A New Economic Vision
An item on next week’s Economic Development Committee meeting seemed to confirm what our little birds have told us; the City is having a new economic impact analysis and development plan done. The firm that emerged from the bidding process is Angelou Economics.
AE is from Austin, Texas, and have worked with private companies like Dell and Toyota, as well as public sectors like the State of New York and Atlanta. Their multi-phase process involves extensive public input, a steering committee made up of community stakeholders and City employees and a commitment to work on implementation.
The timeline from start to finish is 6 months. Will this be what we’ve been missing? Will it give us the boost we need to get to the next level? Maybe…
17 comments
B Brotha E December 11, 2007
I was hoping these guys would get the job. Having been to Austin (The Music Capital of the World) nearly every summer. It is alot like Tacoma. Except a little more evolved. They already have street cars there (Dillo’s). They have rubber tires though but look like a vintage trolley cars and they’re free. They like T-Town have their University downtown (Go Longhorns). It will be great to get some outside prospective other than from our local competition. Maybe Tacoma will finally get an identity.
M mardod December 11, 2007
Tacoma has no identity?
E Elliot December 11, 2007
Yeah, cause contracting things out to a out-of-state private consultant always works. I heard that’s where FDR got the idea for the New Deal.
Seriously, this idea that local governments can’t perform their own analysis and make their own decisions is a serious inferiority complex that the public sector needs to address. Private consultants are really good at two things: costing a lot of money and making you feel like, since it cost so damn much, the product must be worth something. The city should spend it’s money paying a decent wage for planners to attract real talent into the city who have vested interest in Tacoma and aren’t going to leave when their contract is up.
C Christian December 11, 2007
If this amazing consultant company from Austin Texas comes up with some good ideas, I wonder if the city officials will heed their advice and do what they say. Or will we make up some cost-cut, Tacomanized version based on their suggestions and then pawn it off as our own?
E Erik S December 11, 2007
I’m cautiously optimistic about the development plan. I think that Elliot’s onto something when he says they probably won’t make any shocking discoveries that the city staff couldn’t have found for themselves, but, if the city lacks the confidence to act on its own ideas without some sort of external validation, then the money may be well spent.
I am a bit confused about the economic impact analysis portion of the study. What project are they evaluating the impact of? Their own economic plan?
Anyways, here’s to hoping that they recommend building a streetcar network (to include Lincoln and McKinley), moving the Rainiers downtown (as in Portland, sorry), and moving SXSW up here for NXNW. Or something like that.
M Marty December 11, 2007
Their Web-site shows an intresting track record and some good case studies. From what I hear thier community out reach and involvement is among the finest.
I went to college in Lincoln NE when the town was a falling apart. Now when I visit I am amazed by the turnaround. If they can bring those kind of results to Tacoma, then great for us.
I just hope the City will begin implementing all of the recommendations, not just cherry pick a few easy wins and leave the substantial work on a shelf.
R Ryan Petty December 12, 2007
The City of Tacoma will be updating the comprehensive plan for downtown in 2008. The idea for these studies is to provide stakeholders, citizens, staff and City Council with sound economic data about downtown and thoughtful economic development strategies for consideration during this deliberative process. We want to plan the physical development of downtown in a way that nurtures and grows the economy, and that takes advantage of its opportunities. The economic impact to be studied is the impact on the rest of the City of Tacoma (neighborhoods and business districts), Pierce County and the South Sound Region (think concentric circles). We want to understand the nature and scope of the economic benefits when developers and employers invest in this unique geography. Downtown serves many functions (recreation, entertainment, arts, neighborhood, seat of government, retail, office employment, etc.) but it’s role as employer makes it the most concentrated location of private employment in the region and creates the financial wherewithal to support its other key functions. The economic development strategy will not only feed ideas into the comprehensive planning process but it will also generate ideas regarding the targeting of business sectors (at the operational level) that may enjoy competitive advantages in our downtown. And it will inform our efforts for the recruitment of private investment and office tenants… and it will explore recommend roles for partner organizations and citizen involvement that can help feed and grow a dynamic economy.
B Brotha E December 12, 2007
Mardod@#2,
Tacoma has no identity? You don’t really consider, “The City of Destiny” as being an identity do you? What business would move to a city that has a Destiny which goes on forever. Yes it’s time to indentify who we are, and what we have to offer. Downtown Austin has no large retail (big box) stores a thriving steetcar network ( yes,even with rubber tires) and is one of the most thriving downtown cores I have ever been in. They even have 2 convention centers just like Tacoma, Although their major shopping mall is a little farther away from downtown than the Tacoma Mall is for Tacoma they have found out what their niche is and acted upon it. Is our niche museums? Seems to be. Well lets act upon it. Sure, who likes to see work farmed out to an outside business but I think it will give us an outside prospective to who we are. For Heavens sake even Moses Lake (The Watersports Capital) now has an identity.
E Erik S December 12, 2007
I’m glad to hear firsthand from Marty that the folks at Angelou have done some good work, or at least had the good fortune to be associated with some positive developments. His comments reminded me of the changes that appear to be happening in some parts of Cincinnati over the past decade or so. I haven’t been back that way since ’99, but, if the interweb is to be believed, the Over-the-Rhine (seen the movie Traffic?) neighborhood there has seen some amazing changes. Any chance that anyone’s been to that neck of the woods recently?
I’m going to be back that way in the spring to visit some relatives on my mother’s side of the family and am looking forward to checking things out. If things are as positive on the ground as they seem on the computer, I’ll be sure to try to figure out what they did.
C Christian December 12, 2007
(Led by Vulcan, Paul Allen’s development firm, South Lake Union’s new construction equals nearly two 76-story Columbia Centers.)
I wish we had a Paul Allen.
P Pat December 12, 2007
I do hope that downtown will not be the only focus of this study..As someone who lives in the one of the neighborhoods a short distance from downtown, I have seen the “effects” of the downtown plan..While it has been good for downtown, I am not so sure it has been good for the business district in my neighborhood (also a mixed use center)..
I want to see the city develop a strategy to make these types of areas successful. The Lincoln Mixed Use Center is one of the oldest;however,it has had few, if any projects devloped. In fact, it has gotten worse..
I hope this study does not just focus on downtown, but how do we tie its success into the surrounding neighborhoods..
Pat
M morgan December 12, 2007
Be careful what you wish for!
Allen’s initial vision for South Lake Union was a gigantic grass field called “The Commons.” I’m all for manicured lawns and open space, but it did not seem like the right solution for the area (I worked there at the time). Even his revised vision (massive office and condo buildings) has been met with much resentment from residents not accustomed to so much development in both South Lake Union and the ID (Chinatown).
That being said, while Tacoma has limited capacity to build big, it does exist and I believe will come in time. Just look at how much downtown has changed in the past 5 years or so. The key is to have a bigger vision of what we are trying to accomplish and to be consistent with the vision – difficult but essential to do for the long haul.
And for the record: real streetcars run on rails not wheels – that would be a bus.
B Brotha E December 12, 2007
Sorry Morgan wasn’t trying to rain on your parade. My point though is that mass transit can work successfully in many different forms and if cost delay a rail system for another 10-15yrs would rubber tires really be so bad. We have people that need to get downtown now! We have neighborhoods that could develop now! Do we delay our vision for the sake of rails? What about a pilot project? Do we say no because it has rubber wheels? Don’t get me wrong I am definitely all for rails but also at what cost and in what decade.
P Pat December 12, 2007
Since the plan for streetcars are to place them downtown first, I would be for some for wheeled streetcars to run through the Lincoln District and McKinley to at LEAST connect us to some for the happenings downtown. If we contiunue to wait for a plan devlop and wander my way some day, I will be in my 70s before I see anything..
I donl’t agree that we wait for downtown before we develop my end of town..We need a plan that will address our needs and actively pursue solutions. Waiting for the downtown plan to creep our way is a mistake in my opinion.
C Christian December 12, 2007
Morgan, I’ll take an overly eccentric billionaire that wants to continuously spend money on our town any day.
I mean we don’t even have a “Paul Allen-like” figure and we managed to erect a sculpture of a train with unevenly colorful shapes pasted all over it and future plans for a spire that serves no purpose what so ever.
I’ll welcome some private money and deal with the consequences.
P penelope December 12, 2007
As anyone else, when I heard there was yet another study being done, I about screamed!!!! I have to agree that Tacoma is nursing this lack of identity thing to death. Also Tacoma has been famous for taking a couple easy wins to try and look good, while they are too afraid to make a decision in fear of being WRONG. Who cares if it’s wrong, sometimes out of mistakes come the greatest creative ideas and solutions ever. We just need to dig up some confidence here and make some efforts. I have recently realized the value in an outside perspective, and am excited about getting to hear Angelou’s in more detail. Austin is a great city, and there are many things they have done that we could emulate. We do, however need to find our OWN identity. Angelou is encouraging for many reasons. They are committed to a wide variety of “Stakeholder” input. I’ve seen the list, and it’s not made up of city staff, property owners, and the Chamber. Things like “Asset Mapping” and “Gap Analasys” are on the agenda. Angelou gets what it means to inventory our city’s assets and build upon them rather than plopping in a “Big Box” and praying it will save all the little guys instead of flushing ‘em out. (Or maybe flushing them out is some people’s perspective wish)They also speak to the importance of connecting it with the Comprehensive plan for any success to be possible. Words like “Transportation/Land Use” in the same sentence spark my enthusiasm. Tacoma always silo’s things out and deals with them on an individual level. When are we going to get that it’s all relative AND connected??? They key to this and any other plan being successful, is to have city government be behind the vision and plan by committing to implementation and FUNDING of the outcomes. As Christian said, Tacoma is famous for “Tacomaizing” the plan and cutting costs so much that nothing gets done. Elliot makes a good point that we should spend or allocate funds to pay for a “Qualified, Visionary” planner on Tacoma staff. Pat, as for your question about connecting districts, there is a grass roots movement right now called “Go Local” that is connecting small business owners throughout the 14 business districts and Downtown. WE need a healthy downtown to pump the blood into the limbs (neighborhoods) and back to be a thriving vibrant city. If you are interested in this and have some ideas on how to strengthen these ties, please visit www.golocaltacoma.com
E Erik S December 12, 2007
Hey, I LIKE buses. Let’s not tear down the humble motor coach in our zeal to build up the train.
In people-hauling terms, I don’t think that there is a significant advantage to be noticed between light rail, Rice-A-Roni streetcars, buses, and bus-cars. Where power to encourage redevelopment and change land-use patterns is concerned, rail options are clearly more powerful (at a cost). I fully support the expansion of Tacoma’s light rail for this reason. I also believe that the Lincoln area should be a priority in the expansion of the rail system.
If the current Route 1 isn’t adequately serving the district’s transportation needs, then I think that some sort of shuttle-like service between Lincoln and downtown or a simple increase in the frequency of Route 1 might be a good thing to have while we wait for the trains. If somebody really wants to paint the bus like a trolley or something, well, I personally think it’s a bit undignified, but go ahead.
Ding-ding!