February 1, 2009 · Derek · archive: txp/article

Elks Building as Senior Housing?

Today’s Dan Voelpel column lays out the latest twist in the story of our beloved Elks Building. What’s happening? The Gintz Group has signed a letter of intent to become partners with Williams & Dame, the owners of the building, to develop a senior housing center. The north parking lot would become housing. A restored Elks would become amenities for the complex plus public events space.

As a living destination for the senior set, Gintz said, “the Elks building would be an incredible draw. … Think of yourself as a senior who’s independent, maybe 66 years old. You could drive right out of the building and onto 705.”

I will admit … we get a lot of people telling us their Elks Building dreams. This was not one we’ve heard before.

Link to The News Tribune

Filed under: General

28 comments

Dan February 1, 2009

I am glad that the TNT is finally prefacing these stories with the proverbial grain of salt. I have been reading breathless articles in the TNT about what might be happening at the Elks and Luzon Buildings for over ten years now. 10 years. And the story remains the same, until someone has the money to do it, or is willing to take a bigger risk, nothing will happen. Nothing. Tacoma continues to be a City that struggles to attract any significant speculative capital. Right now almost no project in any city in the US is attracting speculative capital, I am not sure why this idea would be any different. I think the TNT is starting to realize that, which is a nice change.
You're Welcome February 1, 2009

Anything is a good thing for the Elks building. Hope it happens.
A-Dub February 1, 2009

No offence to seniors, but I really hope they don’t turn it into a senior home. The Elks building needs to be enjoyed by all Tacoma citizens.
RR Anderson February 2, 2009

isn’t ‘senior housing’ code word for low income section 8 housing?
Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009

Seniors are the only ones who belong to the Elks (or any fraternal organization) anymore. The Elks has been closed so long that only those past 70 even went there when it was still operational.

I kinda like the idea. We need senior AND low income housing in this city… too much high-end development makes for a yuppie-filled, gentrified downtown.

For a healthy neighborhood, you need some variety. A nice place with good amenities would do wonders for the seniors of Tacoma.
Remember, barring accidents and drive bys, we’ll all be seniors one day. I’d rather have more downtown places to live rather than another apartment complex on Union.
…but that’s just me.
crenshaw sepulveda February 2, 2009

At over 200k per unit these will not be low income, section 8 apartments. These will supposedly be slightly cheaper, very slightly cheaper than the rest of the new construction in downtown. If you think the poor will be living in this project you have another thing coming.
P February 2, 2009

I kinda like the idea. We need senior AND low income housing in this city… too much high-end development makes for a yuppie-filled, gentrified downtown.

For a healthy neighborhood, you need some variety.

I completely agree that the city needs more low income and senior housing. But it doesn’t need it downtown. I remember seeing a 2006 report somewhere that showed that once all these condos are filled, the average household income for downtown Tacoma would be $22,000 by 2011. This would be $3,000 more than in 2000, but hardly a yuppie filled or diverse downtown. The new condo dwellers and higher income seniors are the diversity.

I’m sure that report is online somewhere. I’ll look.
Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009

“report somewhere that showed that once all these condos are filled, the average household income for downtown Tacoma would be $22,000 by 2011“

One can afford to buy a house that costs 3x to 4x their income.
You can’t buy a $200K condo unless you make at least $50,000/year… more than twice the $22K income for downtown.
Last time I checked, you couldn’t buy a condo in downtown for $66,000. With that level of income, you’re still a renter until you get a raise or house prices plummet more.
crenshaw sepulveda February 2, 2009

I find it ironic that this project is being promoted by the easy access to 705, thus bypassing all of downtown and possibly sending these fine folk up to Seattle or down to Olympia. Another note, no one builds a 4 story parking garage for section 8 seniors.
Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009

Zing! And the point goes to Crenshaw.
uoaaa181 February 2, 2009

Homer Williams and Williams & Dame did amazing things with the Pearl District in Portland…this could be quite interesting.
Douglas Tooley February 2, 2009

How about a cable gondolier to the Waterfront?

:-)
Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009

Not bad, actually
tresssie February 2, 2009

4 story parking garage…..they gotta park the golf carts and scooters somewheres……and think of the graffiti art space!!
Ingrown Toenail February 2, 2009

Why are we trying to save that thing, really?
It’s wore out, and needs millions just to make it usable by human beings, much less useful.
We should save history when appropriate. Old city hall? Sure. Wright Park’s conservatory? Sure. Luzon? Maybe. That depends.
Elks should only be preserved if the free market determines it.
Otherwise, raze it and build something that is useful to somebody.
That building is doing nothing but being blightful.
offbroadway February 3, 2009

“Seniors are the only ones who belong to the Elks (or any fraternal organization) anymore.” HEY now, O’Tool…

I’ll qualify before most of the rest of you, so I can hope this becomes reality. And for the same reason, suggest maybe they’ll even restore the Spanish Ramp.
Thorax O'Tool February 3, 2009

Nothing against the gray haired among us, but from personal experience, have yet to meet a member of a fraternal organization who is under 50 years old. If you are a member of one and under 50, shout it out.

It used to be that to know anyone or get anywhere, you had to belong to one.
Now here in 2009, the Elks and Knights of Pythias have been replaced by Facebook and MySpace.
…a troubling sign for the future of my generation.
Dave L. February 4, 2009

Thorax [if you haven’t yet], come to the downtown Pythian Temple most any Monday night around 6-ish and hang out for a while. (Come around the Ct. C alley entrace.) Almost 50 members of Commencement Lodge, and ~~most~~ many of the handful who show up on Mondays are under 50. For a few more years anyway. I hear ya, though. You are correct about the then-and-now, and there are too many reasons why what you’re saying is generally true.
Jesse February 5, 2009

Downtown needs EXPENSIVE housing. Yes, I said EXPENSIVE.
People with money spend it. That sustains and attracts businesses. Isn’t that what we want for downtown?
This average income of $22k in the downtown core will sustain NOTHING. The current business people and visitors are currently sustaining the shops and restaraunts downtown. That needs to change into the residents of downtown having a huge part in sustaining businesses. Then, you may see a grocery store and other ammenities we’re talking about on here all the time.
You're Welcome February 5, 2009

I agree with Jesse! While we can all recognize that a flourishing downtown needs to have several income bracket, we’ve experimented with a low-income downtown core for long enough. I’m ready to leave crime and neglect far, far behind. Change is good.
Mary February 5, 2009

re Jesse @19
Respectfully, there is an abundance of expensive condos downtown that sit empty. Many poor and working-class people were displaced (see Walker building) to make room for the higher end condo market that did not materialize. Downtown should be a mix of all incomes to contribute to its vibrancy. Poor people need grocery stores, too.
Thorax O'Tool February 5, 2009

@ 18… I haven’t been down but thanks for pointing out there are a few 40-somethings in the club.
I personally don’t join just because I’ve never felt the desire to (that and my work schedule precludes it). I should also point out that I absolutely detest myspace and facebook… so I’m not picking on anyone in particular.

@ 19,20… there is a need for some expensive condos, certainly. There are a few well-to-do individuals in our Fair City who may wish to live downtown.
But you will notice that nearly all the condos that went up in the Great Real Estate Bubble of the 00s, have been of the expensive-luxury type.
We simply do not have enough high-income people in this city who also want to live downtown. Condos appeal mostly to retirees and yuppies. While we have plenty of retirees, not alot are of the “wealthy persuasion”. And we certainly do not have enough yuppies to make up the slack.

Build condos that lower middle to middle-middle class folks can afford, and we might have a few more sales.
You cannot rely on the wealthy to change your downtown, they are too few and too fickle. Make a downtown with plenty of middle class folks. People being present will increase the need for amenities (like a grocery store), and the presence of amenities will draw some of the more wealthy.
Jesse February 5, 2009

“We simply do not have enough high-income people in this city who also want to live downtown.”

There’s your REAL problem. A catch-22. Bringing in more white-collar jobs with a future for the younger set would help.
TacomAroma February 5, 2009

Unfortunately, the middle class animal is a dying breed on the west coast. If the downtown doesn’t gentrify it will forever be an empty low-income dumping ground. More white-collar JOBS and a herd of yuppie professionals would nicely balance out the derelicts that currently populate downtown…
Mofo from the Hood February 5, 2009

I think this is an appropriate time for me to put forth again (formerly brought to light on feedTacoma) my fast-track idea to put this building into immediate service to the community.

PROJECT CODE NAME: The Yelps Club.

In view of the necessity to make this former Elks Club an [indirect] economic-driver for Tacoma, what I have in mind requires minimum risk and maximum benefits.

I envision this cavernous building as a palatial doggy day care. Since it is common knowledge that dogs don’t care about fancy surroundings, this means minimal, if any, interior remodeling. By extension, dogs don’t require electric lighting or indoor plumbing, thereby reducing investor financial commitment.

You know, its been said that dogs are man’s best friend. Wouldn’t you agree that our best friends deserve the old Elks Building?
Jesse February 6, 2009

I love it Mofo. If only we could stop the dogs from eating all that lead paint…

Truely though… I’d just like it if it was in use. The Elks Temple is a symbol of Tacoma’s resurgence to me. When it gets fixed up, anything is possible here.
Thorax O'Tool February 6, 2009

How much was the cost of the building and renovations?

Let’s just arbitrarily say $20 million. That works out to approximately $100 per person in our Fair City, $25 per person in the Mighty County of Pierce or $2.50 per person in the Great State of WA.

So how do we form some sort of Old Elks action group? The Kingdome renovations from the mid 90s continue to cost every taxpayer in WA more than $2.50 annually to this very day… we ought to be able to find a way to get that kinda $$$ for something not in Seattle for once…
You're Welcome February 6, 2009

I wonder how much it was to get the Roman Coliseum restored? It’s all busted up, a virtual eyesore. Is the Notre Dame Cathedral really worth any upgrades? It’s so old, is it worth the cost and effort? What about when they burned down the White House? What a waste of tax payers money that was, when they could have torn it down and build a new and upgraded White House.

I’m for restoring our historic buildings and structures. Once it’s gone, history can never be replaced!