No More Delays. Foss Hotel is a Go (28. September 2007, 16:49 by Derek Young) ~ Where'd The Sand Go?
The News Tribune is reporting that the planned hotel along the Thea Foss will finally break ground in the next sixty days. The project will fill in the gap on the waterfront between the Esplanade and Thea’s Landing. With construction beginning soon, the 100 room hotel with 22 condos should be open for business in 2009.
Link to The News Tribune
Previously on Exit133
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let me guess, the council will then approve a homeless shelter next door……lol…..with low income housing a block away……
1 | Posted by rich | Sep 28, 09:10 PM
There’s more in the Tribune today. I remember when this was announced, it was going to be open by Tall Ships 2005. Then Tall Ships 2008 … I hope they can make 2009.
2 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Sep 29, 10:54 AM
This is important from an urban design standpoint because all the holes on the lower section of the Foss (with the exception of the Prium building next to the 509 bridge) will now be filled in. One will be able to walk all the way from Albers Mill to 15th Street with no vacant lots to look at. As for the viability of retail and restaurants on the Foss, this project will probably give them a better chance at success. Hotel guests are much more likely to spend money out on the town than full-time condominium and apartment residents. Just imagine how vibrant the waterfront could become if Foss Harbor goes in. No retailer down there would ever have to worry about a shortage of customers.
Hotel guests are much more likely to spend money out on the town than full-time condominium and apartment residents.
Very true. Also, they are more likely to occupy a room and walk out at all. Having hotel staff there will add life of the areas and the willingness to take care of the place.
The condos will bring some permanence for the building.
With that said, because of the remoteness of the Foss, it is going to take alot more people living down on the Foss to bring much life there and sustain retail even with the developments coming online. Dupont is still struggling and they have a ton more people than the Foss.
One day it would be nice for residents and visitors to be able to feel comfortable enough to take a couple mile walk on the Esplande at night around the Foss.
Just imagine how vibrant the waterfront could become if Foss Harbor goes in. No retailer down there would ever have to worry about a shortage of customers.
Drizzel, I must be out of touch, but what is Foss Harbor?
5 | Posted by tct2326 | Sep 30, 06:16 AM
Speaking of access issues (Erik B.), maybe it’s time to start talking about that aerial tram to the waterfront that I recall either Peter Callaghan or Dan Voelpel wrote about a year or two ago. I thought that was a fun, though probably impractical, idea. Perhaps since we have the glass footbridge at the south end of town, we could build it from the Winthrop Hotel (to be, supposedly) to the waterfront near the Foss Harbor condos (also to be).
Does this building look familiar? Are all of the new condo/hotel, etc. buildings doomed to look the same? We need to make exciting architectural statements on our waterfront. What is built there is going to stay for years and years. I hope it will not be the same mediocre generic style that many of the new buildings have had…austin tx. is showing some amazingly innovative condos/hotel projects: http://www.5fiftyfive.com/
http://www.onesourcemetro.com/milago.php
Let’s hear it for another Foss Waterway development that the average Tacoman will get absolutely no use out of.
9 | Posted by Tad | Oct 2, 03:57 PM
A hotel on the Foss is pretty cool and creates a lot of jobs, so I disagree that it’s a bad use of the space, Tad.
But Julie’s right, these new projects are all starting to look the same.
10 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Oct 2, 04:17 PM
I don’t deny that the hotel will create jobs, which is great for the economy. However, I still maintain that this development is not one that will be utilized by our citizens – unless, of course, you decide to stay a night in the hotel.
My concern is that the developments along the Foss do not engage the average citizen. I would love to go play on the Foss, but what is there for me to do there once I get there (assuming I can even find a parking space)?
I was hoping the Foss would develop a bit more along the lines of the current University Place Town Center project. That new development will mix civic buildings, retail, hotel, residential, parks and more into one development. In short, there will be something there for everyone to enjoy.
The Foss has condos, a new hotel, more condos on the way, and a museum: I just don’t see how those developments serve the community as a whole.
11 | Posted by Tad | Oct 2, 04:37 PM
I don’t think the city’s full intent when buying the waterway properties was for it to be all for public use. FYI the Foss Esplande is considered a park. Parks come in different forms. A majority of the people who go to Ruston Way never set foot on the grass they stay on the paved path. Thea’s Park is on the Foss Waterway. The whole section south of the 509 bridge is set to be open space. Oh and the owners of those condos pay very very high HOA dues so the public can enjoy the Foss Esplanade.
Does anyone have a count on those “hotel jobs” that possible will need applicants? What price range are those condo’s upstairs ?
13 | Posted by Bell Capt: | Oct 2, 08:41 PM
University Place Town Center down on the Foss??? Um, no thanks. I go down to the esplanade all the time and sit in the sun(I know it’s raining right now,) I walk across the Bridge of Glass, had martinis at Blue Olive(now Woody’s Warf) and my brother once lived in Theas Landing.
This Tacoman gets plenty of use out of the Foss waterway.
14 | Posted by CA | Oct 2, 08:57 PM
There are other uses for the Foss that may come along in a few years, as well. If the proposed Prium building goes up, there will be a little office space down on the waterfront. Also, Johnny’s has expressed interest in turning their space into a public market—think Pike Place Market.
Although development along the west side of the Foss is piecemeal at the moment, the plan is for the esplanade to reach all the way to Thea’s Park, connecting the MOG with the Working Waterfront Museum with a continuous strip of mixed use in between. There has been talk of having a water taxi or harbor tours based on the Foss. Also, I believe the Tall Ships will dock on the Foss next year.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will Tacoma. I think if we fast forward ten years we will all be pleasantly surprised with the changes on the Foss.
‘University Place Town Center down on the Foss??? Um, no thanks.’
I didn’t say I wanted that specific development on the Foss, just more mixed-use development. Condos and a hotel and a complete lack of viable parking do not make the esplanade a usable space for this Tacoman.
Also, while I agree that in 10 years time we might have a more vibrant waterway on the Foss, I seem to remember people saying the same thing about 10 years ago as well. Maybe I’m just tired of waiting. ;)
16 | Posted by Tad | Oct 3, 06:36 AM
Although development along the west side of the Foss is piecemeal at the moment, the plan is for the esplanade to reach all the way to Thea’s Park, connecting the MOG with the Working Waterfront Museum with a continuous strip of mixed use in between.
That’s good.
Unless there are some significant projects on the Foss with alot of people in and around them, the place is going to be pretty dead and essentially be Tollefson Plaza by the water.
I would love to go play on the Foss, but what is there for me to do there once I get there (assuming I can even find a parking space)?
Hopefully, there will be enough activity to support some retail. Also, the esplande is planned to go around the Foss which will a great public benefit. It would be nice if the area becomes safe enough to walk around the Foss after the sun goes down.
Well, I’ll throw it out again…we need some serious NEW commercial space in the core of downtown…we’re talking 30+ floors……..we need new jobs coming to Tacoma that bring new people from the outside…if this happens, then all those condos will fill and the retail will come downtown……….
18 | Posted by rich | Oct 3, 05:17 PM
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