Investing in Community (20. June 2006, 16:09 by Derek Young) ~ Where Are We Going?
The fatigue is setting in again. I’m tired of condos. I’m tired of new museums. I was tired of the convention center before it was even done. I never wanted to talk about spires, but I keep mentioning spires. Actually, the truth is that I’m tired of silver bullet solutions that will supposedly raise Tacoma to some new, and generally undefined, level. We aspire to some ‘greatness’ that is recognized by those far and wide. Yet, we don’t seem to care much about what we, the citizens, think about our Tacoma.
Our community is putting some big money into our museums and other destination buildings. The Museum of Glass cost $58 million $48 million (approximately $60 million if you include the bridge). The new TAM building cost $25 million. The Lemay Museum is $50 million into a $140 million campaign to build its grand vision. The city has kicked in a piece of property for it. What will this do for Tacoma? It’ll bring a few more people to the city and money into our economy. It’ll add a bright and slick piece of architecture to an otherwise barren area. Will it bring Tacomans out onto the street more often to meet their neighbors and local businesses? No.
What I wish I had was a reason to visit downtown or other neighborhoods more regularly. Where’s my public market? How about a farmer’s market that I can actually attend? Sorry, Thursdays don’t work for all us commuters. Is Proctor the official farmer’s market for commuters? Where’s my retail core that’ll bring me downtown and allow me to walk from shop to shop? We have UWT and a few shops around it, but beyond its edges, it gets pretty barren – particularly on weekends. Freighthouse Square is a bit… I don’t know. It’s lacking something. Maybe with a little love and some sprucing up, this could be an anchor to something better. As is, it won’t be that. I try. I shop there every once in a while. Where are my public art fairs? I’ve heard several times that all the high end condos going into downtown will really change things here. But while we keep seeing condo construction, we’re only seeing limited commercial or retail advances. Sure, Matador is opening this summer and there’s a new sushi place going in downtown, but is this a huge change or just a minor wave in the fabric of downtown? Will the city look different in five years when all the condo projects are done? Absolutely. Will it be someplace I, the non condo owner, will want to visit? We’ll see. Do I see any changes coming that will get me downtown more often than I go there now? No. Do I understand the City’s vision for our city? Not really.
What would our city look like if we (the collective city, citizen, philanthropic we) were to put a few million dollars into something that could build community? I believe that the dollars spent building our own community self esteem and identity will produce dividends far greater than any museum or spire. Can’t we focus inward a bit before we put even more money into our outward appearances? Where is our vision?
ps – Don’t get me wrong… I still want to hear about condos, museums, and other city happenings.
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You nailed it. That’s the central question to downtown revitalization.
Which one should be brought in first condos and apartment or retails or big ticket items?
Should we get a grocery store downtown now?
My view of it is that retail cannot survive without enough foot traffic or it will die after a month or two.
However, housing can survive on its own for awhile by itself.
Thus, I think the emphasis first should be on market rate housing. There has actually been very little of it completed in the downtown core.
“I’ve heard several times that all the high end condos going into downtown will really change things here. But while we keep seeing condo construction, we’re only seeing limited commercial or retail advances.”
The Foss units are in a separate area as are the units in Stadium although some people will walk down from north Broadway.
Once there are enough market rate units completed and occupied downtown, more retail will be possible but only then.
Matador may be an exception as it will likely be a “destination” restaurant.
Also, downtown Tacoma also has some white elephants which continue to suffocate the downtown core:
1) Multiple poorly designed parking garages creating large deadspaces and little retail.
2) Large empty buildings : Elks, Chopstix building, Old City Hall and many others are very large and sit empty. The dilapidated Elks Buildings is also keeping the Spanish stairway from being functional.
3) The Winthrop Hotel is dysfunctional and crime ridden and sits in the center of downtown keeping out much of the interest for people to invest in the area.
Some of the above are being worked on including at least one of the parking garages and the Elks Building (and Old City Hall hopefully).
1 | Posted by Erik | Jun 20, 05:21 PM
I agree with a lot of what you’ve written in terms of always looking for the Silver Bullet. And as a downtown resident, I see many of the points you mention.
I believe this has been true with some of the government projects, but UWT and the three museums have been great projects for building community. Every storefront is filled in the neighborhood because so many people are around. Some of Tacoma’s best restaurants are found on that strip of Pacific and up the UWT stairs on Jefferson.
No single project was the silver bullet, but by locating all the projects in the same area a strong “node” was created because it gets a whole bunch of different people together.
A mixture of jobs, housing, tourism, education, and the arts in a compact area seems like a great way to build a downtown that will no longer have to rely on silver bullets and will be stable enough to keep around what has been a volatile retail experience.
2 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Jun 20, 05:27 PM
“I never wanted to talk about spires, but I keep mentioning spires. Actually, the truth is that I’m tired of silver bullet solutions that will supposedly raise Tacoma to some new, and generally undefined, level.”
I agree.
“Silver bullet” projects are expensive and often do more harm than good as they can displace other activities or cause the loss of historical buildings or draw energy away from downtown.
“I believe this has been true with some of the government projects, but UWT and the three museums”
Yes, of all of the projects Tacoma has tried, the ones that really have made a difference have been:
UWT
Hopefully, enrollment will continue to increase and the university will continue to go up the hill.
Glass Museum
Tourists love this place and come from all around to visit. Hopefully, the new director will keep the focus of the museum on glass and give people what they came for.
“Absolutely. Will it be someplace I, the non condo owner, will want to visit? We’ll see.”
No one comes to a city to see a condo project. However, the housing can jump start and sustain some of the more interesting attractions.
3 | Posted by Erik | Jun 20, 06:26 PM
Thank you for saying what has to be said, I couldn’t agree more. But you already knew that…
“Yet, we don’t seem to care much about what we, the citizens, think about our Tacoma.”
How about we form a group – nothing formal – it could be called Citizens for a Gritty Tacoma or something like that. The purpose would be to create a dialog around the good things about Tacoma. Awareness and self-perception (self-esteem) could be raised through the use of ads on buses, bumper stickers, and billboards. A little humor could work too: “Tacoma: We may stink, but at least we’re not stuck up” (in reference to OTHER nearby towns)
I can’t take full credit for this idea- Mike Teske of the Tacoma Cares program (http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1768) and I talked about it about a year ago and I’ve heard variations on this theme from others in the Arts community. But so far no one has been brave enough (or crazy enough) to try it.
The revitilization of a neighborhood is never done by the big bang projects. they do have a purpose in creating a buzz but it’s the continuous, day in – day out work that keeps the change moving. Be it a grass roots community organization or a business association, or a neighborhood group, it must be done on a regular recurring basis.
It is a true enactment of the Think Globally, Act Locally. First, move to the place you want to see grow. Put your money where your mouth is. if the condos are the start, give up your house and buy one. Then chop the area. Buy your lunch in the less than favorite eatery and get to know the owners. Make suggestions. Show your commmittment. Find a job in your field in Tacoma instead of commuting to Seattle.
If we start taking these actions seriously, then we are faced with just how much do we want the change.
OK. Enough with the heavy talk. If you can’t move to the condo to be part of the change, then at least make a point to visit the next new coffe shop that opens up and make it a regular event eve if it is a little out of the way and parking is hard. At least we are putting our moola in action.
Nice article Derek! It really is getting us thinking. Now let’s see if it can get us to act.
5 | Posted by Davest | Jun 20, 11:01 PM
“If you can’t move to the condo to be part of the change, then at least make a point to visit the next new coffe shop that opens up and make it a regular event eve if it is a little out of the way and parking is hard.”
Yes.
And I expect every blogger on this site to frequent Matador at least one a week when they open and work down the tequila list they will have.
This is not for pleasure but a task in furtherance of your civic duty to Tacoma! :)
(Then walk up to Black Water Cafe to sober up)
6 | Posted by Erik | Jun 20, 11:55 PM
While I’m glad that the Matador is going in, I can’t say I am really excited. The location I’m familiar with (Ballard) is not known as a place to go out and get some good food- it’s more of a place to go if you are in a frat or sorosity and want to get sloshed. I don’t think Tacoma needs more places like that- no matter how creative and interesting the space is.
Places to get sloshed do not equal sustainability. Being sloshed does not build community.
I’m not a Puritan, really!
8 | Posted by morgan | Jun 21, 09:31 AM
“Places to get sloshed do not equal sustainability. Being sloshed does not build community.”
True. However, it’s not so much the place itself but the act of filling up an empty space on Pacific that brings people downtown in a restored building.
From what I know about Matador, it is pretty upscale and I doubt it will be another Magoos of old or a Grub Cage.
Hopefully, there will be enough restaurants on the north end of Pacific soon to have some momentum like 6th Ave.
9 | Posted by Erik | Jun 21, 10:32 AM
Morgan hits it and I think as the original intention of the article is, it’s about the sustainability. Specific destinations are nice but do nothing to keep citizens moving through a neighborhood. Were’s the thread that ties each of these “destination” establishments together. Where’s the reason to regularly return to the place where the community comes together to see your neighbors daily, weekly? It is in the ongoing interaction regardless of what it is your are there for, that truly builds the village.
In my earlier posting I talk about being the ones to move into these neighborhoods and be the active participants. Part of the reason this is so hard to do is that whomever does relocate themselves to the New Condo will still end up driving from one destination business to another.
A rephrase of what I think is Derek’s originial question. What is it that we as participants in the community can do to take ownership of our surroundings to build the threads that tie all of the different activities together within this place called Tacoma?
10 | Posted by dave | Jun 21, 10:41 AM
“Our community is putting some big money into our museums and other destination buildings.”
Don’t forget the $100M the City paid for the convention center – which was built not for the citizens, but for tourists. I understand the benefits associated with the Center, but to tie the City’s hands financially for the next 10-20 years to pay for it was very shortsighted, in my humble opinion.
Imagine the possibilities of what a $100M investment into our neighborhoods could have done…
www.smartgrowth.org/about/issues/issues.asp?iss=2
We need trike races!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbc16/sets/72157594172100306/
Seems like any place where you can relax and talk while doing something else (vaguely) will create a sense of community.
Parks and playgrounds do it. You meet your park-loving neighbors there. Schools do it…at least for the kids and parents who attend those events. Coffee shops do it when they have comfortable and quiet seating. (I want a dark coffee shop nearby with heavy wood tables, a fireplace, and a bookshelf filled with board games.) Skateparks do it as one of the few facilities that easily attract young adults with the lure of challenging athletic activity.
I’m excited to the official results from the BIA on Project for Public Space’s recent visit to Tacoma.
15 | Posted by Peter Whitley | Jul 11, 09:07 PM
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