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The former Luzon Building in downtown Tacoma, which was designed by two famous Chicago architects, constructed in the 1890s, and demolished in 2009 after the City of Tacoma deemed the historically significant building a safety hazard for fear it would collapse after decades of neglect. A glimpse inside the building prior to its demolition. (FILE PHOTO / TACOMA DAILY INDEX)

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Can legislation save Tacoma's neglected historic buildings?

An initiative is under way at Tacoma City Hall that aims to bolster the city's ability to prevent…

"We've been up in Seattle for over 20 years, so we're pretty embedded there," says Earthwise Architectural Salvage owner Kurt Petrauskas, who expanded to Tacoma last summer. "Tacoma's got a great history. It's actually older than Seattle. I think Tacoma has the market. I think people will appreciate what we do down here, as they do up in Seattle. Everybody who comes in the store really enjoys it and likes it, so we're starting to gain a little bit of traction in the area. I think the more people realize we are here, the more encompassing the clientele will be. I know they're here. There are very creative people in Tacoma." (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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A New Life For Old Homes: Seattle's Earthwise Architectural Salvage expands to Tacoma

Kurt Petrauskas remembers a period more than 20 years ago when he started looking at his job a…

The concrete McMillin Bridge has a long history in Pierce County. Built in 1934, it is an important section of State Route 162 that connects Orting to Sumner. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by Homer M. Hadley, whose work contributed to bridges spanning rivers, lakes and creeks throughout Washington State. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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McMillin Bridge historic nomination reaches Pierce County Council

Pierce County Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider a proposed ordinance that would place the 79-year-old McMillin Bridge…

9 groups set to receive $3M for human services programs in Tacoma

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City Council OKs accepting 16 grants, $31M for 12 Tacoma road projects

Tacoma City Council voted Tuesday to approve a resolution to formally accept 16 grants totaling just over $31…

Tacoma's Old Town Dock. (FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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Tacoma's Old Town Dock reopens May 15

City of Tacoma officials announced Monday Old Town Dock will officially reopen to the public Wednesday morning.

The concrete McMillin Bridge has a long history in Pierce County. Built in 1934, it is an important section of State Route 162 that connects Orting to Sumner. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by Homer M. Hadley, whose work contributed to bridges spanning rivers, lakes and creeks throughout Washington State. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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Pierce County Council committee OKs historic McMillin Bridge nomination

A Pierce County Council committee Monday approved a recommendation to place the 79-year-old McMillin Bridge on the county's…

The concrete McMillin Bridge has a long history in Pierce County. Built in 1934, it is an important section of State Route 162 that connects Orting to Sumner. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by Homer M. Hadley, whose work contributed to bridges spanning rivers, lakes and creeks throughout Washington State. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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Pierce County Council committee to consider historic McMillin Bridge nomination

A Pierce County Council committee is scheduled to meet next week to discuss a proposed ordinance to place…

The City of Tacoma was awarded a $3 million grant from the Federal Highways Administration to provide a cement concrete overlay to the Union Avenue Viaduct to repair the bridge deck surface. (FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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16 grants net $31M for Tacoma infrastructure projects

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote May 14 on a resolution to formally accept 16 grants totaling…

A decade after the Port of Tacoma purchased the former Kaiser Aluminum smelter plant, an effort to clean up the 96-acre site is reaching its final stages. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS

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Port moves closer to final stage of Kaiser Aluminum site cleanup

A decade after the Port of Tacoma purchased the former Kaiser Aluminum smelter plant located on the city's…

City engineers have raised safety concerns over the structural integrity of an historic totem pole in downtown Tacoma's Fireman's Park. As a result, Tacoma's public works director ordered the totem pole be stabilized immediately and the surrounding park area to be fenced off. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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Repairs needed for downtown Tacoma's historic totem pole

City engineers have raised safety concerns over the structural integrity of an historic totem pole in downtown Tacoma's…

Darrell Ogden loads explosives into the base of a smokestack on the former Kaiser Aluminum site on the Port of Tacoma tide flats. The 500-foot tower was demolished on July 2, 2006, to make room for future growth at the port. (FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

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Port could direct $5.1M toward Kaiser Aluminum site cleanup

The Port of Tacoma Commission is expected to vote this week on whether to spend approximately $5.1 million…

Historic Tacoma has nominated the Browne's Star Grill (left) and Pochert (right) buildings in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood to Tacoma's Register of Historic Places. (PHOTO COURTESY HISTORIC TACOMA)

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Public hearings Wednesday for 2 historic buildings, Mr. Dahl Drive nominations

Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold public hearings this week for nominations to formally recognize two historic buildings…

The City of Tacoma has applied for a grant to help preserve open space near Swan Creek (pictured) on Tacoma's East Side. (PHOTO COURTESY PIERCE COUNTY)

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Tacoma pursues grant to preserve area near Swan Creek

The City of Tacoma has applied for a grant to help preserve open space near Swan Creek on…