The Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma continues its renaissance with 3 ground breakings in the past week.
From the Business Examiner:
Upper Tacoma business center kicks off next urban renaissance
09/17/2007
Source: Business Examiner
Author: Paul Schrag
Updated pic of apartment section of building from 10th and J Street:
Martin Luther King Housing Development Association officials joined dozens of local public, private and non-profit organizers to celebrate groundbreaking for a business and development center that officials hope will boost an ongoing renaissance in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood.
The center will include 16,000 to 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail for mom-and-pop businesses. Tenants are already lining up to get into the space, said Flannigan – so many, in fact, that some of them may not make it in.
Doors are scheduled to open in 24 months, said Flannigan.
6 Story Apartment Complex Breaks Ground
On South 9th Street near Yakima Ave. ground breaking of a 6 story, 16 unit apartment complex took place last week. The complex is being built on a 6,500 sqft lot. This project is great to see because Tacoma has seen very little development of the smaller in-fill lots.
New Retail Complex:
A new retail complex with drive-tru coffee shop has broken ground at the intersection at 19th and MLK. The rumored coffee shop is Tullys. While the this "strip mall" style development is not the most desired type of building it will help with an intersection that has some problems with drugs (which have seemed to dissappeared in the past few months thanks to police and residents). The developers went to the community to ask what kind of retail they wanted and what they didn't want. Top of the list was a coffee shop and restaurants. Bottom was a check cashing store. The developer agreed and promised not to lease space to the undesired retail outlets. I believe the promise to the community was also a part of the rezone conditions.
The site will be on a major commuter route into Downtown Tacoma and a block away from St. Joseph's Medical Center and the new Olympus Medical Center on MLK.
Olympus Medical Center:
With all the new developments, Hilltop continues to evolve into a hip place to live, work, and play. Over the last few years popular lounges have been opening up including
Tempest Lounge on MLK and
The Monsoon Room on 11th and J Street. Quickie Too Vegan Cafe is located on MLK along with popular LeLe Vietnamese Restaurant.
Cutter's Point Coffee is activily looking for location on the Hill as well.
Hilltop Eat & Drink Map
In 2006 the Hilltop neighborhood was named one of the Top Emerging Gay Ghettos in the USA. One only four neighborhoods in the Western USA to recieve the classification.
Developers continue to buy up land and houses in the lower MLK (19th to 23rd street) neighborhood in anticipation of the Mixed-Use rezone. The city has already met with property owners about a planned Municipal LID for the neighborhood. Surveys show a strong support for the LID which will bring updated utilites along with new sidewalks, streetlighting, benches, landscaping, and more.