Here Come Ruston Way Improvements
Despite the cold grey weather and the less than sunny economic climate, improvements at both ends of Ruston Way are still moving forward.
Point Ruston Waterwalk
The portion of waterfront path that will extend pedestrian options from Ruston Way past Point Ruston is ready to open any day now, complete with some fairly impressive works of tile art. The News Tribune gave a preview of the aquatic-themed tile art underway for the new portion of the waterfront walk that will extend past Point Ruston. Under one of the tarps keeping the rain off is a 33 foot mosaic of an octopus, which we’ll get to see when the first phase of the path opens up to the public next month. That phase wil get you as far as the Point Ruston ferry boat sales office. You’ll have to wait a little longer to walk/run/skate the full length of the path to Point Defiance. That phase is expected to open early next year.
Other bits of decoration along the path will include more aquatic life mosaics, copper-colored benches shaped like mooring cleats, decorative patches of tinted asphalt, and images of historic Tacoma, Ruston, and the smelter that once stood on that site. When the walk is completed, the City will take over ownership, paying the developer $6 million.
Point Ruston: Phase 1
Phase 1 of Point Ruston is also moving toward its opening, with a list of businesses committed to fill all 21,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. There will be a Forza coffee shop with the usual coffee and pastries, as well as a more extended menu of sandwiches, salads, wine and beer. According to _The News Tribune other businesses you can expect to see in this first phase of development include locally-made candy from the Candy Shoppe, locally made olive oil and a tasting room and demonstration kitchen from Olympia Olive Oil, NW Sports Physical Therapy, Jewell Day Spa, and a plastic surgery center.
Old Town Dock
Work has begun on upgrades to make Old Town Dock once again accessible to visitors coming by boat and on foot. Last we heard, plans are for the project (not including repairs to the restrooms) to wrap up sometime next summer – hopefully in time for the 4th of July.
If your goal is a more accessible waterfront, things seem to be looking better down there already. Are you excited by where this is heading?
Filed under: Waterfront, Developments, Ruston Way, Point Ruston
4 comments
R Rob October 25, 2012
Now if only something could be done to fix the horrible street conditions on Ruston Way. A driver could get sea sick, especially driving north, on that roadway. And since the last I saw its repair isn’t even on the six-year plan for streets, there won’t be any grant funds to help pay the millions it will take to improve that failing roadway. That’s pretty short-sighted.
D Dan October 25, 2012
Rob, I agree completely. The road is in terrible condition and in many places has deteriorated beyond the point where standard maintenance can help it. The thing is, because the storm drianage likely dumps directly into the bay without treament in most places, I’d be willing to bet it would be eligble for all kind of inovative stormwater/ clean up Puject Sound type of grants.
R Rob October 26, 2012
Dan, you may be right that there are alternate funding mechanisms that could be used to help repair Ruston Way. But as long as that failing roadway isn’t in the six-year transportation plan, it cannot receive any grant funding. And, of course, grants require that the local government provides some kind of matching dollars. Those dollars don’t exist.
T T-TownTiffany October 27, 2012
I am very exited about opening up Ruston Way. I’ll miss the relative solitude of walking past the now “popular” part of it, but I can’t wait to see the community vitatlity that adding additional interest at the oft neglected part of the route will bring.