Murano to Purchase Bicentennial Pavilion
The TNT is reporting this morning that Provenance Hotels, the owner of the Hotel Murano, has reached an agreement with the City to purchase the Bicentennial Pavilion for $2.24 million. The building – the “Coast’s sole Bicentennial building” and our original Tacoma Convention Center – is situated immediately up hill of the Murano and is already managed by the hotel. The deal is a bit more complicated as the building has unexpired US Dept. of Commerce covenants attached to it from when it was built in 1976. It’s not exactly our most iconic downtown structure. Anybody want to re:vision the Bicentennial Pavilion?
Link to The News Tribune
Previously on Exit133: Tacoma City Council Meeting Nov 10th, 2009
Filed under: tacoma-business, dowtown-tacoma
17 comments
E Erik B. November 11, 2009
I think the Bicentennial Pavilion is the grey ugly cement structure which used to be some sort of mini convention center at one time.
The Murano folks can have it and hopefully fix it up.
P pegsterdtown November 11, 2009
I think it would be excellent to see this building fixed up. It would be an excellent option for conference rooms, meetings etc. I like the concept of refurbishing buildings instead of letting them become delapatated.
J Jake November 11, 2009
Wasn’t purchasing the pavilion part of the Murano’s plan to build another tower someday?
A Altered Chords November 11, 2009
While making our way to the Luzon demolition, we cut through the pavilion and saw an interesting fountain-like structure that appeared to be filled with stagnant, foul, nasty, bacteria laden water.
Perhaps this will be cleaned and once again flowing with fresh, clean water.
T Thorax O'Tool November 11, 2009
Within a 3 square mile area we have:
The Bicentennial Pavilion,
The Greater Tacoma Trade and Convention Center,
The Tacoma Dome Convention Center.
Anyone think that maybe the reason why we have low usage of the new convention center is because we have a LOT of available convention space?
C crenshaw sepulveda November 11, 2009
I hope at least they have fixed the leaky roof by now.
R RR Anderson November 11, 2009
Derek, are you using re:vision instead of re IMAGINE because of copyright™ issues?
Y You're Welcome November 11, 2009
@5. I don’t think the Bicentennial Pavilion is competition to the Convention Center. The BP is a crappy place to do a gig and the companies that rent out a place the BP are never going to consider the new Convention Center.
Though the Bicentennial Pavilion might be competition to the Temple Theater.
6 6ther November 11, 2009
If only the new convention center could be converted into a downtown shopping center… then that stupid train would actually serve a purpose.
A Altered Chords November 12, 2009
The train serves a purpose. It carries around a security guard all day.
M Mofo from the Hood November 12, 2009
To be polite, the Bicentennial Pavilion has an understated elegance.
However, when you put this 1976 structure in the context of the 1979 shadowlike photo collection called “Tacoma Then and Now,” it should be noted that the Pavilion was a bright pointer to Tacoma’s future downtown redevelopment theme of contemporary design.
T TacomaThinker November 12, 2009
I like this building. It seems somehow very Tacoma-ish. Gritty, strong, and not trying to be a Seattle building. I have not been inside but by the looks of the extensive glass on the roof, it’s probably surprisingly impressive…
@9 the “train” serves a great purpose, I use it all the time. Besides, it’s a step toward a bigger goal.
R Rick Jones November 12, 2009
Jake @ 3 – I believe the second tower for the Sheraton was going to be adjacent to the “Needle” south of the existing hotel. (Remember the Needle?).
J just a tacoma girl November 13, 2009
I agree with Your Welcome. I have the pleasure (?) of planning and executing events in that space. It is dreadful. We have events there simply b/c we can’t afford the Convention Center (you should see the ridiculous nickle and diming that goes on there).
The corridor from the doors to the main event space is too long and completely bleak.
It is hard for people to figure out how to enter the building. The hotel staff doesn’t always do a good job at helping people who come in through the hotel (while the Murano didn’t own the building their staff/catering handle the events and clients that use the building).
And then there’s the space itself with the horrible yellow walls (poorly painted), gray and blue carpet, crappy sound system…ugh all around.
T Tacoma (A)roma November 13, 2009
The company I work for holds our annual holiday party there every year. There’s always a bar so even after several years here I still cant remember enough to describe what it looks like inside . Maybe that’s a good thing.
J Jesse November 13, 2009
Never been there. I have noticed it driving around and always wondered why there aren’t any (or hardly any)windows on the street side. If you could see into it, it might be more inviting.
S Squid November 14, 2009
I’m tired of always “not being like Seattle.” Can we be at least a little bit like Seattle once in awhile?