Tacoma Development News

[seapug]

i've been to tacoma, it's not even close to what i'd describe as ghetto. that's why people in this area cracks me up they actlike their two or thre little places they hang out in are the only safe places in the world. one of my friends every time we go somewhere she's never been she gets really serious and says "isn't it really ghetto there?" she's asked me that about queen anne, shoreline, ballard, greenlake and redmond. she pretty much only hangs out in bellevue admiral and her horses barn in federal way. so when people here tell me a place is ghetto i refuse to believe em, because to them ghetto is anywhere where the houses are smaller then 1,800 square feet. it's weird for how statistically safe seattle is i've witnessed a lot of crime not just the little drug deals either. has anyone else here experienced this. the town i lived in in ct wasn't a statistically safe city and i only had one time where something happened

[taiwanesedrummer36]

Originally Posted by seapug

i've been to tacoma, it's not even close to what i'd describe as ghetto. that's why people in this area cracks me up they actlike their two or thre little places they hang out in are the only safe places in the world. one of my friends every time we go somewhere she's never been she gets really serious and says "isn't it really ghetto there?" she's asked me that about queen anne, shoreline, ballard, greenlake and redmond. she pretty much only hangs out in bellevue admiral and her horses barn in federal way. so when people here tell me a place is ghetto i refuse to believe em, because to them ghetto is anywhere where the houses are smaller then 1,800 square feet. it's weird for how statistically safe seattle is i've witnessed a lot of crime not just the little drug deals either. has anyone else here experienced this. the town i lived in in ct wasn't a statistically safe city and i only had one time where something happened

I don't know WTF your friend is thinking, but those areas are certainly NOT ghetto (at least to my standards). To me, ghetto is where a majority of a city is deserted, the only form of travel is by car, properties are not well kept, and the overall street scene is depressing. Sure, those characteristics could be applied to Seattle, but Seattle is improving; Tacoma isn't (as much). And i'm not just talking about downtown areas, i'm talking about more suburban areas. Maybe i'm just stereotyping Tacoma because of what I read/hear on the news, but I still think most of Tacoma is "ghetto" (more or less).

[CrazyAboutCities]

Originally Posted by USAPatriot

Did I mention, last time I was in downtown Tacoma walking around taking pictures, I heard gun shots? I was wondering what the heck, and I looked at the peopel around me, they kept walking around like no big deal. ;D Remember, I'm a teenager, never heard gun shots really that close to me in a city before. It came from a parking garage, or so it sounded like that. I'm sure the shot sound carries.

Well Sometime people are used of hearing gunshots and they're not concerned about it anymore as they used to. It is same concept with New Yorkers or Chicago people, and Los Angeles people. For example, my high school in Los Angeles area is famous for fights, when I first attend that school and I always got so concerned about these fights... Later on, its didn't bother me anymore and I didn't give a damn about these fights because it is not part of my problems.

[Puertalian]

Wow you guys are all haters. go to the north end or steilacom and tell me tacoma is ghetto. last time i checked, multi-million doller houses werent considered ghetto. to tell you the truth, federal way has been absorbing many of the elements that were once present in the bad areas of tacoma. you can literally see the change in both places. driving through what used to be the middle class neighborhoods in federal way, you can see graffiti on fences and trash in the yards, while places in tacoma that were once like this are actually getting better. tacoma is getting better everyday and federal way is growing worse. so if you wanna hate, hate federal way.

[mhays]

I don't know much about Federal Way, but definitely Tacoma has some very nice areas, and overall it's getting better.

Plus, its real estate prices aren't very high, and the city will continue to get better overall. It's a great place to buy.

[taiwanesedrummer36]

Originally Posted by Puertalian

tacoma is getting better everyday and federal way is growing worse. so if you wanna hate, hate federal way.

Well, I haven't been to NORTH Tacoma, but i've seen central-south Tacoma, and it looks depressing.

As for Federal Way, I LOVE Federal Way. It's absolutely the most conveinient suburban city in the area. Not to mention the great-looking new transit center, direct-access ramp, nice-looking streets, and redeveloping city center. Tacoma's okay, but I would just stay near Downtown and Tacoma Mall (unless a deranged teenager takes me hostage jk), maybe even the Narrows Bridge.

[Puertalian]

Originally Posted by taiwanesedrummer36

Well, I haven't been to NORTH Tacoma, but i've seen central-south Tacoma, and it looks depressing.

As for Federal Way, I LOVE Federal Way. It's absolutely the most conveinient suburban city in the area. Not to mention the great-looking new transit center, direct-access ramp, nice-looking streets, and redeveloping city center. Tacoma's okay, but I would just stay near Downtown and Tacoma Mall (unless a deranged teenager takes me hostage jk), maybe even the Narrows Bridge.

Right across the street from that "brand new transit center" are a couple of run down, graffiti covered, abandoned buildings that used to house the old target and an toyz r us that disappeared. farther past them are run down apprtment buildings. more of the same can be found all along 99 from federal way to seatac. They just finnished a massive complex of level 8 housing in what used to be a pretty quiet residential neighbor hood. some kid was shot a few months ago right down the street from my uncles house. that kind of turned into a rant but you probably get the picture. oh and by the way, the top three storie of that five level parking garage are always empty.

[mhays]

Some abandoned buildings across from the transit center are slated for four highrise residential towers. Perhaps that's the same site?

[seapug]

Tacomas not bad it some rundown buildings what city doesnt if you want to see a bad city go to oakland i was there on sunday probably the most hideous place ive been i use to live in the bay but never went to oakland. Oh ill have pics of my san francisco/oakland/sacramento trip after i get back no pics of the city of oakland just the raiders game

[Seattlelife]

Tacoma is NOT ghetto. The south end may have some areas that people from the Seattle area are not comfortable with but Tacoma is not that bad. I'm sure it has its high crime areas and the standard of living may be a little lower in some areas but I think the majority of us are just spoiled by living in the relatively safe Seattle area.

Now I will admit I don't know Tacoma very well except that people from Seattle say it smells and is worse than Seattle, but I think people are too quick to assume it's a bad place. I went to an art gallery downtown last spring and was pleasantly surprised by downtown Tacoma.

I guess I wish people would look around the country and world a little more before calling a place like Tacoma "ghetto."

[Seattlelife]

I wish Tacoma had some more notable development going on downtown. That setting has a TON of potential to host a spectacular skyline imo.

[mhays]

Sometimes "improving downtown" comes before "getting a new tower or two".

Downtown Tacoma's office market is small because for decades Downtown wasn't a place people wanted to be. Now it's a place people want to be, in some parts more than others, and this means there's no longer a disincentive. A little office space has been built in recent years, including one new building underway (partial redo of garage block). I think it'll pick up. Of course the key is getting rents that justify new construction, or somebody building speculatively.

Related to this is Tacoma's and Pierce County's role as "bedroom" for King County. As commuting becomes more difficult, some office tenants will choose to locate in Pierce County to have easier access to those workers. Downtown Tacoma, while small, is the dominant office location in Pierce County, and has good transit and road connections locally, so it's likely to get at least its share.

[taiwanesedrummer36]

Tacoma needs a Kemper Freeman

Speaking about Tacoma developments, wasn't there a plan to remodel the Tacoma Dome or something?

*In other Tacoma news, the new collector-distributor roadway along I-5 between 48th Street and I-705 opened. Seems to be working nicely

[seapug]

i think kempers developments look nice but i hate how they have thousands of free parking spaces almost no streetfront retail and all those sky bridges. makes bellevue feel like a suburb with tall buildings instead of a real city

[Everett Fan]

I was in Tacoma this summer. I have lived in the Everett Area most of my life and always heard bad things about Tacoma. My wife and I loved it! I was so suprised. Some of the older homes were easily as good or better then what I have seen in seattle. I have seen crime happen so many times in seattle. Fights in PIke alley, On the streets, Panhandler that tried looking up my wife's skirt. Downtown Tacoma looked great. I loved North Tacoma homes and the stadium district was awesome. I went there to see the construction of the new bridge. I would consider moving there. It would be great to convert a lot of those historic buildings into condo's. I think they have already done that. I love the character of tacoma and the street care that goes through downtown. Ruston way was also really cool and reminded me of souther cali a little with the blvd and water. Tacoma gets props from me....

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by Puertalian

Wow you guys are all haters. go to the north end or steilacom and tell me tacoma is ghetto. last time i checked, multi-million doller houses werent considered ghetto. to tell you the truth, federal way has been absorbing many of the elements that were once present in the bad areas of tacoma. you can literally see the change in both places. driving through what used to be the middle class neighborhoods in federal way, you can see graffiti on fences and trash in the yards, while places in tacoma that were once like this are actually getting better. tacoma is getting better everyday and federal way is growing worse. so if you wanna hate, hate federal way.

Real ghetto is....Detroit in the urban neighborhoods. Many places in the US don't compare close to Detroit! I don't think Tacoma is all that bad, it's improving as we speak.

[USAPatriot]

I went to Tacoma last weekend and took TONS of pictures. I plan to ad them to the AJM STUDIOS Northwest Photo Journey soon. Any questions, feel free to ask me.

[Puertalian]

Here is a news tribune article summarizing the most note worthy Tacoma developments:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/busine...ry/241337.html

Heres some pictures...





This is one the A street parking garages being redeveloped. this one will become pacific plaza. yes we recycle too.

This is the garage that will be pacific plaza:

[Seattlelife]

Originally Posted by Puertalian

This is the garage that will be pacific plaza:

Good. That parking garage is hideous in that picture lol.

[NW Mike]

Any Garage taking up a block of space in a any town is hideous. Put it underground!