Now don’t exaggerate Broadweezy,
it’s a little bit nicer than that. A little bit.

Not the prettiest building Ive ever seen, but at this point Im just glad to see people moving downtown. Increasing density downtown is now the most important aspect of our “renaissance,” in my humble opinion.

Relatively cheap, affordable housing downtown, sounds good to me!

$800 for a studio apartment? For 422 square feet?

Villaggio

Whoa.

$800 for a 422 sq ft studio, looks like the Villagio is in search of its idiot.

I would gladly pay $800 for a 422 square foot studio. You’ve got an unobstructed mountain view from the second floor and the Link is two minutes away on foot.

I’m not sure what you guys mean by “socialist-era” housing. Ever been to Germany, France, Sweden or any of the other socialist countries in Europe? Everyone always talks about modeling our cities after those in Europe: the mid-rise, walkable city. Villaggio would fit right in in Berlin, Paris or Stockholm. Not sure where the negative connotation is coming from. Perhaps you would prefer if downtown Tacoma looked like Tukwila?

Here’s the comparable rental rates as stated by Jake in the Hanna Heights thread (Thank you, Jake):

Villagio Apts:
Studio-422sqft $825-$850
Classic Studio-512sqft $850-$995
One Bedroom- 663sqft $990-$1140
Large One Bedroom- 710 sqft $1050-$1250
2bd/2bth- 934 sqft $1350-$1550

Court17:
Studio 517-570sqft $835 – $950
1 bedroom 586-676sqft $970-$1235
2 bed 923-1016sqft $1375-$1560

Bella:
Studio- 500sqft $720-$860
1 Bedroom- 667-740sqft $780-$980
1 Bedroom- 715-716 sqft $890-$1330
2 Bed- 897-938sqft $1050-$1525
2 Bed- 926-950sqft $1190-$2005

Metropolitan Phase I:
1 Bedroom- 615-816sqft $849-$3099
1 Bedroom- 935-994sqft $1409-$1529
2 Bedrooms- 880-1285sqft $1179-$2129

Thea’s Landing:
Studio- 500-602sqft $800-$900
1 Bedroom- 613-1,234sqft $800-$2,000
2 Bedrooms- 870-1,364sqft $1,100-$2,200

Man. I rented my very first 1 bedroom apartment for $175.00 a month….a long time ago.

At 800 bucks a month it takes an income of 32k a year to pull off a rent like that. Works out to about 16 bucks an hour full time. And this is for a studio apartment, albeit “condo class”.

What has happened here in Tacoma is the elimination of a good many affordable apartments (albeit not “condo class”) that are being replaced with much higher priced units that will most likely go vacant for some time.

The Walker was a fine place to live before it went condo. Same with a good many other building that went condo. Perhaps it can be argued that what has hurt downtown the most is the fact the building were vacant for extended periods of time before they became “condo class”.

I want to ask the readers here, and please be honest, what has helped downtown more in the last year or so, all the condos going up or Puget Sound Pizza? In my book PSP has done more for downtown than all the vacant condo units have and with less disruption and expense. Not to mention tax revenues lost to the City via the 10 year tax abatements. Seems to me that PSP is probably contributing quite a bit in taxes to our city and state.

I’m in shock because not too long ago I was renting a 3 bedroom house with full basement AND 2 car garage in north Seattle for $1,200 – and I thought THAT was crazy!

My first apartment – a cozy 2 bedroom in what is now the “North Slope Historic District” – was only $350.

My Tacoma, you have changed!

So, drizell… are you saying you are going to finally move to Tacoma?

You can still rent studios for less than $600/mo downtown. Sure, they smell a little uriney in the hallways, but it’s not the end of the world.

New apartments are usually more expensive. Many of the historical apartments in Tacoma which are run down used to be pricey when they were originally built.

Some UWT students are sharing rooms at Court 17 I hear. This place is at least 10 times nicer than the dorm room I had at UW which must have been around 200 sq ft. Plus, they have their own bathroom.

Maybe we should start reminiscing about how going to the movie used to cost a nickel and we had to walk to school up-hill both ways. Prices for new stuff goes up; bought milk, gas, food lately? Why shouldn’t housing? Maybe a person can rent now; work on getting rent control laws passed, and in 10 years will think they got a swinging deal.

Maybe these “high” prices will bring in people from other areas. It doesn’t do Tacoma any good to only have current residents moving around within Tacoma.

“As a city or neighborhood becomes more desirable, the rent goes up. Thats just how it works. Are some here suggesting the city put a cap on rent rates??”

That isn’t how “it” works, its just greediness in action. And why wouldn’t you want a cap on rents? Are you a building owner?

Supply & Demand, Tacoma Aroma. Even Seattle, (with their high level of involvement in rental issues and extra codes and all that) have not started throwing “rent control” around. I’ve never thought of myself as being conservative or anything, but eek!

Housing is supposed to be no more than 30% of ones income right? So if renting fancy brand new places downtown costs 900-1200/month that means in order to live on your own in a new place you need to be making $15-$20/hr right? Math has never been my forte, but I think that’s roughly ok.

When I was in school making $9-12/hr I had a roomate in an apartment costing $700/month. It didn’t smell like pee, but it wasn’t fabulous either. All the better with all the beer being spilled on the carpet.

When you finish school and get a real job (theoretically) you get the nice brand new apartment with a view.

Do I have this all wrong? There’s plenty of old stuff for the college kids and plenty of nice fancy stuff for my totally hot rich future boyfriend to live in.

Yeah, overpriced apartments in downtown Tacoma are really scarce that is why they are so expensive. You can create the supply but apparently you can’t create the demand. This is not a case of supply and demand, this is more a case of if you build it maybe they will come.

The Tacoma I have in my heart doesnt have studio apartments for $800.

But I suppose since I dont have a “real job” and obviously the more popular posters are given the benefit of the doubt then I will just concede this argument.

Maybe we can put our blue-collar ethics in a museum for all the yuppies to look at with nostalgia.

Done.

Oh Tacoma Aroma, lets make up.

I am not an enemy of affordability, I’m just trying to be pragmatic. Optimistic! I didn’t mean to make fun of people who don’t have real jobs.

Also, for the record, most of the “blue color” folks I know make better money than the yuppies I know. Commercial Journeyman Carpenters Make $30/hr, Electricians & Ironworkers even more. Blue color does not mean poor.

Sounds good to me!

Also, for the record, most of the “blue color” folks I know make better money than the yuppies I know. Commercial Journeyman Carpenters Make $30/hr, Electricians & Ironworkers even more. Blue color does not mean poor.

Yep. And those are all drop in the bucket compared to port workers.

Plus, teachers, city, county, hospital, construction and other workers needs a place to live downtown and the adjacent areas rather being forced to the suburbs which they have been for 40 year. There are certainly lots of empty lots for them downtown.

Downtown is still operating at about 30 percent of what it was 70 years ago.

Actually, you might want to change into a private dinner club where saying something great about Tacoma is the password.

That’s why I have been tempted to join the Knights of Pythias downtown.

We visited Stadium Bistro last night for an early V-Day dinner. The food was really good. I really didn’t expect the $189 bill, though. Part of the reason I chose your restaurant is you said the food was reasonably priced

The relative price completely depends on what you ordered though. Did you order a high end steak? Wine? Drinks? How many were there in the party?

I think its only fair to suggest that a place is pricey if the cost is high relatively to a similar product in another restaurant.

Their dinner entres run from $23 to $41 which is about the same as CI Shenanigans. How did you manage to wrack up a $189 bill?

Here’s what I ordered the other day:

The Blue Baron

Hot thin sliced Roast Beef, sautéed Onions, Blue Cheese Dressing, Shallots & Garlic, topped with Blue Cheese on grilled Artisan Bread

Cost $8.00. Delish. That’s about the same cost as Pita Pit and 10 times the quality of ingredients. Stadium Bistro’s is fresh.

I really didn’t expect the $189 bill, though.

But you have to be aware when you are ordering and be extremely strategic. That’s also why there is happy hour at most restaurants.

I have eaten at some pretty fancy restaurants including el gauchos on rare occassions and don’t believe I have ever come close to wracking up $189 bill for 2 people.

Drizell,

Thanks for choosing Stadium Bistro for you pre V-day dinner.

You were seated at table 11, in the front dining room, and your ordered was placed on check number 568 at 7:39pm and closed at 10:18pm. You were not charged the $10 to be seated next to the band. The cover charge was posted on our myspace page, and at the entrance to the 2nd dining room where they set up, and all of it went to the performers. No one has complained about the cover for Ed Taylor. We reserve the front dining room for diners who wish to converse or conduct business. A tip jar is in the bar, and only those who request a seat next to the band pay the cover.

When you made your reservation for the 6 Course Tasting Menu, you told Cathryn you had viewed a sample menu on our website. Your 6 courses were created by Chef Pete and sous Chef Chad, just for you that day from the freshest ingredients and included:

Pear and Goat Cheese Salad

Fresh Butternut Squash Bisque with Curried Lentils

Roasted Eggplant, Red Pepper, and Baby Leek Terrine

A classic Caprese of tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and olive oil

Asparagus Bundles wrapped in Leeks with Saffron Butter

An Oregano and 8 Year Old White Cheddar Risotto and Lavender Cream

Choice of Our Hand Made Desserts

$65 doesn’t seem an outrageous amount for a custom created, six course tasting menu. Similar menus at comparable restaurants usually are $75 to $90.

A custom vegetarian entree alone is between, $19 and $24.

My sincere apologies for not having the time to greet you personally. Sometimes I am forced to submit to the demands of the restaurant when I would very much rather visit with our guests.

Pete

Pete,

Just to clarify, I’m not a member of the “element that shoots arrows at anything new, upscale, or out of their provincial comfort zone.” I did say I’d gladly pay $800 for a 422 square foot studio way back in post #10.

I suppose if there had actually been a “custom vegetarian entree” on the menu, we would have ordered it. I also imagine that if your website actually put a price on the vegetarian sampler, like it does with EVERY OTHER ITEM, we may not have assumed like any normal person that it was on par with the other items on the menu.

Hey boys,

Why don’t you guys exchange emails and hash this out in private? I don’t think I’m alone in starting to feel like a voyeur.

They are posting on their web site they are ready for immediate move in. Hmm. Ok. Still looks like heavy construction. Perhaps that why they are offering specials.

BRAND NEW ~ Construction Specials!LIVE.URBAN.

NOW OPEN!~ Select Availability NOW ready for immediate Move In`s!

Find your inner urban. Live next door to work or the campus and take a leisurely stroll to trendy and eclectic local eateries, coffee houses, pubs and shops. Spend your free time at the Opera or the Theatre. Let your imagination loose at the Museum of Glass…. or just staring out your windows at the majesty that is Mount Rainier, Commencement Bay and the Thea Foss Waterway!

Welcome to the Brand New Villaggio in Downtown Tacoma. Specializing in Studio living with select One and Two Bedroom Apartments.

Come on in and check out your new digs…