday. According to the building official, the structure is in eminent danger of collapse and must be taken down immediately to protect the public. According to the City Manager, “there is no hope [for the Luzon]”.

This conclusion is the final determination in a series of last ditch efforts to save the Luzon from demolition. Years of neglect on the part of multiple owners, including Pierce County left the building in a state of disrepair. Yesterday the structure was enclosed with a 6-foot fence after the Tacoma Police and Fire Departments insured the building was empty.

The Luzon is one of the first buildings on the West Coast built by Chicago architects, Burnham and Root to employ an internal steel structure, later used in the engineering of skyscrapers. An effort will be made to preserve the steel structure and the unique patina brick on the exterior of the building.

Other stories on the Luzon...

A Luzon Rescue?

Streets to Close Around Luzon Building

Luzon at the 'Tipping Point'

Creating Something Out of an Abandoned Brewery District- IDA Conference Part 2

I had the opportunity to tour the long-vacant former Pabst Brewery today. As a loyal PBR drinker the opportunity made me nostalgic for my college days, but it also peaked my professional interest as a planner ruminating over what to do about our own long-vacant Heidelberg Brewery.

There are many similarities between the two development opportunities and I only hope that the City of Tacoma learns from Milwaukee’s near missteps and builds on the Brewery City’s successes.

The Pabst Brewery, which closed in 1996, sits on a 21-acre site adjacent to Interstate 43 and is minutes from downtown Milwaukee. The site includes 16 historic tax credit eligible buildings, 6 construction-ready parcels and two parking garages to be built by the Master Developer, Joseph Zilber, Chairman of Brewery Project LLC. Mr. Zilber, stepped forward to purchase the site after a previous entertainment-oriented redevelopment proposal fizzled. Through this project, Mr. Zilber envisions creating a new mixed use neighborhood rather than, as one of the project investors described the previous proposal, a passing retail fade.

The Brewery Project LLC is using historic tax credits and tax increment financing to rehabilitate the historic buildings, including the old boiler building, brewing laboratories and grain silo. The buildings will be renovated and sold to new owners looking to creating new retail, residential and offices uses on the site. Already the property houses the Blue Ribbon Loft Apartments and a development firm. Seventy-percent of the residential units are affordable to low income tenants and intended as live/work artists lofts. The University of Wisconsin has expressed interest in relocating and expanding their Public Health program in the old beer bottling building that was made famous in the opening scenes of the TV series Lavern and Shirley.

Highlighting environmental sustainability is an essential component of the project, which boasts an on-sight storm water management system and 90% construction waste recycling. The project is also reconnects long-vacated streets to the grid and incorporates porous street pavement to minimize water run off. For their efforts, the developers are being rewarded as contenders for LEED Platinum Certification upon project completion.

As an outsider to this massive project it looks to me like the developers and the City of Milwaukee are doing everything right. This is an exciting and inspirational project. The proximity of Tacoma’s own Brewery District to our downtown and the district’s historic buildings pose an equally exciting prospect, but we must learn from the Brewery City and NOT COMPROMISE. Tacoma is deserving of the best designed buildings that pay homage to our culture and history. We must not settle for the newest best offer that comes our way, but instead demand quality design and uses that compliment our community.

Paid On-Street Parking...It's Coming...Really

Parking pay stations are coming to the streets of downtown Tacoma. According to City Manager Eric Anderson, expect to see the meters on street this spring.

This announcement is the culmination of nearly a decade of conversations and debates about paid on-street parking. Throughout the years conversations have centered around the tedious balance between charging for parking without deterring customers and having available on-street parking spots for customers and clients.

Most recently the Parking Implementation Committee, comprised of stakeholders from throughout the City’s business districts and downtown worked with consultants to devise a strategy to implement paid-on street parking.

With current demand for downtown on-street parking out pacing supply, the turning point in the conversation was acceptance of a widely held transportation theory that parking pricing should be market based and set at a price point that supports 15% parking spot vacancy. The theory in practice is intended to insure that, while you might not be able to find a spot in front of your favorite business, with 15% vacancy you’ll likely be able to find and pay for one down the street.

How it will work
If approved by the City Council the first phase of parking meters we be rolled out in roughly the BIA boundaries, between S. 7th and S. 21st and between I-705 and Market St.

The pay stations will be similar to Seattle’s where a user purchases a window sticker for and can take extra parking time with them for errands in other parts of the paid parking zone.

The City Manager is asking the Council to set the initial rate at 75 cents per hour with an understanding that this rate will adjust to facilitate 15% vacancy. All revenues generated from the pay stations will stay within the parking system, which supports parking-related investments.

A citizen’s advisory committee will be formed to advise the City on rate and policy changes as the public adjusts to the new system.

Timeline
September 15th: Pay station proposal reviewed y Committee of the Whole
September 22nd: Council Study Session will review proposed Ordinance
September 29th: First reading of Ordinance
October 6th: Second reading of Ordinance

If passed by Council an RFP for the pay stations will be issued in mid-October and the contract placed at the end of November.

The City Manager is planning a 3 to 4 month public outreach and education campaign in preparation for the pay stations to be installed by April.

What if I don’t want to pay for parking?
There are numerous resources to help downtown employers, employees, residents, customers, visitors, and students get out of their cars an into a bus, van/carpool on to a bike, walking or teleworking. The friendly people at Pierce Transit www.piercetrips.com and Downtown: On the Go! can help you with all your commuting needs. Even changing your commute just once a week will save you money.

Conversations RE: Tacoma brings urban planning to the masses

The Southwest Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture and The Harris Architectural Trust are teaming up with other local organizations for the 1st annual lecture series, Conversation RE: Tacoma.

Through this three-part lecture series the AIA and others hope to provoke thought, inform the public and stimulate conversation about Tacoma’s urban form and the communities we are building through the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These are opportunities for community-wide discussions about our City’s design future.

IT"S OUR CITY, let’s redefine it and reinvent it.

For more information go to http://www.retacoma.com/.

Streets to Close Around Luzon Building

At this afternoon’s City Council Study Session City staff announced that starting tomorrow S. 13th Street and the southbound outside lane of Pacific Ave., adjacent to the Luzon Building will close for an undetermined amount of time.

The street closures are the City’s response to the “life safety” risks that the deterioration of the Luzon Building poses to pedestrians and passing traffic. As S. 13th St. is a major freeway access route to downtown, traffic will be detoured to ramps at S. 21st St. and S. 9th St.

These street closures coincide with road construction along Commerce St. and S. 9th St., making parts of downtown impassable to vehicles. My recommendation for getting around downtown, at least in the interim, is jumping on your bike or putting on some walking shoes.

Chairs and Tables in Tollefson, One man's experience

Thank you to Andrew Fry for sharing his Tollefson Plaza experience with us. Please read his Tollefson Ice tea post and share your own new Tollefson experiences here.

Lunchtime Vendors and Entertainment Coming to Tollefson

Take your lunch break in Tollefson Plaza- every Friday starting July 10 to September 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your own lunch or buy food from local restaurateurs and enjoy free entertainment from local musicians.

By July 10th, the first of the Summer Lunch Series, you’ll be able to sit comfortably under the shade of one of the plaza’s new umbrellas, and enjoy live music from the Caribbean band Island Jamz. Other performers this summer will include Shakespeare performances by “Shakespeare in the Parking Lot” and live acoustic music from local performers.

Vendors, entertainers and musicians are being scheduled for this summer. For a schedule of events and vending information, please e-mail Vy Dotson at vyd@tacomachamber.org.

Celebrate “Go Local Tacoma Day” at the Broadway Farmer's Market- May 21st

“Go Local Tacoma Day” will be the centerpiece during the opening day of the Broadway Farmers Market on Thursday May 21 in downtown Tacoma on Broadway Street between 9th and 11th.

In addition to members of “Go Local Tacoma” being on hand, visitors can enjoy the Iron Chef Cook-Off, to be judged by local celebrities and city officials. Along with local music, there will also be a gardening demonstration at the Foodie Fun Clinic and multiple family friendly activities.

The Organization:
“Go Local Tacoma” started off 2009 incorporating, electing a board of directors and forming a vision and strategy with a goal of providing tangible benefits to the general community, as well as local business members. “We’re dedicated as an organization to building community that supports, and is supported by local independent businesses,” said Patricia Lecy-Davis, current President of Go Local Tacoma. “Our members showcase what makes Tacoma unique, while fostering economic development and investing in Tacoma’s future.”

The Need Exists:
In challenging as well as prosperous economic times, homegrown enterprises provide a source of pride and improve the overall quality of life for a community. In addition, communities that preserve one-of-a-kind businesses are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment. “Our members, who are also our neighbors, stock their shelves based on local customers needs and desires,” said Lecy-Davis. “This guarantees a more customized range of products, services, and choices for the consumer.”

Membership:
Members enjoy a variety of benefits:
· Social activities designed specifically for business owners and managers.
· Programs for members including panel discussions for advice, mentoring, and professional exchanges and sharing of ideas.
· Workshops and training for business and professional development, marketing, sales strategies, and creating strategic community partners.
· Marketing opportunities to a wide reach of consumers.
Membership is open to local, independent businesses in which 50% or more of decisions at the business are made at the local level.

Tacoma Live:
Available at “Go Local Day” as well at numerous businesses, hotels, and within other partner publications, “Tacoma Live “is a publication that provides helpful information on a variety of arts, services, entertainment and shopping options provided by local independent operators for those moving to the area or those already committed to Tacoma.

About Go Local Tacoma
Go Local Tacoma is a Section 501(c)(6) corporation with The Greater Tacoma Foundation as its fiscal agent. It is dedicated to building community that supports and is supported by local independent business. To become a member or for more information, visit: http://www.golocaltacoma.com/.

Curious About Tacoma Condos?

Join the 2009 Tacoma Condo Tour, May 16th-17th from 11am-4pm.

Downtown Tacoma and Ruston's best condominiums are opening their doors and welcoming new buyers. This tour is a great opportunity to view half a dozen of the newest downtown and waterfront condominiums Tacoma and Ruston have to offer. To see participating properties click here.

Pick up your tour maps, brochures and literature on participating condominiums in downtown Tacoma at The Pantages Theater Saturday May 16th or Sunday May 17th from 11am-4pm. For more information please go to the Tacoma Condo Tour website, http://www.tacomacondotour.com/

Pictures from Tacoma’s Most Notorious Bathhouse

I recently had the opportunity to explore the old Turkish bathhouse that will soon function as a rain cistern, collecting water for Pacific Plaza’s green roof and to flush the building's toilets. The bath's size is 25 feet wide, 100 feet long and 9 feet deep - combined with a smaller concrete pool room below it, will hold roughly 190,000 gallons of water.

The bathhouse was originally built more than 110 years ago, and likely catered to loggers from Turkey, Russia and Sweden looking for an opportunity to “literally soak the dirt out of every pore.”
Later, the Turkish bathhouse developed a more checkered history. According to Michael Sullivan, local historian and principal of Artifacts Consulting, the bathhouse was owned during different generations by two of Tacoma's most notorious vice kingpins - Peter Sandberg and Vito Cuttone. Sandberg ran Tacoma's prostitution business at the turn of the century and Vito Cuttone, ran the Italian mob in Tacoma after the Second World War.

Dan Voelpel wrote a great article in the News Tribune about the Turkish bath back in December 2008. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it on the TNT’s site, so you’ll have to read it from the Seattle Times.)

Here’s what the bathhouse looks like today:

Steam pipe

12th and Pacific Hill Climb Gets a Facelift

The hill climb just north of Pacific Plaza at 12th and Pacific is slated for major improvements in conjunction with the Pacific Plaza renovation. The 12th and Pacific Hill Climb, which was once home to one of Tacoma’s notorious outdoor escalators is currently characterized by a wandering staircase and overgrown vegetation. Coupled with the Pacific Plaza construction, this hill climb (not unlike the others around town) is cold, dark and uninviting.

However, the planned improvements will provide a much needed pedestrian link between Commerce St. and Pacific Ave. The City and BLRB Architects have developed a plan to replace the stairway and plants with a design-to-suit retail building and outdoor courtyard as part of the Pacific Plaza redevelopment. A 15 foot wide stairway will be built where the cement catacomb that once housed the escalator now stands.

Plans for this project have included a number of community stakeholders. Public Art for the area is coordinated by the City’s Arts Administrator, Amy McBride. The owners of the adjacent building are working with local architect David Boe to design small improvements to their building that will promote plenty of watchful eyes on the stairway and courtyard. Lastly, The designs were reviewed by the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Police Department and take into consideration Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) recommendations.

The designs were reviewed by the City Council’s Economic Development Committee last week. Look for construction of the improvements to begin soon.

LeMay Museum Moving Forward?

Phase I of the Harold E. LeMay Museum is looking for funding opportunities for the $28,441,070 project.

Yesterday representatives from the LeMay Museum asked the City Council’s Economic Development Committee to consider financing support for the museum through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 108 loan program allows CDBG Entitlement communities, like Tacoma to borrow money for certain community development activities. The LeMay project qualifies as an economic development activity within the Section 108 program.

The $3,500,000 of Section 108 loan proceeds will be leveraged with New Market Tax Credits, a conventional loan from US Bank and equity to build phase I of the LeMay Museum on a site provided by the City of Tacoma near the Tacoma Dome.

Phase I, which will begin the permit process this spring, is anticipated to create 90 jobs and will consist of:

• 150,000 square foot Collector Car Center displaying 600 cars


• 8 Galleries


• Theater in the round


• 1 kilometer road displaying vehicles and exhibits


• Café


• Banquet hall


• Councours Club


• Club Auto


• Education Center with library and classrooms


• Auto maintenance facility


• Four-acre show field

The museum anticipates future private retail development and a dining complex housing a multiplex theater.

The full council will hear the financing proposal at the April 15th City Council meeting.

Chairs and Tables, a First Step for Tollefson Plaza

For too long Tollefson Plaza has been a black mark on the hard fought efforts to revitalize and breathe life into downtown Tacoma. Rather than enumerate all the disappointments associated with the Plaza let’s change course…

In February the Economic Development Committee of the Tacoma City Council reviewed recommendations from the Tollefson Plaza/ Century Park Planning Group. The Group comprised of representatives from the City, Save Our Station, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, UWT, Tacoma Art Museum, the Tollefson Family and other stakeholders has been meeting for the past two years to discuss strategies to turn the Plaza into a more inviting and active destination.

Building on recommendations from architect Lars Gemzoe, the planning group has proposed a series of recommendations some believe will make Tollefson Plaza/ Century Park a livelier place. The elements in the first phase of the recommendations include tables, chairs, umbrellas, garbage bins and planters.

Along with warmer weather and leaves on the trees, this spring will bring opportunity to Tollefson Plaza. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, which manages the Plaza is working with the City to bring this list of amenities onto Tollefson Plaza by May 1st.

What to expect:

• Tables, chairs and umbrellas: Metal with a modern design that reflects the angles and simple architecture of the Convention Center and Tacoma Art Museum.
• Planters: Similar to the black ceramic planters in front of the Marriott Hotel adjacent to the Plaza.

Check back soon for pictures of the tables, chairs, umbrellas and planters that will be ordered... (the ones in this picture are not what will be in Tollefson)