Imagine Tacoma - Tear It Down! Part 1
The New York Times last week asked its readers whether there are buildings so unattractive, out-of-context, inappropriately situated or just ungainly that they should be demolished? Nicolai Ouroussoff’s provocative article then goes on to list his personal choices in New York City. Read it. I recommend it.
Imagine Tacoma asks “So which building would you knock down in Tacoma and why?” Using Ouroussoff’s guidelines for consideration – not mere aesthetics, a building must either exhibit a total disregard for their surrounding context or destroy a beloved vista – and removing them would make room for new imaginative possibilities.
My selection has been deposited in a sealed manila envelope and delivered to Exit133 for publication next week.
So – which building do you want brought down and what’s your justification for such a selection?
Filed under: Imagine Tacoma
51 comments
T TheGulag October 2, 2008
The Convention Center. Actually, it should be towed; its blocking the street.
R Rick October 2, 2008
The Marriott – it just doesn’t fit and its blocking the Convention Center…. sorry Gulag….
C Claudia Riedener October 2, 2008
The Detention Center, no doubt. And then the jail. Everything else might no be perfect, but I can live with it.
C crenshaw sepulveda October 2, 2008
Thank you, Claudia, I don’t need any tile but for a comment so close to my heart I just might buy some from you.
M Mofo from the Hood October 2, 2008
No Brainer and it’s a twofer.
• IL DUETTO IMPLOSION •
Park Plaza North et Park Plaza South.
W WesS October 2, 2008
Kilworth Chapel at UPS. A rectangular box of no particular character and lousy seating.
Also, the WW2 barracks hauled there as temporary structures in the 1950’s, and still housing the OT department and the maintenance services.
K Kevin Phelps October 2, 2008
Mofo – I would hold off suggesting to implode the South Park Garage. I have seen the plans for the current renovation and what they are doing to that monstrocity is quite remarkable. Plus, it will be a L.E.E.D.S building, probably silver or gold. The final product should be a plus for downtown in that it will bring class A office space and add additional parking stalls.
J Jesse October 2, 2008
Park Plaza North, the Tacoma Mall, USA of Yesterday (what a great location!), the Jail, some of the low income stuff downtown (renovate and rerent it!) and all Bail Bonds joints in town.
J Jake October 2, 2008
The block just north of Park Plaza South: The ugly cement building, the MBA/Ticor building, The ugly garage, and the WaMu building! Oh and while they are at it South Park still has time to be demolished so we can get something a bit taller (zoning allows 400’) in there!
R RR Anderson October 2, 2008
I would like to see the Mecca condo building plowed back into the earth… and from the smoldering ruins of that building I would like to see erected an ADULT THEATRE built to spec from vintage Buick dealership plans.
I would like to see the one tower of the winthrop hotel demolished and then painstakingly reconstructed on the other side where the second winthrop hotel tower was never realized.
Next I would destroy the current St. Joseph Hospital and build a larger, wobblier and rounder-windowed version built which is more on par with the lousy modern architecture of today’s standards… perhaps in the shape of an octopus made of titanium, with tungsten-carbide window frames paying special attention to assure that every window leaked and that snow and Ice would fall off the roof and kill sick people and pregnant women on the sidewalk or near entrances.
M morgan October 2, 2008
I 3rd the jail, 4th the Park Plaza North parking garage – and most of the schlock built in the 60s and 70s.
S snoopy October 2, 2008
Marriott. The sidewalk level design seems to blend, but the stucko siding and vents below the windows are aesthetically horrible.
The Jack n the box and the Pierce County Fleet Services buildings on Pacific / S 25th should also be removed.
A amy October 2, 2008
Jefferson Elementary School. It looks like a prison on a huge piece of barren land that is mostly unused by the children. I would like to see something beautiful, in the style of historic architecture in its place, possibly in the style of the University of Puget Sound. I would also like to see the Mason Loop trail continued in the place of the pointless bark and shrubbery on Mason St. A patch of native trees would also be nice somewhere on the grounds.
G gigi October 2, 2008
i would take down that grey lawyer’s office building on ruston way that blocks the water view. I think we need to stop building businesses on pilings to block the public’s view of the sound. also, i’d tear down the smelter. and renovate the dome, it’s really dull looking.
E Erik B. October 2, 2008
So – which building do you want brought down and what’s your justification for such a selection?
Without a doubt the blightful deadness inducing Park Plaza North Parking Garage:
R RR Anderson October 2, 2008
nice pictures thorax
D drizell October 2, 2008
I second your sentiment about TRA’s parking garage next to Midtown Lofts, Thorax. It makes you wonder if it’s all worthwhile to have TRA move downtown if they’re going to turn everything in sight into a parking garage. The historic auditorium to the south of the Ford Building: ugly parking garage. Now this. The architect’s early renderings showed a three- or four-story mixed use building there.
I’m very disappointed that TRA Medical Imaging could be allowed to desecrate downtown like this.
Many people would agree with the above statement. Now it’s time to have some fun and start some controversy. I think every home on a state or national historic register should be torn down and replaced with big condominiums!
T Thorax O'Tool October 2, 2008
“think every home on a state or national historic register should be torn down and replaced with big condominiums!“
Only if I can get one of those 500’ towers to myself. I mean, it’s not like they can sell condos anymore.
Man, the ladies would be lining up at my place.
“Yeah, baby. Like the condo tower? I own the whole thing. Yeah, that’s right… the 47th floor is one big hot tub. Go ahead and bring your 18 hot friends…”
Ok… I know, dream on.
But would something clean, tall and not built in 1970 be too much to ask for? Would something other than a parking garage be too much for our fair city?
I’d love to see the empty hole where Greyhound used to be replaced with something like this.
T Thorax O'Tool October 2, 2008
“nice pictures thorax“
Thanks! You should see some of the ones I have… I make Tacoma look good!
And yes, I have more and even better pictures than just the sample below…
M marty October 2, 2008
Although these aren’t buildings, I would like to see those grain elevator looking structures on Ruston Way gone as well as those fuel holding drums on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway.
M MonkeyBob October 2, 2008
I would tear down each and every quick cash lending place on 6th ave. In their place I would put a tombstone that read, “RIP your credit”
R Rob October 2, 2008
Tacoma Dome!
Wow, I’m the first person to say “tear it down!” It’s the first thing people see when they come into town. I just moved to Tacoma from Seattle, but I’m originally from Portland. Coming from Portland, my impression of Tacoma was never the smell (mostly people in Seattle joke about that one). What people outside of Seattle first see is the butt-ugly dome! :-)
I mean, yahoo that it brings much-needed revenue to the city coffers, but since you asked, “The Dome is Ugly!”
F Flyin' V October 2, 2008
Demo everything on Tacoma Ave., from McDonalds to Holy Rosary, except for the handful of restored turn of the century buildings and the library — including the County-City building. What a mish-mash of buildings with great views.
I also echo Park Plaza North (the last remaining set decoration from The Planet of the Apes movie set), and WAMU, Ticor, and that above ground bomb shelter / bunker building just North of Park Plaza South.
T Thorax O'Tool October 2, 2008
The “New” Labor Ready building. Not bad height (I guess) but it looks really ugly.
Well, maybe it can be spared. Just put new cladding on it… so for 1/4 the cost of a new building, we can something that doesn’t look like a failed 70s experiment
Also, let’s not forget the awkward, and too-short building over on A street by Fireman’s Park. It’s the one with the Bank of America in it. That one has to go!
Do I even need to mention the parking garage across from Labor Ready?
The A Street stretch could be good and dense, but we let it fail.
You can see the “New” Labor Ready bldg to the right of Russell, and the BofA bldg to the left of Russell in the far back
T Thorax O'Tool October 2, 2008
——————————————————————-
Hey, after this is done, can we have a post on T-Town buildings we like?
I’d love a post like that.
N NSHDscott October 2, 2008
I suppose my real #1 is North Park Place, but too many people have already taken that one. Too obvious.
So I turn my vote to a neighborhood not included in anyone else’s comments: the 6th Ave hotspot. I hate the dirty aluminum-sided box that houses House of Records on the ground story and some Fraternal Order of Random Animal upstairs. It’s across the street from Shakabrah.
Even better, tear down that building and the corner building holding Affordable Animal Hospital and other crappy offices and build an as-attractive-as-possible parking garage there. Parking garage?! you say? Yes, because then we can get rid of the limited on-street parking to beautify the area and make room for a streetcar line! Maybe a streetcar stop can be right there on that parking garage corner, it’s pretty central to that district.
J jessica spring October 2, 2008
Keep the dome, but paint Warhol’s flower on it.
Tear down the Mall and replace it with a farm—one that has a huge corn maze.
R RR Anderson October 3, 2008
turn this into a grocery store! A magnificent phallic grocery store.
T Thorax O'Tool October 3, 2008
I thought we were more mature than that…
But as long as we’re going there, look at the dealership from like the 6th floor of the Walker.
Those two bulbed-out areas in front really make that building look inappropriate from a few stories up…
T Thorax O'Tool October 3, 2008
Hey, Exit 133 crew…
How do I start a thread? We really need a “Buildings you like” thread.
After all the negative stuff lately, something positive would be nice.
T TacomAroma October 3, 2008
SAVE THE “UGLY” BUILDINGS!!! They add to the patina of our fair city! Eventually the useful buildings will survive and be reused and the poorly designed ones will fall to the wreaking ball. Instead, we should tear down all the billboards that currently jockey for attention along I-5 just outside of Tacoma. Maybe we could replace them with really tall trees…
M michael g. October 3, 2008
I’m with whoever suggested tearing down that purplish-orangish glass building by the Hotel Murano. It would be a good backdrop for a 1980s movie though.
I also agree that the Tacoma Dome is not a real asset — I’d trade it for a new minor league ballpark in that location if building one on the tideflats isn’t in the cards.
But the first things I’d like to see removed, though they’re not buildings, are all the hideous video billboards on I-5 — especially the new one advertising EQC. Maybe they’re the Puyallup Tribe’s revenge for industrial interests destroying the ecological function of the Puyallup River estuary, but the blinding billboards sure don’t help Tacoma’s image (or safety on I-5). Expanding on that, it wouldn’t hurt to tear down Fife and start over…
D David Boe October 3, 2008
Aesthetic judgements of buildings slips into a ‘style’ appreciation discussion – and the passage of time may significantly change opinions (the Northern Pacific Building, Swiss Hall and old Bon Marche were once considered to have no redeeming value and better suited as bulldozer bait). What is more compelling to consider are buildings that actually suck a part of your soul when they are viewed AND/OR their location is actually offensive and destroys a vista or defiles a sacred space.
K Ken October 3, 2008
What would I blow up? Condos in Ruston – particularly on the hillside. The Condos being built down below on the reclaimed toxic site should also be removed. The issue I have is scale and fit. They overwhealm the surroundings, and their character is out of place.
S Squid October 3, 2008
I can’t say I disagree with any of the above, but I’ll add a soul-sucking vote for the Rainier Pacific headquarters.
H hotttie mcpottie October 3, 2008
I gotta second the “save the ugly buildings” comment.
It is the variety and flavor of the city – I personally LOVE the quirkeyness of the USA of Yesterday bldg AND the short glassy one!
one man’s trash…
B Brad October 4, 2008
I hope I was reading wrongly, and the people who mentioned tearing down the “old jail” do not mean the one on pacific across from the Old City Hall building. :( Those are the two best buildings in the city, especially the old jail. And the old Buick dealership? Are you joking? The guy who owns it now may be a scumbag but the building itself is great. They’ve already ruined pacific avenue south of Union Station…quit knocking over old buildings!
As for things to tear down, tear down some of the crappy stuff from the 80’s and 90’s and 00’s, like the sheraton, the convention center (seriously tacoma, wtf) and the hideous eyesore hotel they put on the waterfront.
Worst of all: that development on North 49th and Baltimore where the weather station used to be. What a horrible ugly mess. How did that ever get approved and pass water view restrictions?
B Brad October 4, 2008
I forgot to mention another of the worst eyesores in the city: the museum of glass! The building is a combination of soviet style menace architecture and the “artwork” (blue garbage bags) on the bridge over the downtown spur are even worse!
B Bryan October 4, 2008
Whoa Brad, lay off the MOG.
My three “worst buildings to happen to Tacoma” are:
1. The Pacific Tower Building (condos on Pacific on the hill above I-5)
2. the building at the corner of K and Division (mainly because of what used to be there – The Bavarian)
3. the new Stadium H.S. Performing Arts Center (great facility, but it completely blocked the view of the best building in town).
I’m glad no one has said the Multicare Boiler Facility – that’s turning into one of my favorite new buildings in the past five years.
R RR Anderson October 4, 2008
Hey throax, why don’t you poke on over to Feed Tacoma and set up your own Architecture Photo blog? You could be our David Boe!
And hey can you email me a picture of the Buick Dealership from the inappropriate angle? I’ll trade you something for it… or pay you in HFW Pennies(1 HFW penny = $2 USD).
T Thorax O'Tool October 4, 2008
I don’t have any pics of it from up high. Years ago, an ex of mine lived there. Needless to say, no pictures survived.
BUT I may be able to get in there for a condo tour or something on my next day off… I’ll see what I can do… stay tuned!
I just might set up an arch blog on FeedTac. We’ll see how motivated about that I feel after work…
D Derek staff October 4, 2008
We really need a “Buildings you like” thread.
We’ll get something going here shortly.
L laura Hanan October 4, 2008
The Bank of America concrete and view obstructing monolith would not be missed.
I agree about the Chihuly blue sculpture over the freeway. I kept waiting for them to pull of the blue plastic so I could see the art…then I realized sadly it was the art ;-(
M morgan October 6, 2008
David, you have obviously hit a nerve. I guess the question now is: who has a sledge hammer?
S Squid October 6, 2008
MoG looks great from the deck at Johnny’s Dock, but horrible from the city side. The building turns it’s back on the city in favor of a waterfront entry. Interesting idea, but failure in practice. The cone is a redeeming feature, but overall a mish-mash that made no effort to complement Albers Mill. In fact, it expresses contempt for the Mill.
Re: the blue Chihuly ice cubes, one can argue its artistic merits, but that it is also aging poorly in the elements is a simple fact. Dingy. The rest of the Bridge O’Glass I like.
J J. Cote October 7, 2008
Tear down the following: (most are repeats) Build more Parks and Community Gardens in place of these.
1.The new Convention Center and the stump of a Hotel in front of it. (Make Tollefson Park an actual park!
2. PC Jail, Old and New. Hell, we can’t afford to fill it!
3. Tacoma Mall. Who can afford to shop, anyway, or pay for the gas to get there? And while we’re in the Neighborhood…
4. That dumb-looking LegoLand on the hill above the Mall. Because they can see the Cascades and Mt. Tahoma, they can sell them for half a Million each??? Next good-sized quake they’ll slide down into the new Nordstrom’s anyway.
5. Any former warehouse downtown that now contains more than 50% Condos and no decent restaurant.
6. ANY building East of Pacific Avenue that was constructed to be used only to house confused yuppy puppies in a Lego type fashion (OK, “Waterfront Condos”) Get a lawn and plant a garden for Chrissake!
7. That stupid looking “fish hook attached to the Hotel Sheraton. Who’s idea was THAT??
8. Tacoma Dome. Let’s build the largest Truck Stop in the Northwest and sell JUST BIODIESEL. The smell of doughnuts would be heavenly as the Big-rigs chug up the hill. Visualize a more FRAGRANT Tacoma!!
Finally… Wilson High School. They could have saved a couple of the 120 Million that they threw at Stadium and actually built something that fits into the neighborhood. Hell, the Jail looks less like a prison than this High School. Who was in on the planning for this, Moe Larry or Curley Joe???
S SubBro October 7, 2008
Tacoma Dome…make more room for the LeMay Museum so we can see his ENTIRE collection. Also…CLEAN UP THE LUZON!
T Twofivethreezy October 8, 2008
I’m actually not a fan of the new Wilson High School. I can’t figure out why the trend among architects is to recycle correctional institution site plans and gussy them up with personalityless concrete plazas & landscaping and call it a high school.
M Mofo from the Hood October 8, 2008
I’ve gotta take a stand with 47 & 49 about Wilson High School. As an alum I should’ve mentioned that first. I guess the state of the current campus traumatized me so much that until now I’ve been unable to talk about it.
The campus layout and mix of building design styles is downright disorienting. When I drive or ride my bike past the place I force myself to keep my eyes on the road. What’s the deal with building trend (all over town too) of using metal cladding that looks like railroad boxcar walls? That campus is so awful looking that seagulls won’t even fly over it anymore on their way to the dump.
At least I can still look at my yearbook photos of the original campus.
M Mofo from the Hood October 8, 2008
Oh yeah, and speaking of dismantling school day memories, I want justice for the demolition of my first school. I’d like to see the old Jefferson Elementary rebuilt to specs including restoration of the slopes which included a dramatic ascent into the main entrance.
S Squid October 8, 2008
“That campus is so awful lookin that seagulls won’t even fly over it”.
My nomination for Post of the Week! I’m parking my car at Wilson from now on.