Mecca Update - Live It! (26. October 2007, 10:49 by Whitney) ~ Location, Location, Location!
After months of constant work, we noticed the Mecca looking particularly spiffy this week. The outside paint seems refreshed and the construction crews were working hard. A banner appeared directing interested buyers here . The condos are listed as available in Spring 2008, for $210,000 to $299,000. The floorplans show studios, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom units.
We still think there’s something intriguing about being able to say that one lives over what was the last adult theater in downtown Tacoma. No mention of this on the website, at least not yet.
Link to Tacoma-Condos.com
Previously on Exit133
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Funny, I can’t sign up for their mailing list. Maybe they’re just kidding.
1 | Posted by Erik S | Oct 29, 11:47 AM
Erik & All, I just used it and it seemed to work just fine. Maybe try again?
2 | Posted by JAYE | Oct 29, 02:14 PM
One really has to like this project. To me this is darn near a perfect project for downtown. The developers are taking an unused and derelict hotel and converting it into condos. The former adult entertainment center is being converted into a more legitimate movie theater and restaurant. No people lost their homes, the neighborhood has been improved and a new attraction is created in downtown. If the Luzon and the Elks can be salvaged they will be similar benefits to downtown without doing harm to anyone. I like what is being done at the Walker but I hate to see it being taken off the lower priced rental market. Almost no one that rented there will be able to buy a unit, even if they do look terrific. Maybe this represents my concern. I don’t want to see the modest priced housing dry up in downtown and the surrounding areas. I believe there are enough building that can make splendid condo conversions. There are enough vacant lots and parking lots that can be converted into new condos. I think working and decent apartment buildings should be preserved as modest priced housing when possible and maintain a good community mix downtown.If an apartment building really is substandard then I think it too makes a worthy candidate for demolition or conversion. Once the lower income housing is gone from downtown it will never return. We all know that . I think lower income housing should be like an endangered species and be given some protection like an endangered form of wildlife.
3 | Posted by Crenshaw Sepulveda | Oct 29, 11:22 PM
I am rarely interested in new condo projects because most of them seem to sport soulless, cookie-cutter designs or, if there is something interesting on offer, the price for the available living space seems laughable.
I have to admit that this project has me interested (cautiously). Any word on parking availability? It doesn’t seem likely that they’ve found a way to include that, which would pretty much ruin it for me personally, but it might still be a cool project.
As Crenshaw pointed out, it’s nice to know that they didn’t boot out a ton of $600/mo renters to sell $1,500/mo mortgages.
Thanks for the tip, JAYE. Looks like it’s up and running now.
4 | Posted by Erik S | Oct 30, 09:10 AM
This seems to be one of few projects in town that are geared toward a demographic other than the empty nesters. The studios seem to be a bit bigger than your typical one-room arrangement and you’re right in the middle of everything. The train is right across the street and the buses are a block away, making car-free living that much easier. If the Lorig project down the street gets built and the Winthrop is fixed up, the Theater District may become THE place to be.
All good points, Drizell. I see a lot of the same merits in this project and could actually see myself living there. Hopefully some other developers will get the idea. I know that new construction costs more but I just don’t buy (literally or figuratively) the current prices per sf and I’d rather have quality construction than faddish granite counters and so forth.
I also like the idea of car-free living, but as long as I stay healthy enough for my soccer it’s not going to happen for me. Maybe when I’m older (hopefully much older…I want to keep my health) I can give it a go. Hopefully the buses will run later by then!
6 | Posted by Erik S | Oct 30, 01:33 PM
That studio w/ patio rocks. I want a deck that’s as big as my LR, DR, & BR.
7 | Posted by DavidS | Oct 30, 02:06 PM
The ‘no parking’ issue is really a mute point to me… there shouldn’t be any taxes for awhile because of that special tax abatement for historic preservation (I think this building would qualify), so without the cost for taxes, one could conceivably afford parking in one of the area’s garages. Do you guys know more about that? Seems tax abatements are popular right now… or maybe I’m just paying more attention to that lately? And I agree on the granite… I’m tired of it.
8 | Posted by JAYE | Oct 30, 04:12 PM
I’m not as keen on the property tax abatement because its value declines from the moment of purchase (what’s worth more, 10 years’ abatement or 9?) and if the parking isn’t deeded then you’re set to be extorted by Diamond or whoever runs the nearest lot (not to mention the possibility of being locked out). Plenty of folks won’t mind, though.
It looks like this could be a cool building and it has certainly got a colorful history. Good on the Gintz Group.
9 | Posted by Erik S | Oct 30, 04:22 PM
I have to admit that this project has me interested (cautiously). Any word on parking availability?
Fortunately, they didn’t put parking in it as it would have meant turning the Commerece side of Mecca into a parking garage where there has been, and should be retail and right next to the Winthrop Hotel.
There is nearly unlimited amount of parking to choose from nearby. The whole block is one parking garage after another.
Of course, one has to pay for it. That’s ok, the price is reflected in condos by how much parking one gets. Here, the owners will get to choose.
Many of the condo conversions have less parking spaces than units which allows shared parking and allows one to have the ability to choose what transportation form to take based on cost and availability. One interesting one is the Walker with 32 units and 15 parking spaces. I think they have valet parking to move the cars all around.
Fair enough. I wouldn’t want them to tear down a perfectly good building to buy another garage. I do wish that some of the condo developers would look into buying an existing garage and selling spaces (on an optional basis) to condo buyers. That way buyers that do need a car could pony up for improved parking access if they wanted to, while those that are adequately served by transit could opt out. I’d happily pay for a deeded spot rather than deal with the hassle of leasing from a garage or lot owner.
C’est la vie.
11 | Posted by Erik S | Oct 31, 11:31 AM
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