Puget Sound Hospital Closing
The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce is reporting that Pierce County has decided to close Puget Sound Hospital, on S. 36th and Pacific. The building has not been used as a medical facility since last year, but has continued to serve the County as office space for Human Services employees.
County Executive Pat McCarthy has reportedly recommended that the property be listed as surplus so that it can be sold, saving Pierce County $4 million over six years.
With the School Board currently considering the sale of historic Gault Middle School (and possibly Gray Middle School), and the completed sale of the Downtown Post Office building, it seems Tacoma’s seen a good share of its public structures enter the private market.
What do you make of this trend? Government budgets are certainly under a great deal of strain these days, and similar transactions may occur in the future. As a City that strives to value its history, how will private ownership and uses affect our preservation commitments?
More on Puget Sound Hospital closing here
Filed under: Neighborhoods, Lincoln, Pierce County
1 comments
J Jim September 7, 2010
I subbed once at Gault. Historic or not, the building is nearly useless for a school. I can’t think of any other use, other than maybe as office space, but no one really wants rooms of those dimensions. Maybe it could be useful for small firms who needs a room or two. Maybe not.