The Henry: New Development For the Foss
A new mixed-use development has been proposed for the Foss waterfront. At least that’s what we hear. The News Tribune reports that the group that built the Thea’s Landing development a decade ago on the Foss is interested in doing it again. Under the new name “The Henry Group,” the developers would build a project by the same name.
They’re eyeing a site on Dock Street, just south of the Albers Mill building, just north of the 21st Street Bridge. The TNT reports that the $31 million project proposal is for 161 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, 286 parking spots, and 13,000 square feet of retail space – including a rooftop restaurant. Other features of The Henry would include a private dog park, fountains, special sound-proofing to deal with the building’s proximity to freeways and railroads, and of course, views of Mt. Rainier and the waterfront.
The Foss Waterway Development Authority is doing what it can to move the project forward. The development group is ready to start construction – the sooner the better – possibly breaking ground as early as this summer, with completion as soon as 12 months after that.
Development is stirring on the Foss waterfront. Johnny’s Seafood is working towards a major remodel, a new wood-fired pizza place in the Thea’s Landing building is moving forward, property is being acquired and plans are advancing to connect the Foss to UWT and points south via the Prairie Line Trail. Thea’s Landing management says its residential units are leased, and its commercial space nearly full. On the other hand, Albers Mill and other property owners on the Foss have requested exemptions from retail zoning requirements, complaining that they’ve had difficulty filling space.
We’ve always said that Tacoma needs more rooftop dining…
Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Waterfront, Neighborhoods, Developments, Foss Waterway, Foss Waterfront
6 comments
T the usual jamie March 28, 2013
Ok, Tacoma. We’re going to pronounce this “On-REE”, right?
J Jesse March 28, 2013
Great news!!
D Darin March 28, 2013
This is the kind of news that renews my faith that Tacoma can be thriving city with a strong center city and positive diverse neighborhoods with a positive welcoming vibe. This news reminds me how fortunate Tacoma is to have had a generation of civic leaders with the passion,vision and faith to make the hard often leap of faith choices that moved Tacoma forward. This news is proof that those seeds planted long ago by these visionary people can still grow and thrive to take Tacoma to a better future.
D Dan H. March 28, 2013
Very exciting. I’ll be very interested to see what that neighbohood is like when all of the large parcels on the west side of the Foss are built out. I think it is already getting very close to having the critical mass needed to ignite proper street level commerce. More employees during the day with more residents in the evening should do the trick. The only large parcel that remains is between the Esplanade and Thea’s landing. I haven’t heard anything about the hotel in quite a while.
J jsisbest March 29, 2013
One of the greatest hindrances to the success of retail along Dock Street is that the street is essentially one sided, with railroad tracks being on the west side of the street. It’s very difficult to have successful retail on a one-sided street. The Foss Waterway-side retail spaces of the large buildings in this area (existing and proposed) are also difficult retail spaces, as there is insufficient pedestrian traffic along the waterway to support retail. From a planning perspective, it would be nice to see the connections between Dock Street and the Foss Waterway strengthened. The rendering shows how little consideration is given to these connections and their development to become the activated spaces that they should be. There’s few windows facing the pedestrian connection between Dock and Foss, and apparently little consideration to activate that space.
I suspect that the retail component does not contribute to the financial feasibility of any of these buildings in this corridor. But that does not mean that it should go forward with so little consideration for improving the street level built environment.
U UrbanDK April 3, 2013
With the potential Russell building being filled with 2000 State Farm employees, housing will be in short supply quick once they move into town! Great timing!