Bank of California Building Update (17. July 2007, 06:34 by Derek Young) ~ We Still Need A Few More Details
We were wandering through downtown Tacoma the other day when a couple of birds happened out of the Bank of California building. We were looking in the open door at the time. In response to my quizzical look, they told us that it’s going to become a reception/wedding/event hall. To which, if I remember correctly, the next thing out of my mouth was, “huh? Okay.” Not what I expected.
There must be more to the story…
Previously on Exit133
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Nice if true, exactly how T-Town opperates…..over build…I’m sorry don’t we have a underused convention center already….the tacoma club…...the vault….several places in staduim…...hmmm…..great thinking here…do we need another event place?? Oh, must be for all that Commercial expansion we’re doing in downtown…...NOT!!!!
1 | Posted by rich | Jul 17, 07:52 AM
We were looking in the open door at the time. In response to my quizzical look, they told us that it’s going to become a reception/wedding/event hall.
They told me the same thing. A group of them were engaging in minor construction inside the building.
A good first step. Perhaps they will be able to book it often like the Temple Theater.
better than nothing…
pretty bland though…
I think this would be a great building for a bank!!!
3 | Posted by snoopy | Jul 17, 09:09 AM
There was some talk before about also turing the old Crescent Ballroom on Fawcett Avenue into an “event place.” But now it looks like it has been gutted to create a parking garage for the Ford building next door. Not ideal, but at least they didn’t tear it down.
We should be happy, right?
4 | Posted by morgan | Jul 17, 10:28 AM
Interesting. In Seattle, ACT Theatre gives performances in a reused space that was formerly a bank vault. In Tacoma, instead of adding more culture (or office space perhaps), we’ll have another venue to get folks married! (how ironic, as didn’t Tacoma once have stats to prove that we have the highest divorced population?? hmmm)
I’m hoping that these decisions by the City say more about my history of difficult job hunting than my resume…And I’m divorced. hmmm
“Kreielsheimer Place, a renovation of the historic Eagles Auditorium completed in 1996. The Allen, a theater in the round, was carved out of the old auditorium’s floor; the top row of seats is actually at ground level. The Falls features a restored Joshua Green Foundation Vault, used by the Eagles as a bank vault.”
6 | Posted by laura s. | Jul 18, 07:49 AM
Union Bank of California closed last Monday. Sold for 2.3 mil to Sung-Jae Yi and Sukyung Yi h/w.
7 | Posted by Rick Jones | Jul 18, 08:38 AM
I don’t think the City is behind this one. We can blame the private sector for once.
However, the photos in the real estate flyer look nice. If I ever get married, it looks like a nice option. GVAKM still hasn’t taken the listing off its website. Once that happens, I’ll believe that it actually sold.
Laura, don’t hold the city accountable for the private sectors choice to use the building as a exhibition type venue. The DCC zoning is fairly flexible to allow a wide array of uses for the subject site.
9 | Posted by snoopy | Jul 18, 09:24 AM
So the rumor about the Crescent angers me, but I’m not too worried about the Bank of California building. I can’t bring myself to believe that a new event space will stay in business for long. Once the owners lose enough cash, they’ll have to sell or convert it to another use.
11 | Posted by Erik S | Jul 18, 09:41 AM
When I was in college, I led urban planning-focused tours of downtown Detroit. A regular stop was the Michigan Theatre, which had been converted to a three-level parking garage. The ornate ceiling was still intact but crumbling, and the stage area was still visible, with shreds of curtain hanging from the rafters.
The Michigan Theatre parking garage is featured prominently in the parking garage standoff scene between Jimmy’s (eminem’s) 31Third crew and the Free World crew in the movie 8 Mile.
I don’t think the conversion of the Crescent Ballroom to a parking garage will be such a rape of a historic building as the Michigan Theatre, but it’s still discouraging. At least the neighboring building will hold office space for 100+ plus employees.
And I agree that another fish in the event space sea will not last.
I remember having a passbook savings account at the Bank of California as a kid, nearly 40 yrs ago. Is an amazing building, which I didn’t appreciate as a kid, and they were really wonderful each time I had a family member pass away.
13 | Posted by phil | Jul 19, 08:09 AM
Here’s the latest. Apparently it will be used partially as office space. Kudos.
Yi said he intends to move his company offices from Puyallup to the third floor of the bank building and lease the architecturally elegant lobby for ceremonial occasions.
...
Dave Tsuru, who will operate the ceremonial space, said he is adding a stage to the high-ceilinged room, but otherwise leaving it unmodified.
Well guys a positive twist to the Bank of California purchase. It has been vacant for years, even if it is used for events on the weekends and offices during the week it is still “people” visiting our city and spending their money here. Those office workers will need to eat lunch and they will more than likely use local vendors for the event services. Besides I heard Tacoma Club is closing down…. any truth to this?
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