Exit133

November 4, 2013 · Exit133

On the Market: Street Operations/Old City Stables Buildings

We've always thought that the old stable buildings in the Brewery District were completely underutilized as City property (sorry Streets Operations), but now you could have the chance to help bring it to its full potential.

The City of Tacoma is accepting sealed bids on any or all of three properties in the Brewery District including the stables.

2324 South C Street – “Administrative Building"

  • Two story industrial building constructed in 1908. Wood and concrete frame structure.
  • Site: 13,715 square feet. Building: 27,340 square feet.
  • Purchased in 1891 from Tacoma Land Company. Public Works’ Horse stables and barn built in 1908.
  • Market Value: Estimated at $650,000

2308 Holgate – “Maintenance Building"

  • Two-story steel, concrete, and wood frame building constructed in 1900.
  • Acquired by City in 1920’s. 
  • Concrete masonry unit addition in 1949. Roof and east façade repaired in 2012.
  • Site: 21,552 square feet. Building: 28,500 square feet.
  • Market Value: Estimated at $850,000

2335 Jefferson Avenue – “Yard.” 

  • Acquired by City in 1945.
  • Site: 68,095 square feet. Building: Two small wood-frame out-buildings.
  • Market Value: Estimated at $900,000

All three sites are zoned Warehouse Residential, which allows residential, office, retail, and industrial uses - which leaves open a lot of possibilities for potential development. 

Proposals must meet the minimum bid to be considered; those bids will be evaluated by the selection committee and scored against evaluation criteria, based on purchase price offered, proposal feasibility, and alignment with community development goals for the area.

The City's goal is to sell the properties for development that will "catalyze the revitalization of the Brewery District and South Downtown." The various plans and goals associated with the neighborhood mean the selection committee will be looking at proposals for alignment with numerous goals. 

  • South Downtown Subarea Plan key elements
  • Brewery District Study goals
  • Density goals for the yard
  • Adaptive reuse of the historic buildings
  • Fit with Prairie Line Trail plans
  • Alignment with Hillside Development Council vision for the neighborhood
  • Support and complement to the UWT Campus and surrounding businesses
  • Contextual appropriateness of the design to the Brewery District
  • Sustainability goals
  • How well plans provide either a contiguous development for all three properties or maximize potential synergies between the three separatel

The initial proposal due date is November 26, but the solicitation will remain open until the City has recommendations for award of all properties. See the Request for Proposals (pdf) for additonal information.

So, who's looking for a project?

Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Neighborhoods, City Projects, South Downtown Planning, On the Market, Brewery District, Brewery District Development

5 comments

  • Jesse November 4, 2013

    Yay! With the acreage at 21st and Jefferson, that's like nine acres in all? Imagine if someone (developer) worthwhile gets it all! Mall? Mixed use? Wow...

  • Erik B. November 4, 2013

    Great development. Lets get these buildings on the tax rolls and get some life into this dead above downtown.

  • Sarah November 4, 2013

    I've always loved the Stables building and it has an interesting history (per the Historic Property Inventory): In 1910, the City of Tacoma relocated its shops and stable from the corner of South 23rd and Winthrop Streets to this location. The building originally housed the Department of Public Works' horses, as well as seven separate trades related to streets and other city services. The stables were located on the second floor, with access provided by a ramp running off of Holgate Street. The city shops occupied most of the ground floor. The offices of the street department were also located on the ground floor. A blacksmith shop operated in the building, as did a wagon-making shop. All city vehicles were painted here, and the street sweeping equipment was manufactured in the shops. Fire hoses were patched and repaired in the building and the corporation coupling used to connect the street water main with a private house was also manufactured here.

    • Jenny J November 6, 2013

      That's pretty neat - thanks for sharing. It would be great if whatever goes in could honor the history in some way - old pictures or design elements that reference the work that was done there (black smithing, fire hoses, etc).

  • Susanne Marten November 10, 2013

    I also think that the Stables building has many possibilities. One would be a year round Farmer's Market and specialty businesses--comparable to the shops that surround Seattle's Pike Street market.