Exit133

January 6, 2014 · Exit133

Plans for The Proctor Move Forward

The discussion around a new mixed-use development for the Proctor District got a little more real last week with an application submitted to the City for permits for a six-story development at North 28th and Proctor.

The applicant proposes construction of a six-story mixed-use building of approximately 200,000 square feet with approximately 147-150 residential units, 12,000 square feet of commercial/retail on 6 parcels including vacated air rights. 175 on-site parking stalls and 18 off-site parking stalls are proposed. Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of cut and fill is proposed. The site is zoned “NCX” Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use District. ...

Draft documents included in the application show the development taking up the full northern half of the 2700 block of North Proctor, including the small shopping complex and parking lot at the corner of 28th, and four residential properties across from Mason Middle school.

Another page shows a central parking area surrounded by retail units facing Proctor, with residential "loft units" facing 28th Street.

A final image that might be of interest shows a preliminary "conceptual site plan" with what looks like a nice little interior courtyard, and some street-facing patio and landscaping spaces.

All of this comes ahead of the January 16 public hearing on the proposed vacation of air rights to allow the development to span the right-of-way over the alley, while keeping it open to traffic at ground level.

The plans are, of course, subject to change, but what do you think? Is Proctor ready for this?

Read more previously from Exit133 on The Proctor.

Filed under: Neighborhoods, Proctor, Developments, Proctor Station

12 comments

  • Erik B January 6, 2014

    Some of the few non-subsidized housing being built in Tacoma. Looking forward to a surface level muddy parking lot being filled with a continuous retail storefront repairing some of the urban fabric in Proctor.

  • James January 6, 2014

    Any links to the application or more information on when/where the public hearing will be held? While I'm supportive of this project overall, the vacation of air rights over the alley concerns me. A 1/2 block footprint is big enough for one building. I can see how the skybridge is going to help the developer utilize the small parcel parking lot south of the alley, without having to build an elevator and lobby on both sides of the alley. But skybridges are not conducive to maintaining the historic and neighborhood scale of the Proctor District. No matter what the Architect does to "break up the massing of the building", this building is going to be HUGE!

    • NameSusanne Marten January 7, 2014

      "this building is going to be HUGE!" --yes it is! The six story edge to edge design sited within the center of the Proctor Business District is not "best practice" for creating density--feathering height out from the core is what should occur.

  • Fred Davie January 6, 2014

    The only problem I see is that the spacing for the street trees doesn't conform with the rest of the neighborhood per the 1992 design. The spacing is supposed to be about 40 ft. between trees not the 80 feet shown in the illustration. The council is supposed to be turning the city into an urban forest so I'm not sure why they would permit the landscaping to be any less stringent.

  • James January 6, 2014

    Thanks!

  • Proctorguy January 7, 2014

    The city should not take a one-size-fits-all approach for mixed use areas and this is an instance of where any development should be relegated to the 45 foot height restriction which was originally specified. 6 stories/65 feet is way too tall for Proctor. In their mixed-use center recommendations from July of 2007, the North End Neighborhood Council thoughtfully recommended a 45 foot height restriction for the Proctor District. Wake up folks, this is not a reversible trend once this starts. The city needs to hear about your objections to the scale of this development before it is too late.

    • Jordan January 7, 2014

      @Proctorguy - The North End Neighborhood Council is working to schedule a presentation in February on this issue. Once confirmed, we will be sure to publicize it. The 45' height restriction is still applicable in the case of The Proctor. In order to reach the 65' height, the owners must make considerable investments to enhance the property in order to capture the height bonus palette adopted by the City in 2007. I believe that the developer has proposed to provide on-site parking within the footprint of the development, which would capture the needed height bonus. My concern is that projects like these may never materialize and, instead of complete, compact and connected developments in urban areas, we get 5 and 10-acre ranchettes on farmland and in our forests. That's why I think we must try to find creative ways to move these projects forward while balancing the needs of the adjacent community.

      • Proctorguy January 7, 2014

        Jordan, you touch on two important pieces: The quasi-45' height restriction is applicable, but the "bonus" program introduced in 2009 circumvents this restriction and could allow developers to build behemoths in Proctor such as proposed. I agree with your assessment that we need to address the issue of a growing population base; which in some cases call for new 6+story buildings in Tacoma. Proctor is not the right place for this. If the economics of a 45' building in Proctor don't pencil out, then we should wait until demand is high enough to warrant contstruction of building under the 45' limit rather than acquiesce now and regret it later. This area is congested enough as it is before we add hundreds more residents and cars. This is a big decision and with irreversible consequences; let's not mess up one of the better Tacoma communities.

  • JDHasty January 7, 2014

    I would be interested in comparing the traffic generation numbers in the permit application that was filed with the City of Tacoma with what the developer used as a forecast of traffic that would be patronizing the retail spaces that are part of this project while he was shopping the project to investors. It is not at all uncommon for developers who have inside connections to get a jurisdiction to buy off on a traffic impact study that is flat out contradicted by the projections they present when shopping the very same project around potential capital sources. Just saying, the developer on this project does have insider connections at City Hall. Perhaps a comparison may be in order.

  • JimB45 January 8, 2014

    This looks like an excellent opportunity to bring a quality project to the Proctor District that will enhance the community both by bringing new retail space and urban living space. This will continue the process of making Proctor a premier walking community. Those living and working in the building can walk to almost every type of shop and store. I would expect some of the surrounding properties to increase their utilization and value to the Proctor shopping experience based on the increase in activity. Anyone who has seen the quality products that Rush Development produces will be impressed and can be confident that the Proctor project will exceed everyone's expectations.

  • Proctorguy January 12, 2014

    Has anyone started a petition to the City to object to the 65' height for buildings in Proctor?

    • Sammy PSName February 9, 2014

      [quote]Has anyone started a petition to the City to object to the 65’ height for buildings in Proctor?[/quote] Yes! Please sign and share!!! Everyone who loves proctor knows this is wrong for our community! http://chn.ge/1bbzcpt