Winthrop Hotel / Quigg Press Conference (25. September 2006, 07:54 by Derek Young) ~ Let The Good Times Roll
In the few minutes I have before heading to the dentist, I thought I’d share a few things from this morning’s Winthrop meeting at Tully’s. Here’s the short and sweet of it:
- The general consensus was that this project is going to take everybody with will and resources to pull it off.
- The project hopes to be a model for afforadable housing. While the Winthrop currently has 170 residents, the goal is 250 new units throughout the city.
- Coast Hotels is a potential partner and negotiations are ongoing. Coast is responsible for such projects as the Benson Hotel in Portland as well as the Paramount in both Portland and Seattle.
- Several significant local investors have come out in favor of the project and will be putting their money into the game.
- The name for the Quigg & Co. group is to be the Citizens Hotel, LLC to reflect the origins of the Winthrop.
- A lot of people have already come together to make this work. They still need a lot of work. Do you have local art that could be used in the hotel? Artifacts from Tacoma’s history in your living room?
This is exciting and it was good to see such a great turn out this morning. I’ll summarize a bit more later.
Update: The Tacoma Daily Index has a story here.
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Having around 30 people show up at 6:30 a.m. is pretty amazing. Great meeting.
One of the engineers talked about putting in the north tower on the Winthrop as originally designed but never built. That would be nice to add some housing in an area of downtown that really needs it.
There was also extended discussion to renovate the penthouse on the top of the Winthrop so that it could be rented for big Tacoma events. Their intent is to make the Winthrop the center of the city as it was once.
Tim Quigg announced that they deposited $250,000 last Friday 9/22 as required and they now have 25 days to finish closing the deal with AF Evans.
They need to put down another $750,000 by November 19th.
It will be a good day when the transfer of the Winthrop is complete to Quigg and company so the restoration efforts can start.
Great to see Derek, Kevin, Todd, and Erik (Hanberg) all in the same room.
Erik was filming the event as part of a independent film on the restoration of the Winthrop Hotel.
Let’s make sure the film has a good ending.
Derek may link to it later.
However, while he is at the dentist, check out the photos Kevin Freitas took of the meeting and of Tim Quigg and company.
Great pics Kevin! – not nearly enough dramatic B & W seen today…
4 | Posted by Les | Sep 25, 11:42 AM
The address and contact info for Quigg Bros. in Aberdeen:
Quigg Bros. Construction
819 State St.
Aberdeen, WA 98520
360.533.1530
1.800.283.8701
I’d donate a thousand if they’d let me.
5 | Posted by drizell | Sep 25, 12:30 PM
Thanks Les—now that the dark days of winter loom near I need to get a lense that’ll do me well indoors. I’m actually big on people in B&W—seems to capture the emotion better and the imperfections less.
6 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Sep 25, 01:22 PM
Eric,
Thanks for plugging the film project. I’m not attempting this alone, and it wasn’t even my idea. A group of us thought the Winthrop could make a great documentary, and I was the one they sent to get some footage this morning.
But you’re right! A happy ending for all involved would be wonderful. If things keeps progressing in this direction, and we start to see a hotel emerge, a film could really tell this story well.
7 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Sep 25, 02:42 PM
A happy ending for all involved would be wonderful.
Yes, Erik, you are going to have to figure out the genre of the films you will be showing when you do not have a theater production going.
I would think that having a uplifting ending with the restoration of the Winthrop Hotel would make the film more popular than a feature about the failed efforts to restore the Winthrop with the continuation of the problems present there now for the next 25 years.
Wow. Now Kevin has his audio recording of the Winthrop Hotel press conference.
No need to get up at 6:30 a.m. if Kevin is going to do it for us. :)
Great showing of passion and determination this morning. Creative minds with distinguished skills resided at Tulleys in the wee hours of an Indian Summer morning. It was amazing to see the diversity of people stepping up, with the human desire, to make something incredible happen for a better, more vibrant Tacoma; to resurrect a regional Icon and provide a better low income housing solution. Cheers to B/W before color for photos and filming. Look forward to working along side all of you.
Visit the Harmon Brewery this week as we celebrate turning 10 yrs. Oktoberfest all week! Why wouldn’t ya?
10 | Posted by Pat Nagle | Sep 25, 10:38 PM
Steve Hurley has posted some interesting observations from the Quigg meeting on the Winthrop meeting as well.
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