Tacoma Landmarks as Live/Work Spaces?

We read from the Tacoma Daily Index yesterday that a conversation is afoot regarding changes to Tacoma’s building code to allow artists’ live/work spaces in buildings currently zoned commercial, particularly historic buildings without current residential zoning.  Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission will hear presentations on the idea today, including the kinds of code revisions that would be necessary to allow such use changes, and background on changes made by other cities to enable similar uses. 

According to the Index, the idea has the support of Historic Tacoma, as a way to “encourage the occupation and adaptive re-use of historic buildings and serve as an economic development tool for the city, returning under-utilized buildings to the tax rolls.”  The group has undertaken a study on the code modifications necessary to allow the use of these buildings as live/work spaces, and prepared a white paper on the topic.  Senior planning staff have also been involved in the conversation, considering potential building code changes.  A summary of current planning efforts is also on today’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

An Historic Tacoma whitepaper explains the idea as “better described as “work/live” spaces, pointing to ways of keeping the focus on work, such as potentially limiting the square footage of the living area, or possibly requiring a city business license.  What do you think of the idea of allowing artists to rent units in Tacoma’s historic landmarks as studio/living spaces?  What about people other than artists?  Are there other creative uses of these spaces that could serve the same purpose towards revitalization?

Follow-up: Read a more in-depth look at the possibilities and challenges relating to this idea from our friends over at Post Defiance.

Read more from the Tacoma Daily Index.

View Historic Tacoma’s white paper on the issue.