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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
Vol. CXXIV, No. 182
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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Tacoma City Council OKs historic buildings ordinance
By Todd Matthews, Editor Tacoma City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance Tuesday that aims to save Tacoma's historically significant, yet endangered, buildings. In May, the Tacoma Daily Index was first to report an initiative under way at City Hall designed to bolster the City of Tacoma's enforcement codes in order to prevent instances of socalled "demolition by neglect," the process by which buildings endure crippling, long-term issues such as deferred maintenance, vandalism, or even foreclosure and eventually become too expensive to save in the eyes of building owners (see "Tacoma considers plan to save neglected historic buildings from demolition," TDI, 05/31/13). In Tacoma, the Luzon Building, which was designed by famed Chicago architects John Wellborn Root and Daniel Hudson Burnham during the 1890s, was demolished in 2009 after city inspectors deemed the historically significant building a safety hazard for fear it would collapse after decades of neglect. Similarly, 120-year-old Old City Hall has experienced foreclosure, fire damage at the hands of a transient, a 'derelict' designation by city inspectors, and an 'endangered' designation by a local historic preservation group. Finally, the 88-year-old Winthrop Hotel is in need of nearly $16 million in deferred maintenance, according to a report prepared four years ago. The ordinance adopted Tuesday formally defines building neglect as a public nuisance. The new ordinance also allows the City of Tacoma to take action to ensure the protection of an historic building, which would be formally recognized as historical or cultural assets, when an owner fails to properly maintain the structure. Additionally, the ordinance allows the City of Tacoma to intervene before a building is deemed "derelict" or "dangerous" by applying fines or by seeking a warrant to enter and repair the building. Finally, the City of Tacoma will set aside $250,000 from the city's existing Dangerous Buildings Fund to to tackle deferred maintenance issues that threaten Tacoma's historic buildings.
Pierce County, Puyallup Tribe host Salmon Homecoming Celebration Courtesy Photo Help welcome salmon home to South Prairie Creek (pictured) at the Salmon Homecoming Celebration on Sat., Sept. 21. The family-friendly day will feature guided walking tours to see salmon in the creek, activities for kids, a Native American storyteller, live music, a display of student artwork about salmon, and refreshments. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 13518 Pioneer Way East (Hwy 162), about one mile west of the town of South Prairie. The event will be held on the grounds of an old dairy. "The return of the salmon is important to the culture, heritage and history of this region," said Dan Wrye, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities water quality manager. "South Prairie Creek is one of the most important salmon-bearing creeks in the
Puyallup River Watershed. That this creek supports so many species of salmon shows the commitment of Pierce County and its partners to improve salmon habitat and water quality." Fish biologists will lead walking tours at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. and point out the salmon in South Prairie Creek. Visitors could see many species of fish up close as they head to their spawning grounds. The Salmon Homecoming Celebration is sponsored by Pierce County Lead Entity, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Puyallup River Watershed Council, Port of Tacoma, Pierce Conservation District, Citizens for a Healthy Bay, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group.
Foss Waterway Development Authority officials announced this week their organization will be hiring Rent-A-Ruminant bring a herd of approximately 60 goats to perform vegetation management services on several sites along Dock Street. The herd is expected to be in the area for approximately three days beginning on Mon., Sept. 23 and ending mid-afternoon on Thurs., Sept. 26. The herd will be working at the Municipal Dock (1025 Dock Street), Site 8 (1123
Dock Street), and Central Park (1147 Dock Street). The public is welcome to observe the herd while it does its work. However, visitors should be aware that an electrified fence will be installed on or around the work areas, all individuals must remain outside of the goat enclosures, and feeding the goats is not permitted. A goat herder will on the premises 24 hours per day and police and security patrols will monitor the area.
Goats to provide clean-up work along Foss Waterway