Exit133

August 20, 2007 · Derek

The Changing Sixth Avenue

The News Tribune has a piece this morning on the the changing face of Sixth Avenue. It used to be a pretty sleepy commercial district wedged the North End and Central Tacoma. We remember thrift stores where Il Fiasco used to be… and the liquor store where Schucks… nevermind. Now it’s our most vibrant nightlife area. Unfortunately, not everybody is happy with the change.  Parking is more difficult. People are on the streets much later. The noise is greater. We’ve heard this complaint in other neighborhoods too. 

The question we ask is whether it’s possible to appease all the stakeholders? Or, is residential use immediately adjacent to a nightlife district simply incompatible? If that’s the case, where does it go from here?  Times change. Time to move? … Or is it time to clamp down on the businesses? This isn’t going to be pretty.

Link to The News Tribune

Previously on Exit133 – You remember this one, don’t you?

19 comments

  • intacoma March 10, 2008

    oh man Pat are you going to hire bike messengers to deliver pizza? That would be a sweet “go green” move ;)

  • kbce March 10, 2008

    Funny… when the future of the space was uncertain, I was thinking it’d be a perfect spot for a bike shop. Sounds a bit Rock Pasta-ish, but hey, I’m all for the bike theme!! Delivery would be pretty easy with an xtracycle or one of the several cargo bikes showing up (Ute, Big Dummy, etc.).

    If there’s a Paris-Roubaix pizza, I hope it’s the Queen of intimidating pizzas.

  • Bett March 10, 2008

    I think this will be great to have another hang out option by Doyles. Bars and Restaurants seem to do better together not spread out.
    That location to me seems ideal if the right group gets ahold of it.

  • UPSpatrick March 10, 2008

    As my three year old would say, “more things to love!”

  • Tina March 10, 2008

    I’m hoping for discounts if you ride your bike there!

  • morgan March 10, 2008

    Note to Pat and gang:
    Make it extra special, use a natural yeast dough (aka sourdough). I can hook you up, just say the word.

  • Squid March 10, 2008

    we’ll all be happy if the Harmon Hub does a reasonable fascimile of Tom Douglas’ Serious Pie.

    That and the buttermilk blueberry pancake recipe I stole from Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown.

  • Droid16 March 11, 2008

    I second that motion Erik. Pagliacci Pizza by the UW Seattle is great. I used to go there all the time when I was dating my now wife and wanted a gourmet dining Pizza experience.

    Love the Harmon here by the UWT as well. They make me by BLTA even when it’s not on the menu. Looking forward to taking the family to the new spot.

  • Squid March 11, 2008

    Pagliacci? You guys need to get out more. Get thyselves to Serious Pie. Charlie’s pizza at Primo Grill (it is hands down the best in Tacoma) makes Pagliacci look like Dominoes.

  • CA March 11, 2008

    I dont wanna start a pizza war here, but at this time Puget Sound Pizza is the best in town. I am hopeful the Harmon Hub gives them a run for their money. Also Brewing the best IPA in town doesnt hurt either.

  • Squid March 11, 2008

    Puget Sound Pizza is very very good, but you do have to ask them to go easy on the tomato sauce (just a schmeer please). I think Pat has said though that he is aspiring to a pie like Tom Douglas makes at Serious Pie. If he achieves that, then the Harmon Hub will have the best pizza in town.

    I expect the Cloverleaf fans out any second now defending those gut bombs.

    CA, I will treat you to share a Primo Grill pie with me. Then we’ll talk pizza war. ;)

  • CA March 11, 2008

    Sounds good Squid. Also, I gotta say that Cloverleaf is the most over-rated pie in town.

  • Christine March 11, 2008

    Cloverleaf is niche pie. I don’t think you can compare it to others, its just so different. People go to cloverleaf for the pizza because they want a “cloverleaf pizza”.

  • Squid March 11, 2008

    Christine@14 – NOW I understand. It’s like when I go to Frisko Freeze for a cone. I don’t go there for “ice cream” I go for a “Frisko Freeze cone.”

    You learn something new everyday.

  • in-tacoma March 11, 2008

    Serious pie is not pizza get out from off your pretentious pizza eating pedestal

  • Nick March 11, 2008

    Let’s call it “Insincere Pie” instead of the Harmon Hub just to avoid being mislabeled as pretentious ;-)

  • Squid March 12, 2008

    @16: Off my pretentious pizza pedestal? Nevah happen.

  • intacoma March 12, 2008

    ;)

  • Sweetie March 13, 2008

    I wonder what kind of advertising they are looking to do? Alot of these downtown places could be doing even better if more people know about them.