2006 gleams with economic development throughout Tacoma
As we wrap up 2006, the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department has compiled a list worth celebrating of the economic development wins that occurred in our city throughout the year.
In this effort, and in all that we do, we raise our glasses to you, the community. Without your endless support, none of these developments, ventures or successes would have ever been possible.
Building abounds
• Announcements were made on the improvement or rehabilitation of several iconic downtown buildings including: The Elks, The Luzon, The Kress Building, The Tacoma Security Building, The Mecca, Old City Hall and the former Browne's Star Grill and adjacent properties. The fate of the Winthrop Hotel was also a major 2006 focus.
• Several condominium developments were constructed, including the addition of approximately 1,100 residential units downtown.
• Landmark Tacoma, LLC, purchased the former Spring Air Mattress building, which will eventually become the first condominium development in the Dome District.
• MLK Commercial LLC, purchased property on the corner of South 16th Avenue and South J Street to develop a new three-story, for-profit medical building.
• The former Asarco site on Ruston Way was purchased by MC Construction. They will complete environmental remediation of the site in preparation for mixed-use development.
• The Kaiser smokestack came down to make way for new Port of Tacoma facilities. Panattoni Development Company also constructed a rail-served distribution center in the tideflats and the American Construction Company relocated to the Hylebos Waterway.
• The BNSF Railway announced that environmental remediation had been completed on their property near South 56th Street and South Tacoma Way, and that the property will be developed by ProLogis for future rail and distribution use.
• The restored Tacoma Dome Hotel opened under the Best Western flag.
• Hotel Concepts announced plans to create a 140-room hotel at the corner of South 21st and C streets.
• The Broadway Streetscape Improvement project was formed.
• Construction of the D Street Overpass began.
• The LeMay Car Museum announced its intention to build their flagship museum adjacent to Interstate 5 near the Tacoma Dome.
• Tollefson Plaza became a downtown public square.
• The lobby of the historic Pantages Theater was remodeled.
Business matters
• Companies opened up shop or offices in Tacoma including Avanti Spa, Bank of Tacoma, CB Richard Ellis, Clearwire, Commencement Bank, Fire and Water Sundries, The Gintz Group, Key Bank, Kompan, Korsmo Construction, J. Robbins Florist, Lowe’s, Northwest Kinetics, Save-A-Lot, SCS Refrigerated Services, Tacoma Art Supply, Tacoma Self Storage, Trina Jones Photography and the UPS store in the Convention Center.
• New restaurants and nightlife hotspots opened throughout Tacoma including Asado, Doyle's Public House, Duke's Chowder House, El Toro (downtown), The Factory, Farrelli's, Masa, Matador, The Pita Pit, Stadium Bistro and Twokoi.
• Hipster boutiques opened, including Rocky and Coco’s and Tiki Lounge.
Communities flourish
• Community members continued to band together to reclaim the heart of their neighborhoods.
• The Tacoma School District welcomed a new superintendent, Dr. Charles Milligan.
• The Block Tie Affair united downtown residents for the first time on Oct. 12.
• Richard Florida returned to Tacoma to work with the Creative Cities team.
• The Community Based Services program celebrated its first anniversary with several neighborhood improvement successes.
• The Housing First Encampment Elimination program was created.
• The Tacoma Police Department formed a gang emphasis team.
• Community grassroots organizations were formed, including Historic Tacoma and Tacoma Arts Community.
Universities thrive
• University of Washington, Tacoma, admitted its first freshmen students.
• The University of Puget Sound opened Harned Hall, a $25 million science hall as a part of their campus master plan.
Events enthrall
• The Tacoma Dome and the city’s museums, galleries and performing arts groups continued to draw visitors downtown.
• Dale Chihuly returned to Tacoma.
• The Downtown Tacoma Merchant’s kicked off the Live After 5 program to get more feet on the downtown streets.
• It was announced that the Tall Ships Festival will return to Tacoma in 2008.
• Several colorful home-grown community events took place including Animalocity, Art on the Ave., Ethnic Fest, the Glass Roots Festival, the Maritime Festival, the McKinley Street Fair, the Old Town Blues Festival, the Proctor Arts Festival, Showcase Tacoma, the Small Ships Festival, the South Tacoma Annual Car Show, The Tacoma Film Festival, the Urban Art Festival, Wintergrass and Zoobilee.
• Stadium High School celebrated its 100th anniversary.
• The Broadway Center for Performing Arts was selected to manage the Pantages Theater, the Rialto Theater, Theatre on the Square and the Jones Building.
• The Tacoma Rainiers were purchased by Schlegel Sports and famous singer/songwriter Nick Lachey.
Publications pronounce
• Tacoma scored its own arts magazine, City Arts, courtesy of Encore Media Group.
• Forward Tacoma, everyone's favorite pro-Tacoma newsletter was launched. :)
We’re sure we’ve inadvertently and regretfully missed other 2006 events here, which is just further evidence that there’s much to be celebrated in our City of Destiny. Cheers!
|
New business update: Anderson Design Consultants, Garage, Paddy Coyne’s
• Anderson Design Consultants has announced that they’ll soon relocate to 732 Broadway, the building that the Gintz Group recently redeveloped. Anderson specializes in waste water treatment engineering.
• Garage, a new nightclub, opened last week at 933 Market St.
• Paddy Coyne’s, an Irish Pub under construction in the first floor of the Olympus Hotel, 815 Pacific Ave., is hoping to open between Jan. 15 and 17.
|
City Council approves biennial budget
The Tacoma City Council approved the 2007-2008 budget on Dec. 19. Prioritized one-time funding will be provided for several community programs. For more information, visit the City of Tacoma’s news release.
|
Positive impact of historic preservation highlighted
The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation recently released a study that shows the positive impact of historic preservation in Pierce County and Washington State. They’ll deliver a presentation on their findings at 1 p.m. on Jan. 2, in the Passages Building lobby, 708 Broadway. Representatives from participating preservation organizations and a local developer will be available for the discussion. For more information, go to DAHP.
|
Downtown revival storybook now available
The City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department recently released a downtown revival storybook that illustrates several of the recent successes that continue to make Tacoma the urban center of the South Puget Sound.
The storybook provides information on the following attributes that have contributed to Tacoma’s renaissance:
• Economic drivers, including the Port of Tacoma and military bases
• The waterfront downtown
• The City’s continual evolution as a college town
• Private projects
• Adaptive reuses
• New construction
• Major employers
• Retail
• Tourism
• Tacoma Public Utilities
• Transportation linkages
Copies of the storybook are available online by visiting www.cityoftacoma.org/ced. For more information, contact Benjii Bittle at bbittle@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5117.
|
Chamber of Commerce releases Pierce County Economic Index, Northwest Treasure book
The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce recently released the Pierce County Economic Index report.
The Chamber also has a limited supply of the publication, “Northwest Treasure: a Photographic Portrait of Tacoma-Pierce County,” a colorful 168-page book featuring area businesses, communities and unique local stories. The book is priced at $34.95.
For more information about the Economic Index report or the Northwest Treasure book, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (253) 627-2175.
|
Tacoma dubbed as affordable
Apartmentratings.com recently found Tacoma to be one of the most affordable cities. They examined the most affordable cities (measured by the average cost of a two bedroom apartment against local income levels). Renters who reside in these cities have the most money left over after paying the rent:
• Lexington, Ky.
• College Station, Tex.
• Greensboro, N.C.
• Tacoma, Wash.
• Aurora, Colo.
|
The Community and Economic Development Department wishes you well
We sincerely hope this season brings you the warmest wintertime cheer, and most certainly a happy new year.
|
|
|
