Elks Sell South 23rd and Union Property
The News Tribune is reporting that the Tacoma Elks have approved the sale of their parking lot at South 23rd and Union. While Wal-Mart was once trying for the space, the paper’s now saying that:
A member told us this morning that the developer is planning office space, a McDonald’s and a Starbucks
How … oh nevermind.
Previously on Exit133: 23 Union Square
Filed under: General
24 comments
N Nick July 2, 2009
I’ll fill in the blank and say how “suburban” of them (the tamest word I could think of)! Not that I blame the developer, as this is just the result of following the current policies/codes set in-place by the city.
Would be nice if that area actually turned into a people-frienldly/walkable business district instead of a may-as-well-be-a-freeway-truck-stop type of place, but I don’t see that happening in my lifetime.
N NSHDscott July 2, 2009
Well, I will say that it might actually be nice to be able to grab a quick bite in that area. There’s really not much of any food near there. Oh, and a McD’s is better than an empty parking lot. Other than that, hard to compliment the plans.
Regarding Nick’s post, I love the idea (and execution) of walkable business districts, but I don’t think it’s a particularly realistic goal for EVERY business district. This area in particular isn’t a very good candidate, being so close to the Hwy 16 ramps, major arterials, and with only a few senior living centers providing people who might find themselves in that area sans car. Let’s save our walkability dreams for more realistic neighborhoods like Stadium, Proctor, 6th Ave, etc.
Z Zdigital July 2, 2009
Bellaramine kids must be stoked!!
J Jesse July 2, 2009
That IS suburbia so this is an ok plan IMO.
T tom waits July 2, 2009
Excellent!
I’ve been consistently frustrated by the lack of a McDonald’s anywhere between 9th and Tacoma Ave S, South Mildred Street, 6th and Pearl, 21st and Pearl, South Mullen and 35th, and South 38th and Pine.
This will make my life much easier.
C crenshaw sepulveda July 2, 2009
Now that they’ve sold the Union street property they have the money and maybe should buy back the old Elks building on Broadway. Seems about right to me that they end up where they started.
D Dan Voelpel July 2, 2009
That location: near a high school, close to highway access, high traffic count seems to mesh with what Sonic professes as its ideal location.
T Thorax O'Tool July 2, 2009
Call me crazy, but for some bizarre reason, I’d like to see like a 25+ story mixed use (apartments/office or office/hotel or office/hotel/apartment or whatever/whatever) with some 3-10 story low and mid rises with retail/apartments around it.
Imagine the view of Mt Rainier and the Cascades from 25 stories? On a good day you can see from Mt St Helens to Mt Baker up there. How wicked would that be?
BONUS: As a Bellarmine Alum, I’m stoked that even something as tall as the Burj Dubai in that spot will not block the view of Mt Rainier up on Bellarmine hill.
E Erik B. July 3, 2009
Looks like we can look forward to a few more one story boxes sitting as islands in the middle of multi acre parking lot which is about all the City of Tacoma has allowed to be built over the last 30 – 40 years.
Y You're Welcome July 3, 2009
A McDonalds and a Starbucks live on Center street, can’t be more then a mile a way. Awesome! Lazy people who can’t be bothered to drive to the next exit on highway 16 will richly rewarded. Hooray. What a wonderful world!
T Thorax O'Tool July 3, 2009
Can we please get something in this city besides McBarfo and Starsucks?
A amanda July 3, 2009
Isn’t there a Starbucks in the Top Foods across the street/parking lot?
D DavidS July 4, 2009
maybe should buy back the old Elks building on Broadway.
Exactly what I was chatting with someone about today. Getting a replacement bowling alley wouldn’t be too hard in that building. It would get a fraternal organization with headgear up and going in downtown again. Maybe someone under 50 would join. Then again, they may not want the younger ones.
J Jesse July 4, 2009
If you read the article in the Tacoma News Tribune, they say phase 2 has them selling the entire property and building a new lodge on thier golf course property on the other side of Cedar St. They’d be better served, long run, to move back downtown.
A lot of those fraternal organizations are dieing because they can’t attract enough youth population. Moving back downtown could solve that quickly.
J Jenyum July 4, 2009
Eh, what would help their membership would be to remove the requirement that you declare a religious affirmation to join. It seems very civic minded and whatnot but that’s a big turn off for me and no doubt lots of other youngish civic minded progressive types.
A altered Chords July 4, 2009
Do the Elks actually do something other than collect dues and build lodges and then move out of them?
Do they do more for Tacoma than Exit133?
Lodges? We don’t need no stinking lodges!
J Jesse July 4, 2009
If I were the Elks, I might sell out and try to make a deal with Chambers Bay Golf Course to get the Elks the same rights to that course as their own Allenmore course. I’d sell Allenmore Golf Course, and restore the original Elks Lodge DT, with a parking garage and upgrades facility there. That’d make me want to join.
T tressie July 4, 2009
well of course the elks should buy back the elks dt….what with the new sidewalks and streets and safety orange “bricks”…M+T woulda joined many a time since we know elks who would sponsor us…swimming, dancing, sitting, drinking, eating, chatting…These are all perfect activities for Tacomans and Tacowomans…they should turn it into a Portland Kennedy School kinda thing…reachable by all public trans/trains….
M Michael M July 6, 2009
Oh yes, wouldn’t a Sonic be good there? They’d need lots of space for the lines of cars coming thru…Never happen in Tacoma. I talked with Winco Food executives about 5 years ago asking why not in Tacoma? They said takes 3 to 4 years from planning to completion, but it was mentioned that Tacoma had high taxes for businesses.
I’ve heard that from other companies too.
Elks moving back DT? What a joke. Where are the members going to park? Oh yeah, you can park in the garage near Freighthouse Square and ride Light Rail to nowhere, get off at the Theatre District and walk couple of blocks amongst the drug dealers and homeless. But Elks can close at 9 pm when Light Rail stops running. How does moving back downtown attract a younger membership? Going to a membership drive at Club Silverstone?
Sorry Jesse, no deals with the County at Chambers Bay for Elks members…they can pay full price too
I’d rather see a Walmart instead of another McDonalds/Starbucks. Of course, I’m sure there would be a NIMBY reaction to Walmart, after all Fircrest didn’t want a Walmart because of the “class of people” it would attract. Instead Tacoma residents can drive to Federal Way or Lakewood for Wally World prices.
K Ken July 6, 2009
The current club was designed for 12,000 members – they had over 10,000 at one point & now down to about 3500. All I can say is that a family membership to the athletic club is about $250 a year, member dues are reasonable & my kids and I have the pool to ourselves almost any time. Beats the Y prices. Bummer when it closes. Too bad that they couldn’t redefine their mission to be more modern and actually attract more members.
A altered Chords July 6, 2009
I was not a marketing major in school but have been in sales long enough to know that in order to get people to sign up for what you offer you need to tell them what you are actually offering.
I’ve lived here 6 years and have no idea what the Elks do. I have no idea how much it costs to join and what I would get for joining.
Y You're Welcome July 6, 2009
I’m not Republican or Religious, so I’m not “Elk’s” material. Otherwise I would love to get in on the cheap drinks.
@19 I think you have glazed over the problems with Walmart. It’s not about the class of people, we do live in Tacoma and all classes are represented in our city. The problem is: this is our countries largest employer who not only doesn’t offer health care, they coach employees on how to get Government Health care benefits. It may cost a few cents more for toothpaste at Fred Meyer, but at least I’m not getting sucker punched with taxes to support full time employes health care so the Wally can leach off the public. And for what? Cheap-skates to get a “bargain?” Add that to a long list of problems, and I’m proud of Tacoma for keeping that low-life-scum-sucking store out of our town. And Fircrest did want Wally, it was UP who insisted on Wally World to invest in the surrounding roads to accommodate the increase of traffic. Something Walsuck wouldn’t commit to. So UP, you got my respect.
Now,if the Elk’s are going to demo that entire site, I’d love to see something along the lines of University Village with Tacoma style.
A altered Chords July 6, 2009
On TV yesterday I saw a commercial for “The New Miracle Whip” It showed a bunch of laughing, happy 20 somethings enjoying this new “wild” miracle whip.
I think the Elks just need Altered Chords Productions to re-package them and sell them to this younger generation of “youngish civic minded progressive types”
J Jesse July 7, 2009
@19: I know I am being idealistic in my post at #17 but, that’s what this site is for, no?
I know that once St Helens area gets really rolling in the next economic boom, that area will be full of young people, retirees, and DINKs (Double Income No Kids) who would be drawn to such a facility (complete with new parking next door)in that part of town. I also know that if a deal were brokered, for money, for a discounted fee for Chambers Bay golf, I’d be interested in becoming an Elk there. The Elks could afford these things if they sold out thier current golf course and site at 23rd and Union.
Again… idealistic.