David Boe Asks Us to Imagine Tacoma
We are excited to announce that we’ve added another writer to the B-Side. Who is it? Our neighbor on Pacific Avenue, David Boe of BOE Architects.
Boe’s “Imagine Tacoma” concept is an ongoing series of urban design sketch overlay studies for downtown Tacoma and environs. These studies will look at a wide variety of issues – from specific small scale insertions with detailed considerations to large scale infrastructure and master planning proposals. All, well at least most, of these studies will be reality based using the existing fabric of the city (so the projects will have at least a remote thread of possibility). The goal of these studies is to foster discussion about the importance of understanding urban design issues as applied to downtown Tacoma and imagine what the possibilities might actually be – and to look at the importance of connections that exist beyond the limitations of specific sites (and specific politics at specific times). Some of these ideas are old, some are new, a few are borrowed and some may even turn out a bit blue; however, all will be submitted with due respect to the existing conditions.
The first article is now online. It asks, “So, now that Park Plaza South is getting a rebirth, what to do about Park Plaza North?”
Filed under: Imagine-Tacoma
9 comments
N NSHDscott April 24, 2008
Cool! Can we make it required reading for city planners, rubber-stampers, and decison-makers?
E Erik B. April 24, 2008
Boe’s drawing is interesting as it would not require demolishing North Park Plaza Parking Garage. Although I think he would agree it should be replaced and soon.
They could accomplish much by just bringing the wall out to the sidewalk and/or placing a retail space in the most northern section.
I can’t think of a higher priority project than the North Park Plaza Parking Garage. And given that it is a city property, in part, it is the city’s responsibility.
C Chris Karnes April 24, 2008
There’s a lot of talk about having new city buildings in Tacoma go to LEED silver according to the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Task Force. I don’t see how you could really do that with this structure. Even with the glass and the greenery… it still looks like a short, stubby tombstone. This area needs retail and it could use a number of permanent residents.
We were presented with a solution to this by a developer a year or so ago. Why don’t we just go with that?
C Chris Karnes April 24, 2008
Oh and could we get an RSS feed for this, if it is going to be a continuing project?
I catch up on all my news using RSS feeds.
O Old Timer April 25, 2008
Erik,
I can think of higher priority project. It’s called Browns Star Grill.
N NSHDscott April 25, 2008
Mine is the Elks Temple, solved by renovating it for the Children’s Museum. North Park and Browne’s Star Grill are way up there too, though.
B billb April 25, 2008
It’s terrific; thanks, David. This can be done quickly and with comparatively little cash. Also it can be called “interim” and if nothing more happens in the next 20 years it still works.
Properties like the Elks and Winthrop have problems the North Plaza doesn’t. No seismic retro-fit is required for the North Plaza, and no change of ownership is involved (unless the ground under the North Plaza is owned privately?) Adapting old structures to new uses is frequently just too costly to undertake. Seismic upgrades can be prohibitively costly and when an owner has taken LIHTCs (tax credits) and Section 8 write-offs, the cost of acquiring the property is often greater than it otherwise would be.
I’m way off topic now, but what the hell. My point is the new and improved Tacoma Housing Authority is exactly the sort of entity that can move projects like the Elks and the Winthrop off top-dead-center.
P precast April 25, 2008
The idea to drape the building with plant material interspersed with contrasting elements of art glass windows seems feasible. I wouldn’t mind seeing some sort of huge fabric veiling the building that could be lit with LED lighting during the night and during the day the structure could be just barely visible through the shimmering veil and fading away like some architectural Picture of Dorian Grey.
T tressie April 27, 2008
Fabulous Derek !!! Boe is our own genius….But you know me….I’m all about the Dome District…It’s the ugly neglected red-headed stepchild orphan of city planning….I’ve read The Gasoline Alley urban plan….Yikes !!