Handmade signs recently posted inside two downtown storefront windows along Pacific Avenue are the latest indications that redevelopment of a crumbling, city-owned parking garage is underway.
During the Tacoma City Council community and economic development committee meeting July 10, City staff announced two street-level businesses below the garage had recently settled with the City of Tacoma — early steps to clear the way for construction expected to begin this fall.
According to facilities manager Mike Slevin, the City executed a purchase and sale agreement with the property owner at 1226 Pacific Ave. for $445,000, and a business relocation cost of $255,000 with the owners of Park Place Cafe, located at that address. Similarly, the City executed a purchase and sale agreement with the property owner at 1218 Pacific Ave. for $365,000, and a business relocation cost of $240,000 with the owners of Austin Chase Coffee, located at that address.
Negotiations are ongoing with the owners of Brodsky’s Uniforms, located at 1202 Pacific Ave., and empty storefront addresses at 1222 and 1214-1206 Pacific Ave.
According to Slevin, negotiations have gone well. “I think right now, we hope we won’t have to do condemnation,” said Slevin. “It’s not our intent to do that.”
Thursday afternoon, a man who identified himself as the owner of Park Place Cafe, but did not wish to be identified, said he had settled with the City of Tacoma. He was supervising a crew of people removing fixtures from the former deli. He did not indicate whether the business would relocate.
The City has partnered with Pacific Plaza LLC, a development group that consists of two principles — Putnam Design and Absher Construction — to rehab the bulky structure. The $32.5 million renovation calls for two new floors of office space, one new level of parking, and expanded and improved street-level retail totaling 30,000 square feet. During Tuesday’s meeting, the council committee voted unanimously in support of a do-pass recommendation to create an ordinance that would authorize issuance of a $9.9 million bond to fund the city’s portion of the project. Council is expected to vote on the ordinance later this month.
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For a feature article on Park Plaza South development, published in the Index Dec. 27, 2006, visit http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/searchd.cgi?paper=88&paper_id=88&keyword=matthews&skip=45&tbname=storya_2006&tbname1=storya&searchtype=lname&papername=tacoma&year=0&id=227755
