Work Begins at USPS/Haub/Sauro's Site
Cleanup work began quickly on the USPS parking lot and Sauro’s site following the City Council meeting on Tuesday. In that meeting, two resolutions were passed that cleared the way for future development. One indemnified Haub from Sauro’s related contamination. The second approved an agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to begin cleanup on the Sauro’s dry cleaning site. Then yesterday, we received photos from “Tacoma (A)roma” revealing that work had begun. Today, we received a press release from the City confirming the work.
Here we go!
Previously on Exit133
Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Neighborhoods
35 comments
M Mofo from the Hood January 30, 2009
Hip! Hip! Hoo-ray!
T Tacoma1 January 30, 2009
With the toxic waste barrels gone, where am I going to take my out of town guests sightseeing?
E Erik B. January 30, 2009
Good news. Finally.
With the toxic waste barrels gone, where am I going to take my out of town guests sightseeing?
We have our memories.
R RR Anderson January 31, 2009
make sure you wash off any monkey shines you find in there real good.
A altered chords January 31, 2009
That would be a perfect place for our jazz quartet to have a band photo taken. Or, maybe Eric can just photoshop us in so we don’t scuff our shoes.
T Thorax O'Tool January 31, 2009
Development of what? I know Haub has a record of mid-rises (Columbia Bldg across the street), but can we at least get something that casts a shadow for once? That gaping hole where Sauro’s used to be would be ideal (and properly zoned) for something taller than Wells Fargo.
C’mon developers… can Tacoma finally break past 103m?
I’m not asking for something 300m or even 200m… I’ll be happy to see 150 meters.
D drizell January 31, 2009
Fortunately, the Sauro’s site is within the International Financial Services Area that may soon no longer have minimum off-street parking regulations. Now that there seems to be momentum toward removing the parking regulations, a taller building might actually become financially and architecturally feasible. The current regulations require a minimum of 1.2 off-street parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of office space, meaning that you’d need to build a parking garage about ten stories tall just to be allowed to build higher than the Wells Fargo building.
The Planning Commission will be discussing this issuing on Feb. 4th, so make sure your comments are heard on the official record, so the tall buildings we all want may actually have a chance of coming to fruition!
T Thorax O'Tool January 31, 2009
I’d love to see a new Tallest go up during my lifetime… and not just taller by something stupid like 3 inches.
A 450-500 footer would look good there.
What time on Feb 4th? I gotta be at work at 6pm, and the Union meeting regarding our contract is at 4:45.
I can pull off all 3, if the city meeting is maybe 1 pm or so…
M morgan January 31, 2009
I love the smell of change in Tacoma!
J Jesse January 31, 2009
Why would the city do all of this if they didn’t have an agreement, at least in principle, with Russell???
That being said, I am so happy to see this being done…
D drizell February 1, 2009
Jesse, I don’t think this is just about Russell. In 20 years, there could be many other Russell-sized companies that choose to locate in Tacoma. Private companies tend to respond well to cities that appear willing to accomodate them. The fact that the city is pursuing this environmental cleanup is a sign that it is committed to helping bring new business here. Many people are not aware of this, but massive public spending tends to draw lots of private development. This is exactly what happened in both Portland and Seattle several decades ago, and Tacoma seems to want to follow a similar path to greatness.
Oh, and the Planning Commission meeting is at 4 pm. in the City Council chambers.
T Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009
Well, this all looks like speculative development, if you ask me. Granted, I do not know who has or has not been talking with Haub, what Russell or Company X is up to etc. Please note, I’m not claiming a small amount of speculation is bad… I will however claim that rampant and excessive speculation is fatal (as a lot of people now know).
So, let’s look at timelines for a second.
Assuming things go well, Haub could have appropriate designs and the permitting done in 12-18 months, so that gives us a 2010 start date for construction.
Let’s say they decide to go 40 stories, about 450-500 feet. A building of that size could be easily constructed in 24-30 months… now we’re at 2012 or 2013.
Seems to me a very likely timeline if Haub is banking on an economic recovery.
And don’t forget… the 2 tallest buildings in NYC (and the world for nearly 40 years) were finished in 1930 (for a car company!) and in 1931, respectively. Not bad for beginning and finishing during the Depression…
D David Boe February 2, 2009
#11-Note: The City of Tacoma Planning Commission is at 4pm on the 4th; however, the Public Hearing on the IFSA Parking Reduction is to be held at 5pm.
T Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009
Curses!
The Union meeting is at 4:45, and considering we’re voting on the new contract, I really should go to this one…
E Erik B. February 2, 2009
Seeing hazardous waste barrels removed from the main street in Tacoma almost gives one hope for the city.
Now we need to start filling up blighted lots in the city core with buildings with humans in them.
Too much to ask?
T Thorax O'Tool February 2, 2009
“Hope” is eternally in the future tense.
You can’t eat hope, you can’t pay your rent with hope, new buildings won’t get built with hope.
Only way to make it happen is to get out and do it.
Cleanups are meaningless until we see permits and heavy equipment.
I Ingrown Toenail February 3, 2009
If Haub brothers build anything in this climate, they’re going to find themselves filling chapter 11 along with everyone else.
White collar jobs are evaporating. No need for a glut of office space unless you want class a to go for $2/foot.
C cy February 3, 2009
Haub is no dummy and he has really smart local people around him. And this is no third-rate developer speculating, that’s for sure. I think after a bit of a wait, it’s going to be very interesting to see what the “real” plan is at this point.
I Ingrown Toenail February 3, 2009
No, Haub is dead and has been so for years. The Trust is run by his kids.
Even smart people can make bonehead decisions… if they can even get financing.
Show me renderings and a permit and I’ll believe. Until then, it’s fantasy in a deepening recession.
C crenshaw sepulveda February 3, 2009
There is no shortage of smart people, what I’d like to see is some people that are right. I think it is the smart people that got us into the mess we presently find ourselves in.
B Bill Barnett February 4, 2009
Cren – what test do you administer to someone to determine if their next decision will be “right”?
If you are frequently right, can you please let me know the next winning lottery numbers?
C crenshaw sepulveda February 4, 2009
Question #1. Is it a good idea to tear out these street car tracks and run gasoline buses instead?
D David Boe February 4, 2009
#19: Clarification – Erivan Haub (Sr.) is very much alive and well – and has an excellent reputation of only constructing projects that make both common and economic sense (not ‘speculative in nature’) – I suspect any plans for this site would be similar.
6 6ther February 4, 2009
#19: How sad. A pessimist with bad info to boot.
Keep your head up little buck-a-roo!
T Thorax O'Tool February 5, 2009
I wouldn’t call that pessimism… I’d call it an unpopular assessment on the problem, not any less valid of an assessment.
Pessimism is more like “the market is crashed, and it ain’t coming back!”
Having an irrationally exuberant viewpoint in rough times can destroy you.
Be optimistic, but not blind to the risks and hazards.
M Mofo from the Hood February 5, 2009
Huh. I interpreted #19 this way, if I may paraphrase:
“That slag pit doesn’t even have an illusion of an option.”
R RR Anderson February 5, 2009
This city is down, but she’s not out.
Keep your eye on the prize I say.
A altered Chords February 5, 2009
Irrational exuberence is a phenomonon that the markets experience in “good” times.
In a bear market there is no irrational exuberence. If there were, the market would be climbing. Being overly cautious and beleiving that you can “pick the bottom” of any market is irrational. Traders attempting to pick the bottom fail and pile onto a rising market perpetuating the irrational exuberance.
So you see Thorax, it is you and traders like you that are actually to blame for this economic mess with your irrational exuberance.
T Thorax O'Tool February 5, 2009
Blame me all you like, while I buy a similar house to yours for $100,000 less than you paid. Blame me all you like while I buy the same model car you have, for $7,000 less. There is NOTHING wrong with being glad that prices are finally falling back to where they shoulda been if the bubble had not happened.
The debt orgy going on since the days of Reganomics was so big that a massive overcorrection is inevitable. It is equally irrational to think that folks looking for a helluva deal are causing this. What we see is the end result of over a quarter century’s worth of poor regulatory, banking, fiscal and economic policy.
The Panic of 08 has to run it’s course like a flu.
It’s absolutely irrational to have thought that continued acquisition of debt in amounts never seen before by individuals/companies/Uncle Sam could have carried on forever with no repercussions.
Nothing anyone can do to stop the losses, this is just part of how the economic system in this country is set up (it’s all cyclical… look at past bubbles and crashes)… it HAS to run it’s course or we’re just amplifying the mess by delaying it, by chasing bad money with good money.
So, yes go and blame me. Blame the guy who didn’t buy a house or a car during the last 10 years.
Blame the people who aren’t upside down on their mortgage, loaded with tens of thousands in credit card debt and with a car they can’t afford.
Blame the people who tried to be somewhat responsible with their meager amounts of $$$.
Blame those who are actually able and willing to buy now, while everyone else is paralyzed by crushing debt burdens they put on themselves.
Seems to me it isn’t the “bottom feeders” that caused this mess.
Don’t blame the Vulture for the death of the Prize Hog.
A altered Chords February 6, 2009
Oh it’s all your fault. Yours and yours alone. You won’t escape our ire you, you…bottom feeder you.
R RR Anderson February 6, 2009
man If I new this was coming I woulda waited to buy my house, but my house woulda probably not been for sale. At least I can get a head start on my blueberry crop.
I wish thorax would run for city council. The dude would make council meetings 1000X more awesome.
R RR Anderson February 6, 2009
my advice to young people:
don’t spend money! wait to buy a house. if the government gives you a stimulus check, put that sucker in your savings account or mattress and sit on it.
I’m seriously considering closing out all my bank accounts and opening a Tapco credit union account.
Recently I canceled my cell phone for no reason other than I hated giving money to sprint. It is a beautiful thing not being connected all the damn time. I repaired my old wristwatch… I mostly used my phone as a clock anyhow. $1 for a battery and $10 bucks for a new leather band.
My advice to Bank of America, Sprint—EAT a BIG ONE !
T Thorax O'Tool February 6, 2009
“I wish thorax would run for city council. The dude would make council meetings 1000X more awesome.“
I appreciate the one vote I’ll get from non-family members.
But within reason, you’re spot on, RR. We need to return to a mentality of saving, fix what can be fixed, grow what food you can (Liberty Gardens, anyone?), spend judiciously, budget.
S Squid February 6, 2009
Hey, couldn’t we get all that vacant property on the hillside in downtown Tacoma made into community gardens while waiting for somebody to build something on them? Give them a small tax rebate for participating in a series of privately-owned community/coop gardens. We needs to start growing our own food. Fortunately, I can also put my hands on a shell reloader…them varmints in my backyard just lost their squatters rights.
A altered Chords February 6, 2009
Them varmints make good eatin’