New Vision for Tacoma? (Seattle, Spokane: 2013, condos, neighborhood)

[DevanXL]

We all know the stigma about Tacoma by now. But Tacoma has so many emerging qualities to it. I feel like that leadership in the city just doesn't try to make things better, rather just make sure things dont get worse. I know the point ruston area was planned but hardly anything has been completed. There is so many redeeming qualities of the city but the negatives make it hard to truly call it a great city. The Waterfront, Point Defiance, great museums, and a certain soul to the city. It definitely doesn't need to try to copy Seattle but what do you think the city needs to do to get back to its glory? What is your Vision for Tacoma?


My Vision:

-Build new multipurpose arena (Atleast 15,000 in capacity), tear down Tacoma dome. Use the land for park space, office space, retail, mid rise condos.

-Create a City center attraction (Similar to Seattle center and Riverfront Park in Spokane). Use the land that the Rail yard sits at, get rid of the industrial grit that exists right next to downtown and right across from the terminals. Create lots of Park and event space in the Area, A waterfront walkway with art, musicians, and people during nice weather, New location for the Arena potential, Northwest Maritime Museum, and Possible Large aquarium (or some other focal attraction).

-Clean up Hill top work to turn the gritty neighborhood into a safe walkable area that leads into downtown. By land and build some condos, Restore old buildings, and make it a place to be.

-Restore downtown by cleaning up the streets, providing more green space. Attract stores and help draw in contracts to build a city focal point. Like a Westlake center type place. This will attract more people downtown, attract many businesses around the area and allow the downtown to potentially expand. Also putting money into the city arts department to create more attractions within the area.

-Expand downtown. Draw in contractors to build up with more High rises, and mid rises. Provide incentives to draw in a major companies downtown to provide more jobs and more people possibly living down there. Hopefully get a few new skyscrapers (Between 400-550 feet) downtown to add a new addition to a very old skyline.

-Build up Ruston Way. Turn it into a real attraction that people come to the city to go to. Build up the area in similar fashion to the Landing in Renton. Build Boardwalk and shop district within the ruston area.

-Renovate Point Defiance Zoo, Expand it with more attracts and update old structure that exist there. Turn aquarium space into new interactive exhibits (New aquarium at city center would take place for the city).

-Clean up the Tacoma Mall area. Have major reno on the mall expanding and making the mall more of a draw attract south king county shoppers that would go to southcenter (Auburn and Federal Way). Make the area cleaner and just more exciting to be.

-Make schools better, simple as that, put money into keeping kids off the street. Better after school programs, better facilities. More police presence around schools.

-Thrive on the culture Tacoma already has, blue collar, cafe, bar, art city with alot of history and soul.


I think these would turn Tacoma into a thriving city that would be a great option to work, visit, and live.

[mateo45]

Agreed that Tacoma has a lot of interesting things going for it, and has always had a lot of "potential". But IMHO it continues to be hampered by its essentially blue collar roots and underlying "culture", which let's not forget, deliberately overlooked having an "arsenic plant" (and the 'Tacoma aroma') right in its backyard for decades!

Which hasn't been helped by the growing tendency of folks moving to all the nearby 'burbs, with Tacome simply becoming another place they "pass by" while commuting on I-5! Although on the plus side, it also means you can enjoy stuff like the cool old 'downtown', the docks, interesting little eateries, and the Glass Museum, all without the traffic & crowding!

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by mateo45

Agreed that Tacoma has a lot of interesting things going for it, and has always had a lot of "potential". But IMHO it continues to be hampered by its essentially blue collar roots and underlying "culture", which let's not forget, deliberately overlooked having an "arsenic plant" (and the 'Tacoma aroma') right in its backyard for decades!

Which hasn't been helped by the growing tendency of folks moving to all the nearby 'burbs, with Tacome simply becoming another place they "pass by" while commuting on I-5! Although on the plus side, it also means you can enjoy stuff like the cool old 'downtown', the docks, interesting little eateries, and the Glass Museum, all without the traffic & crowding!

Without the crowding is a good but it doesn't feel like a welcoming city. I don't think being known as a "drive by" city is. Good thing for growth and development of the city

[mateo45]

^ ^ No offense, but in the 20-some years I lived in WA State, I never really found any place there to be particularly "welcoming". Dunno whether it's due to the climate, the location, culture, whatever, but the PNW is just by its nature a very "insular" place, and IMO one either has to accept that and try to "adapt", or else move on!

[sean98125]

The first thing that you're going to have to do is to transform the population of Tacoma into one that is willing to tax itself for basic services like transit and schools. Once the majority of the population believes in the ability of government to spur economic development through investment of tax dollars then you can start improving the city.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by sean98125

The first thing that you're going to have to do is to transform the population of Tacoma into one that is willing to tax itself for basic services like transit and schools. Once the majority of the population believes in the ability of government to spur economic development through investment of tax dollars then you can start improving the city.

That's true, but even now the city is spending money to renovate buildings. People in Tacoma need to realize that you have to invest to to improve. Things just don't get Bette on there own. Even with that said I think the city officials need to find private investments into alot of these projects.

[mateo45]

Isn't that what they've been doing with the Tacoma Dome? Although it might be kind of a 'chicken or the egg' situation, if the City isn't considered 'attractive' enough to begin with.

Tacoma still looking for Dome naming sponsor

[blaserbrad]

Originally Posted by DevanXL

We all know the stigma about Tacoma by now. But Tacoma has so many emerging qualities to it. I feel like that leadership in the city just doesn't try to make things better, rather just make sure things dont get worse. I know the point ruston area was planned but hardly anything has been completed. There is so many redeeming qualities of the city but the negatives make it hard to truly call it a great city. The Waterfront, Point Defiance, great museums, and a certain soul to the city. It definitely doesn't need to try to copy Seattle but what do you think the city needs to do to get back to its glory? What is your Vision for Tacoma?


My Vision:

-Build new multipurpose arena (Atleast 15,000 in capacity), tear down Tacoma dome. Use the land for park space, office space, retail, mid rise condos.

-Create a City center attraction (Similar to Seattle center and Riverfront Park in Spokane). Use the land that the Rail yard sits at, get rid of the industrial grit that exists right next to downtown and right across from the terminals. Create lots of Park and event space in the Area, A waterfront walkway with art, musicians, and people during nice weather, New location for the Arena potential, Northwest Maritime Museum, and Possible Large aquarium (or some other focal attraction).

-Clean up Hill top work to turn the gritty neighborhood into a safe walkable area that leads into downtown. By land and build some condos, Restore old buildings, and make it a place to be.

-Restore downtown by cleaning up the streets, providing more green space. Attract stores and help draw in contracts to build a city focal point. Like a Westlake center type place. This will attract more people downtown, attract many businesses around the area and allow the downtown to potentially expand. Also putting money into the city arts department to create more attractions within the area.

-Expand downtown. Draw in contractors to build up with more High rises, and mid rises. Provide incentives to draw in a major companies downtown to provide more jobs and more people possibly living down there. Hopefully get a few new skyscrapers (Between 400-550 feet) downtown to add a new addition to a very old skyline.

-Build up Ruston Way. Turn it into a real attraction that people come to the city to go to. Build up the area in similar fashion to the Landing in Renton. Build Boardwalk and shop district within the ruston area.

-Renovate Point Defiance Zoo, Expand it with more attracts and update old structure that exist there. Turn aquarium space into new interactive exhibits (New aquarium at city center would take place for the city).

-Clean up the Tacoma Mall area. Have major reno on the mall expanding and making the mall more of a draw attract south king county shoppers that would go to southcenter (Auburn and Federal Way). Make the area cleaner and just more exciting to be.

-Make schools better, simple as that, put money into keeping kids off the street. Better after school programs, better facilities. More police presence around schools.

-Thrive on the culture Tacoma already has, blue collar, cafe, bar, art city with alot of history and soul.


I think these would turn Tacoma into a thriving city that would be a great option to work, visit, and live.

A lot of the things that you suggested they have already done or are doing.
Tacoma Development News - Page 30 - SkyscraperCity
Exit133 - In Tacoma By Choice
Look at these websites ^^

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by blaserbrad

A lot of the things that you suggested they have already done or are doing.
Tacoma Development News - Page 30 - SkyscraperCity
Exit133 - In Tacoma By Choice
Look at these websites ^^

Well I know Point ruston is coming along and there are efforts to restore the charm of downtown but still alot of efforts haven't been made about expansions or just adding on to the downtown core. For example, the Tacoma is one of the most run down arenas ive ever been in. It either needs a major reno, or in my opion just cut your losses and ivest into something more economically viable for the city's future. A new multi purpose arena that in a nice location and is not an eye sore will draw sponsors, more higher end events, and just be a great asset for the city. Possibly serve as host to major events, College basketball games as a Neutral site, and more. That will bring more people in the downtown area and with it more walkable and attractive to be inb not only is money staying in the city, new money is coming in from people from not only outlying suburbs but from other cities coming down to enjoy events and the city!

[sean98125]

This is a city that can't even fund basic services - they shouldn't be dumping money into an arena when their schools and buses are struggling.