Exit133

June 18, 2013 · Exit133

On The Market: Tacoma's Premier Development Site

​The biggest block of City-owned property in downtown is finally on the market.

Today the City of Tacoma released a Request For Proposals for the 7-ish acre/block site that has been sitting vacant for more than a decade. When the City inventoried its properties last year, this site came up as a “Tier 1” property - among those with the highest development value for the City.

The RFP calls the land “Tacoma’s Premiere Development Site.”

TACOMA’S PREMIER DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL OR OFFICE CAMPUS SITE…SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF MT. RAINIER AND PUGET SOUND…WITHIN A 5-MINUTE WALK TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA, THE MUSEUM DISTRICT AND THE FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM…WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF STATE FARM MUTUAL INSURANCE’S NEW REGIONAL CLAIMS CENTER (2,000+ NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT)… TACOMA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY!

One of these days we might actually be nostalgic about all this open space.

One of these days we might actually be nostalgic 
about all this open space.

The City is in the process of getting out of the property-owning game, and getting its properties back on the tax rolls. The recent announcement that State Farm would be moving offices to Tacoma seems to have been the confidence boost the City needed to offer this gem of a property - the coming of State Farm plays a prominent role in the argument for investing in downtown Tacoma now.

The RFP insists on a price at or above Fair Market Value; bids below that will not be considered. Unlike some of the library buildings we’ve seen come up for sale recently, there is no credit awarded for community-orieted uses - the developer will be selected based on offer price, developer experience and capacity, and the development proposed. This last will need to be consistent with the vision for this area as outlined in the Draft South Downtown Subarea Plan. 

The City originally acquired the property, cobbled together out of 34 separate properties, to build Tacoma police headquarters. That plan didn’t happen, but the City was left with a pretty large chunk of downtown property investment. Proposals can be made for either one or both of the parcels, which fall within Warehouse/Residential zoning. The RFP states that the property should be developed for market rate high density residential, mixed use, or office campus.

Developers have two months to submit bids, and the City could be entering into contract negotiations by October 1 of this year.

The City is looking for “High quality projects that contribute to the area’s vitality.” So, what would you want to see on such a large block of downtown property?

Spotted on the TNT.

9 comments

  • Erik B. June 18, 2013

    Finally, finally, finally. Kudos to the City of Tacoma for placing these parcels on the market. By hoarding great swaths of land in downtown, the City of Tacoma has caused much of the blight and vacancy in downtown. Hopefully, some high density market rate affordable housing can be built for students at UWT to feed some of the retail on Pacific Ave.

  • ty jones June 18, 2013

    How about a multi- story "shopping center" with movie theater and possible office space. Just an idea. I realize we have the mall but having options is also nice.

  • fred davie June 18, 2013

    These parcels are perfect for a large social services facility where we could bring in a lot of the folks in the area that are having problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness, depression, unemployment, Plenty of room on the site for those who wish to erect tents or tarps for temporary housing.

  • Downtown Observer June 18, 2013

    Fred, I sense that your post is not serious, but in fact that block appears to have one of the highest concentrations of registered sex offenders outside Anderson Island. See the following link (you have to scroll down a little): http://www.homefacts.com/realestatearea/offenders/Washington/Pierce-County/Tacoma/2300-South-Fawcett-Avenue.html I wonder if anyone has recognized this in the discussions over possible uses of the site.

  • Jesse June 18, 2013

    Is this the place? Is now the time? Weyerhaeuser has 480 acres in Federal Way to partition into business parks or a brand new Quadrant Homes (Weyerhaeuser owned) neighborhood. Profits from selling the house lots alone could buy a new headquarters in Tacoma... and the housing market is starting to pick up again. Great idea and article below. Time to revisit this? City of Tacoma, go ask them what they'd need from you to move home. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2008/05/11/v-printerfriendly/357574/weyerhaeuser-should-tap-into-its.html

  • Downtown Observer June 18, 2013

    I should have said, "That block or the one adjoining it." The site discussed for development is bounded by 23rd and Fawcett, but I'm not sure if it is exactly the 2300 block.. If you add the 2500 block of Fawcett, there are a lot more.

  • Xeno June 19, 2013

    Has UWT written all over it.

  • kristy suydam June 19, 2013

    right now that piece of road Fawcett and 23rd is a homeless camp at night time, the road is lined with people sleeping in their cars...so development would be a good thing!

  • Jesse June 22, 2013

    Here's a link to the folks that created the Pearl District in Portland out of rail yards and warehouses. They helped get streetcar off the ground in Portland as well. Capable visionaries with deep pockets. http://www.hoytliving.com/index.html