Published on January 23, 2020
There is a city block in the heart of Tacoma some people believe is not being put to its best use, stifling economic growth and blunting vitality. Four buildings and three parking lots now occupy 11 parcels along Tacoma Avenue, not far from the City-County Building. Six of the parcels have been tied up since 2005, awaiting a grand plan that’s never come to fruition. “At a minimum they’ve been underutilized, under-leveraged,” said Tacoma City Council member Robert Thoms, who represents the district.
County spokesperson Libby Catalinich told The News Tribune recently none of the four buildings are vacant. Probation services is currently at 901 Tacoma Ave., 925 Tacoma Ave. is being remodeled for probation services, 945 Tacoma Ave. holds South South 911 and 933 Tacoma Ave. is being used for contractor storage, Catalinich said. That’s not the kind of use that leads to the invigoration of a downtown core, said Ali Modarres, director of urban studies at University of Washington Tacoma. The area should have more housing, activities and retail, Modarres told The News Tribune.
Originally by Josephine Peterson, Allison Needles, and Debbie Cockrell for The News Tribune.