TACOMA Project Discussion

[jake840]

WOW:

From Exit133.com

A local development group entered into a sale agreement with Williams and Dame earlier this month for the Elks Building and the sale should be complete next week. The challenge for Williams and Dame, and every other developer that has looked at the property, is one of economics. How can somebody restore the building and still make money?

This Is Where It Gets Interesting

The idea currently making its way through the halls of Pierce County would link a renovated Elks Building to a greater change in how transit is managed in downtown Tacoma.

The scope of the project would extend from the north parking lot of the Elks Building south through the Lorig project. Pierce Transit would move their downtown bus service into the Commerce level of the new Lorig mixed-use building and off the several blocks of Commerce Street it now uses. All passengers would board buses from inside the transit station. The Commerce Street side of the Elks Building would become the entrance to a grand public space that would include retail, public uses, a large lobby, ticket sales, and the only access to the transit station.

The Spanish Steps would be renovated. The Elks Building’s parking lot would become a new mixed use project with parking. Retail would appear on the Broadway facing sides of the project. The Broadway level and upper floor of the Elks would be available for other uses. Restaurant? Children’s Museum? Commercial offices? Something else? How about a year round farmers market in the grand public space?

There are a lot of moving parts, several parties involved, and negotiations are ongoing.

The plan will be brought before the Pierce Transit Finance Committee this afternoon in order to get a letter of intent in place as soon as possible.

The potential of this development could be huge for the City. One element is the building itself. An iconic building would be renovated into a public space for everybody to use. A second element concerns the transit center. By shifting all the bus waiting areas under one roof with limited access, there are potential impacts for crime and safety. The new transit center would significantly improve the ability of the BIA and TPD to keep an eye on things. At the same time, it will remove the large crowds of people hanging out underneath the eaves as they wait for buses. This will completely change the look of Commerce Street.



From the TNT Political Buzz:

The Pierce Transit board will discuss an idea today to lease part of the downtown Elks Lodge for a new transit center.

Pierce County Councilman Tim Farrell said he has discussed the idea with a so-far-unidentified developer who has an option to purchase the old lodge building at 7th and Commerce. The developer would be willing to lease the Commerce Street level to the transit agency for a terminal. The rest of the building would be developed for other uses.

Then, Pierce Transit would build a new bus loading and turnaround facility in the parking lots next to the Spanish Stairs. The center would be linked with a new terminal, perhaps with a tunnel beneath the Spanish Stairs. It would be part of a mixed-use development, perhaps with Lorig and Associates which owns part of the parking lot.

If the idea is adopted, Pierce Transit would try to sell the existing transit center at 10th and Commerce. The park on the roof would not be changed by any sale.

Farrell, known as an advocate for historic preservation, said the idea began when he concluded that the existing transit center was a problem. He said he thinks it is too hard to patrol, forces riders to wait outside for buses and won't work for longer, articulated buses the agency may use if ridership increases.

Farrell said the board, of which he is a member, will discuss the idea today at a special meeting at Pierce Transit headquarters at 96th and South Tacoma Way at 2:30 p.m. If the board decides to pursue the proposal, it will likely spend the next year looking at the numbers, Farrell said.

Sounds a bit crazy but very interesting

[mSeattle]

I like their thinking on this. Never gonna survive or progress unless you think a little crazy. And this is a great opportunity.

[jake840]

The crane is going up today for the Pacific Plaza project. Pacific Ave. is currently closed around the site.

Here are some pics:

[velciane]

I love how huge those cranes are!

[urbanlife]

I am gonna miss that ugly looking garage, but at least it wont look so ugly after it is done.

[mhays]

I was gonig to say addition by subtraction, but it's actually addition by addition. Great for Tacoma.

[WESTSEATTLEGUY]

Ew, what a ugly garage. Thank god they are refurbishing it.

[Tacoma Boy]

The crane!
I spent all yesterday with my GF at the Art and Wine Walk and thus slept in this morning... can't believe I missed the crane going up! You had good timing, Jake.
Needless to say, I'll be checking it out very soon... even if I don't make it by today, my bus to work goes right past it on Pac Ave.
It's awesome to see a crane go up in downtown again! Now we just need one for a new Russell HQ.
Speak of, has anyone heard any news on that? I sure haven't heard jack lately

[Tacoma Boy]

I'm excited to see this happen... not only are the Park Place N & S garages eyesores, but it proves the city actually wants to improve things. I'm stoked to see more floors rise.

Originally Posted by mhays

I was gonig to say addition by subtraction, but it's actually addition by addition. Great for Tacoma.

That's how we do things down here


So, that being said, I just couldn't resist... I swung downtown and watched the crane rise. AWESOME! Just too cool to watch...

Earlier this afternoon, from Commerce:


From down on 13th & Pac Ave


Visited my sister, then swung back downtown much later, about 9 pm. It's gotten significantly taller.


You can see the crew working up there, just as the crane left the tower and started lowering for another vertical section.


Hard to tell from ground-level, but the big AXIS crane that's lifting the tower crane looks at least as tall as Wells Fargo (103m). It's probably not, but it must well be over 200'


From 12th & A, over by the Post Office. Nice arrangement, with the TFC and crescent moon.


The final vertical section! (it is the last one, I asked a worker... besides, the AXIS crane can't go higher).
Up


UP


and AWAY!


Final picture of the evening, before my batteries died.
Just plain nice looking, and in case anyone is wondering, I did NO post processing other than scaling the size down. Those colors are f'real.

[Tacoma Boy]

Dunno how soon those 4 floors will start rising... Crane appears to be on the way down.
I'm no expert, but I think tower cranes are supposed to be in place a little longer...

6:30am:


9:15am:


Noon:


12:30pm:


3:15pm:


Gonna re-do it perhaps? Safety first, especially in light of the crackdown the State did recently...

[Tacoma Boy]

Oh, and I think I was right... from 1 mi away you can see clearly that the AXIS crane can go higher than Wells Fargo.

[Tacoma Boy]

So against common sense, I biked down there in the rain.
I was rewarded with being soaking wet, but also a chance to talk to the foreman!
So here's the scoop:
Crane is indeed coming down. Since there is that world-wide crane shortage, this one had to be trucked in from Florida. Along the way, apparently some of the trucks broke down. Also, the "helper cranes" (those two big AXIS mobiles) have to leave for another job tonight.
Note that this was the second attempt, apparently. The first time they never even unloaded. So, the needed parts did not arrive, so the executive decision was made to pull it down and clear out, rather than block Pac Ave with crane parts.
They'll re-attempt on the 21st.

Some info I found out: This tower crane will be 325' to the top of the "hammer", and is costing the city a cool $65,000 per month to rent. So, temporarily the "cockpit" (is that correct?) will have a view rivaling that of the roof of Wells Fargo and Suite 2500 @ the Murano.

So, for your enjoyment:
Loading it up


Big rig pulling out


Bye-bye


Going in for more pieces


Uncommon view, hardly see any pictures from here.
We'll have to wait 2 weeks for the crane to go back up, and month till we see the new Pac Plaza begin to rise above the Wells Fargo parking garage.


Blue skies ahead, and appropriately, a rainbow above a crane!

[WESTSEATTLEGUY]

I'm VERY confused. So they put this 200ft. crane up then took it down?

lol. Weird.

[Tacoma Boy]

Originally Posted by WESTSEATTLEGUY

I'm VERY confused. So they put this 200ft. crane up then took it down?

lol. Weird.

Correct. They were setting up a 325' crane, and a truck with some critical pieces broke down somewhere between here and Florida and did not make it to the site on time.
Thus they took it halfway down so as not to block Pac Ave (busiest street in downtown) with crane parts. They will return on the 21st to finish the job.

As you can clearly see from the 16th floor of Wells Fargo this afternoon, there is about 100' or so of the vertical section and two parts of the boom on the current roof of the garage. So it's mostly gone, not all gone.

[Tacoma Boy]

So much to post! Bear with me.

First up, the nearly complete Esplanade. According to the lady @ the sales office, they are on the interiors, up to floor 7 (out of 9), and they plan to open 'er up the end of July.

From the park where 15th meets Dock Street


Through the window, looking at some of the retail space on Dock Street


9 stories of glass and stone


The plan #02-style units have these 100 sq ft balconies. Must be nice on a warm summer evening...


Looking south, in front of the second retail space on Dock Street (2 more on the esplanade side)


From the 15th street overpass. This plaza is level with the 3rd floor. I don't think there is "official" access to it, but who's gonna stop a determined owner with a balcony on the plaza?


Inside the sales center, the model. Looks very much like the final product.


"Typical" model bathroom. I'm told that some units have single vanities instead of the double one. **And YES, I did ask permission to photograph the models. **


"Typical" model kitchen. Apologies for the bluriness. The counters are all granite, gas range and the appliances are stainless.


Next up, 505 Broadway.
This is the model in the sales center, once again I had permission to photo it. I didn't take pics of the model rooms, kinda wished I did.


These guys spared no expense and the prices show it. Cheapest units are $417,000, the majority are in the $700-$900K range. The 3,000 sq ft penthouses run over $1 million.

Today, from down the block.


The interior work is on the 3rd floor, cladding is still at ground level.


Big pump for?


Broadway LID. The Local Improvement District is already started! Plans call for it to finish the same week 505 Broadway is scheduled for completion....

Pipes and equipment staged in the Jay Heights site.


14' long, 10" wide green pipes... and lots of them!


Powerful equipment


No idea what this is for... some kind of pump, I think.


Looking down Broadway, with a front-end loader and 505 in the distance


Some kind of pavement cutter.


Closer... man those teeth look BRUTAL!


NO PARKING. As though that over-grown saw above wasn't reason enough not to park here...


Excavator behind the Temple Theater...


Foss Hotel. According to the lady at the number on the sign, this is scheduled to begin in late July/early August. More updates will of course be provided.


The lost is fairly big, as according to the sales lady for the Esplanade, the hotel will be kept at 6 stories and be set back to preserve the Mt Rainier views some condo owners will be privileged to have.


The only render I can find was from the News Tribune. Anyone seen a more recent one?

[Tacoma Boy]

More updates!
Pac Plaza... the crane goes back up this Saturday. 3rd time's a charm, right?



Anyway, there is now scaffolding completely covering the Pacific side. That's about it for the moment, I suspect we'll see a lot of activity once the tower crane is up. I asked a worker and he said there is little they can do at the moment without it.



Metropolitan Apartments, Phase 2.
Very near completion now. According to the manager next door at Phase 1, tenants are scheduled for an Aug 1st move-in.

Landscaping and sidewalks are supposed to be done in mid-July.


Still not sure what to think of the color scheme. It's definitely bold...


They are just starting the interiors on the 10th floor, projected to be done my mid-July.


I hope to have a few more later...

[Tacoma Boy]

3rd try, and up goes the crane again!
These are from yesterday, I'll try to swing by today as well.

Yesterday afternoon, from 9th and Broadway


A little closer, less foliage in the way


From I-705 near dusk. They got part of the boom up.

[Tacoma Boy]

More updates from today.

Now, before anyone asks why the tower crane on Pacific Plaza is such a big deal, these are my 3 reasons:

1) It's the first tower crane to go up in town since I got my digital camera.
2) First crane in the core of downtown... the other have been on the outer perimeter...
3) It's a city project, so it is proof that the city is doing something for once.

Ok, and now to the updates. Pacific Plaza:

From Theater Square


Base of the crane


Pieces of the boom


No clue what this is... the cable for the crane once it's assembled?


Up...


up!


...and away!


All eyes on the crane


Those workers up there bolting this thing together have some serious nards...


The block


It is closer than it appears....


3 hrs later, almost done!


Luzon Building
Built in 1891. The Gintz Group (the guys behind the Mecca Condos) will be renovating it. 1st and 2nd floors will be retail, 3-5 will be office and 6th will be Gintz's new HQ.

From Commerce... FYI, it's right across from Pac Plaza


From 13th. It needs help bad, but look at the character! Gintz will be preserving the shell and gutting the inside, completely modernizing it. I'm glad to see this beauty getting new life rather than being razed.


From Pac Ave. The groundbreaking was delayed a month, but hopefully will be a go for July.


Kittens!
My sister got new kitties and they were too cute not to post... even if it is off topic


Hilltop Goodwill

Old receiving building is gone, car detailing looks to be next to go...


The render:


Midtown lofts
Moving along nicely, no security guards giving me guff this time.

Hard to tell... 3 or 4 more floors to go.


Dueling cranes!


What is this? I don't remember a second building being part of the plans, and as I recall the parking is within the building itself...


Looking good...


Lots of rebar


Built green, you know. And see the render? Parking is on the bottom, not next door.


Model HDT80


Can't forget the red, white and blue.


Lots and lots of warnings


Bonus!

The now-complete Vilaggio (a block away from Midtown Lofts) with everyone's favorite 14,411 foot-tall volcano off in the distance.

[mSeattle]

Thanks for the updates. It's been a while since I was last in Tacoma.

[jake840]

mSeattle,

You should make it down for Tall Ships July 3rd-7th.




Pics from Tall Ships Tacoma 2005



And we do have the largest 4th of July celebration around, the Tacoma Freedom Fair

The Discoverychannel.com's Travel Channel named Tacoma's 4th of July Freedom Fair as one of the Ten “World’s Best” Fireworks Shows!

USATODAY.com has selected the Tacoma Freedom Fair as one of the Ten Best fireworks shows in the U.S.

CNN.com named the Tacoma Freedom Fair as one of the Best Travel Destinations in the U.S. for the summer of 2002.

Sounds like the weather might just be great to be outdoors.