Concept for a Future Tacoma - South Tacoma Way
Last year, a group of University of Idaho students came to Tacoma and reimagined what some of our spaces could be. In particularly, they focused on the Lincoln and Brewery districts. Their presentation was quite impressive. Well, they’re back.
This year, the students took a look at South 56th and South Tacoma Way. Do you want to see what the corner could look like in 10 or 20 years? Their presentation is Monday.
Details
Monday, December 1, 2008 – 4:30-6:30 PM
South Park Community Center
4851 South Tacoma Way
Filed under: Neighborhoods, South Tacoma, Events, Get Involved
6 comments
T Thorax O'Tool November 27, 2008
The SoTac Way corridor… yet another seriously under-used, under-developed, under-appreciated swath of town.
Man, imagine if this city ever gets it’s act together and decides to be the awesome city that it has the potential to be.
C crenshaw sepulveda November 27, 2008
Around 56th and South Tacoma Way is one of the nicest, if not nicest stretch of solid retail buildings from an earlier time. A good many of buildings can provide for offices or housing on their second floors. Between the Friendly Duck and Russ Dunmire is about the sweetest row of pure Tacoma potential. No development necessary there, just people using this incredible area. Some day people will forget about downtown when we see South Tacoma Way see her potential. Head on down there, see what I mean. You can even check it out on the google maps street view. This is a very special area, I’m surprised it has survived as intact as it has.
D drizell November 27, 2008
I think it’s great that the U of I chooses Tacoma to be its urban setting for the students’ design project. They could very easily have studied a street corner in Seattle, Spokane or Boise.
Last year’s presentation was excellent and I think it showed quite a few people that Lincoln and the Brewery District could be much more than they currently are. Students and their ideas are too ofter overlooked by the general populace and those responsible for creating policy.
South Tacoma is one of the best areas of the city and is still relatively affordable. I’m curious to see what the students do with the corner. The landscape is very different depending on which side of 56th you’re on. North is a typical mixed-use district, while south is the beginning of the strip malls and sprawl we usually associate with South Tacoma Way.
T TheGulag November 27, 2008
Yes, the South Tacoma and Edison neighborhood is a very special segment of Tacoma’s overall uniqueness and potential. It’s unique status originates back to, shortly after, the establishment of “New” Tacoma. When the Northern Pacific Railroad moved its small downtown shops (where Union Station is now) to the much larger shop facility (one of the three major shop facilities on the NP; the biggest east of the Twin Cities) between South 40’th and South 56’th Street. The South Tacoma community arose as a direct result of this facility, and maintained, very well, that small community until the inevitable closure of the shops in the early 1970’s by the brand new (as the result of a massive railroad merger) Burlington Northern Railroad. Of course, the demotion of South Tacoma Way from its major North-South highway status, due to I-5, had some factor in South Tacoma’s loss of business traffic.
Despite the loss of community cohesion, the core business district of South Tacoma along South Tacoma Way has held on, albeit barely, and defiantly has not thrived in the last 35 years. However, where so many urban small business districts have resembled ghost towns in the last 35\40 years, South Tacoma, has weathered the worst while not being totally destroyed. Much of that probably has to do with its vast connection to the automotive industry (from its infancy) which regularly brings traffic to this former major thoroughfare. For example, I can still find, and frequent, the best local shops for anything involving auto care and repair anywhere in the Puget Sound Region along this stretch of South Tacoma Way.
That said, I believe South Tacoma, the South 56’th and South Tacoma Way district, has since seen its darkest years. It has already begun its return as a significant community; something I began seeing ten years ago.
Its wonderful that the U of I cast its interest on this area, just as they did last year with Lincoln. Ultimately, its up to the people who live (or could, or will live) and make shop in this community to take the initiative and make the changes we all would like to see.
O offbroadway November 27, 2008
Great synopsis again by TheGulag. The students’ presentation last year was superb and well-received by the audience, and it’s great to have them back. This is worth attending, and I hope this time some of the deciders choose to show up and learn. It’s ironic that we are looking at stretching our attention to South Tacoma Way again, just as the downtown auto dealerships did. It’s not surprising that institutions such as banks cropped up, and I can think of at least two fraternal lodges (Knights of Pythias and Oddfellows) that had lodges near that intersection. A great area of study. Of course the Trib recently did a series on STW, though they chose not to use historical photos. Thanks, Cren, now I can’t get that Russ Dunmire jingle out of my head.
A altered chords November 28, 2008
S. Tac Way near 56th IS currently undergoing positive change. Despite the “difficult” times, you can see some of the spaces getting ready for new business opening. There is even a church there now!
Looks like a new sports bar is getting ready to open.