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The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) is considering a purchase of the Rhodes Department Store, currently owned by the State.

Over the course of the last 30 years the building has passed from one institution to another. The UPS Law School took it over in 1980 after it had nearly been destroyed. Then the law school was sold to Seattle University and it moved out of the building in 1999. In February of this year, it was reported that the State was losing millions on it annually with millions more in deferred maintenance.

Which brings us to September, when the Tacoma Housing Authority met and authorized their Executive Director to negotiate a purchase and bring it back to the board for approval.

What would they do with the building?

According to the resolution, the THA wants the building to provide an income source to the organization; office space for the staff; housing development; and the nebulous phrase “to contribute to the continuing revitalization of the City.”

In addition to the building, the State would also be selling the Market Street building and the accompanying parking garage.

(Thanks Erik B.)

Previously on Exit133

Link to Tacoma Housing Authority

Link | Posted on 13. October 2007, 15:46

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A rather stange purchase for the THA.

I think they jumped in as they got a deal from the State of Washington as it was to be offered to a public agency first.

In February of this year, it was reported that the State was losing millions on it annually with millions more in deferred maintenance.

The State of Washington could never manage to rent the prime corner (large) retail space on 11th and Broadway. I heard the state kept acting too slow to ever get it rented. Hopefully, the TRA can act more nimbly and lease it out.

I don’t see how the state was losing money on it, it looks to be totally renovated.

Whether THA intends to move any of their services here remains to be seen. Hopefully, the building will be leased as a commercial building. We need as much office space as we can get.

1 | Posted by Erik B. | Oct 13, 07:34 PM

The only thing that really grabs my eye is that they might use the building for “housing development.” Really? Like creating a mixed use building? Of course, there’s one big question about that, if that’s their intention … what kind of housing?

2 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Oct 14, 05:03 PM

I think THA could spend the money better elsewhere. How about the Eastside? An office building in Salishan? A mixed use project on the McKinley site?
I bet the THA residents would love to see that their rent is being used to buy the Taj Mahal.

3 | Posted by Jake | Oct 15, 11:51 AM

Commenting is closed for this article.