No Deal on Luzon
The News Tribune reported yesterday that last week’s excitement over a potential new suitor for the Luzon has come back to Earth. The developers have been unable to come to an agreement on the sale of the building. Who’s next? Any ideas?
Time is running out.
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: General
20 comments
J Jenyum August 20, 2009
If it has to come down, just please no parking lot. Or worst yet, another hole with a fence around it.
Is the Children’s Museum still considering moving to their own space? Would the city at this point be open to preserving less of the original building (and the accompanying expense) if it means finding someone who will at least put the lot to good use and prevent another gaping hole in downtown?
J Jenyum August 20, 2009
I posted this comment before but it disappeared. Apologies if it reappears.
If it has to come down, just please no parking lot. Or worst yet, another hole with a fence around it.
Is the Children’s Museum still considering moving to their own space? Would the city at this point be open to preserving less of the original building (and the accompanying expense) if it means finding someone who will at least put the lot to good use and prevent another gaping hole in downtown?
T T-town August 20, 2009
Nice doing Gintz! Remember when they said they’d make a picture frame out of the Buddleia growing in the brick wall? Now we do get the picture: greed. We really need laws to protect common cultural good over financial interest of developers. There are plenty of empty abandoned spaces to made money off. Willfully letting the Luzon go to hell is a crime in my eyes. Shame on you!
R RR Anderson August 20, 2009
how about we lock all luzon players into the basement of the luzon meanwhile ever citizen of tacoma can pray for rain.
C crenshaw sepulveda August 20, 2009
I think the only alternative for the Gintz Group is Chapter 7. If they move quickly maybe someone can pick up the Luzon at a bargain price and save the building. I suspect the Luzon isn’t the only problem on Gintz’s ledger.
S spider August 20, 2009
Just tear the damn thing down already. Who really cares. So what if you get to look at an old building with offices in it. Time to MOVE ON.
M Mofo from the Hood August 20, 2009
There’s no way that the Luzon will be restored or torn down.
Now that 13th ST has finally been closed…
That’s right.
While everyone was focused on the Luzon, the real agenda—-closing 13th ST—-was accomplished.
T The Fish August 20, 2009
Just wondering if anyone involved has reached out to folks back east. Burham and Root were indeed very famous Chicago architects, I wonder if anyone in the historic preservation circles there might have ideas or interested parties. Do they even know a building built by two of their finest and most famed architects is about to be torn down? Seems like there must be a Chicago interest in keeping the Luzon intact.
I do believe the city needs to set a firm deadline for disposition of the building, one way or the other. How would you feel if you Absher Construction and had just poured $10+ million into remaking the awful south parking garage into a very cool Pacific Plaza, only to have the Luzon threatening to crash into the south side of the building.
A altered Chords August 20, 2009
T-town: Gintz group is not the party who “willfully let the Luzon go to hell”
The prior owner is the one who let it go to hell.
It is ludicrous to condemn a developer who has attempted to revive the building because they can not obtain financing.
I do not think it is useful to “pile on” the Gintz group because this project seems to be a failure.
If every developer were afaid to step up to the plate and swing the bat for fear of missing the ball, Tacoma residents would be cave dwellers and tree dwellers.
T tacoma1 August 20, 2009
Is anyone really surprised? I’d love to see that place saved, but no has shown that place any love for a long long time.
R Richard August 20, 2009
+1 Mofo!
Everyone just received a free civics lesson on the “T-Town process.”
Live or die, the Luzon has zero impact on the future of Tacoma.
Not building any class A office space in downtown has a huge impact on the future of Tacoma.
T tacomatoes August 20, 2009
I have to agree with altered chords in that the current owner is not the one to throw under the bus. It takes many decades of neglect by both the city and owner to produce such a dilapitated landmark. It is notable for Tacoma, however, to have a tree growing out of the side of a building. I’m sure there is a cartoon lurking somewhere that may end as the Frost Park Chalk Challenge winner….
P P August 20, 2009
It takes many decades of neglect by both the city and owner to produce such a dilapitated landmark.
Didn’t Pierce County own the building, and willfully neglect it, for like 15 years?
T T-town August 20, 2009
altered chords:
They owned it for plenty time to at least remove the brush from the brick and cover the frigging roof. They paid 80 and now they want 400. Do you believe they put in over 300 in ‘historic research’? Or is the lot indeed way more worth without the Luzon the G-group’s eyes? I am just saying, if they are in for the quick buck, let them buy an empty lot and fill it up. And if not for the money, what other reason to they have to not let someone else take care of the building? Nobody says they should loose money; but let them rather see the building collapse? Shameful! Should Russell leave Tacoma, will Gintz take a lesser deal?
Will we ever learn what happens to a down-town corridor if we let history and a sense of place be wiped out by hopes momentary dollar gain? Community and a town worth living in outweigh shortsighted development.
J Jesse August 20, 2009
There are no other old buildings in this area and the Luzon sits in a PRIME spot.
Not that this justifies anything but… there were many BETTER buildings either demolished or burnt down (and not rebuilt) in Tacoma. The Luzon, to me, isn’t SO unique that it’s worth this degree of fuss. I mean, imaging Hotel Tacoma rebuilt or the Pierce County Courthouse saved or the Music Box Theatre, or the… or the… or the… Maybe we’ll be saying these things about the Luzon in 50 years? I dunno. To me, it’s not such a unique building as the latter.
Y You're Welcome August 21, 2009
I’m glad Rome doesn’t think like Tacoma.
T Thorax O'Tool August 24, 2009
Fix it or nuke it, we need some action here or one morning the Luzon will be all over 13th, Commerce & Pac Ave. It would not be cool to find $2 Million in damages to Pac Plaza just as it opens.
I just don’t want to see a parking lot in the Luzon’s footprint for the next 18 years.
Nor do I want to see a 4 story box (like the reflective one behind it on Commerce) in it’s spot.
I know the economy is in the sh*tter right now, but for the love of Pete, can’t someone just do something already?
A altered Chords August 24, 2009
Who is this Pete. And why can’t Pete fix this building?
P Princess Adora August 24, 2009
Pete’s my dad’s name! But he couldn’t fix anything if his life depended on it.
S Scott August 25, 2009
You’re Welcome –
If you’ve ever been to Rome, you’ll know it’s not the greatest analogy to use in this case. There are countless hundreds of ancient landmarks in that city collecting graffiti, garbage and soot, and falling into rapid ruin – just because they’re not as popular with the tourists.
The Luzon is no Saint Peter’s Basilica, but it’s no worse off than the Mausoleo di Augusto.