402 Tacoma 1019 Pacific Avenue, Avenue S., Suite Suite 1216 200 PO Box 1303, TACOMA, WA TACOMA, 98402 WA 98401 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014
Vol. CXXIII, No. 70
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
Visit our Web site at at www.tacomadailyindex.com
INSIDE:
LEGAL NOTICES BANKRUPTCIES LIENS ORDERS FEDERAL COURT AUDITORS OFFICE NEW BUSINESSES editor@tacomadailyindex.com
Tacoma honored for historic preservation legislation Posted online Weds., April 9 Article and File Photo By Todd Matthews, Editor A new law enacted last year that aims to protect Tacoma's historic buildings has earned top honors from the State of Washington. Last spring, the Tacoma Daily Index reported an initiative was under way at City Hall that aimed to bolster the City of Tacoma's enforcement codes in order to prevent instances of so-called "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.
After a series of public "This award is recogmeetings last summer, nition of the high value Tacoma City Council ad- that Tacoma places on opted the "Preventing the preservation and Neglect of Historic Prop- care of our historic and erties" ordinance in Sep- cultural places, for the tember. Some of the stronbenefit of all citizens," gest elements of the new said City of Tacoma ordinance, which defines Historic Preservation neglect as a public nuiOfficer Reuben McKsance, apply to properties night of the award to listed on the Tacoma Reghonor the City for enister of Historic Places, acting new legislation National Register of Histhat aims to protect toric Places, and to prophistoric buildings. erties within designated historic districts; provide incentives to encourage owners of neglected properties to find new owners with the means and interest to save the historic structure; afford the City of Tacoma the authority to address conditions that threaten historic buildings before they are deemed ‘dangerous' and, ultimately, demolished; and finally, allow the City to create an "emergency preservation fund" to tackle deferred maintenance issues that threaten Tacoma's historic buildings. City of Tacoma officials announced this week the City is a recipient of the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation's annual awards for outstanding achievement in historic preservation. The award will be presented during a
Children's Bell sculpture restoration project under way Posted online Thurs., April 10 Photos Courtesy Metro Parks Tacoma (TOP) / By Todd Matthews, Editor (RIGHT) Restoration of the Children's Bell sculpture along Ruston Way is under way, according to Metro Parks Tacoma officials. The four-foot-tall bronze sculpture was created by artist Larry Anderson and installed along the Commencement Bay waterfront 14 years ago. The public art was a gift to Tacoma from "Washington Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE)" and other private donors in honor of Washington PAVE Founder and Director Marty Gentili. Earlier this year, the City of Tacoma began to accept bids on the restoration project, which involves remounting the piece on a shaft foundation, painting existing support pipes, rebuilding gong strikers, and restoring the surrounding landscape to its original condition. Bids were accepted until Feb. 19, and a contract was awarded to Tacoma-based Lewis Concrete, Inc. Beginning today, safety barricades will be ceremony on Tues., May 13, at the Legislative Building in Olympia. "This award is recognition of the high value that Tacoma places on the preservation and care of our historic and cultural places, for the benefit of all citizens," said City of Tacoma Historic Preservation Officer Reuben McKnight. "The historic property maintenance code is one component within our expanded effort to encourage investment and rehabilitation in historic buildings, including more financial and regulatory incentives." In Tacoma, one doesn't need to look far to find instances of endangered historic properties. The 1890sera Luzon Building was demolished in 2009 after City
posted around the sculpture as restoration work is completed over the next several weeks, according to Metro Parks Tacoma officials. The goal is to have the project completed by May 1 or in time for the summer season. inspectors deemed the historically significant building a safety hazard for fear it would collapse after decades of neglect. The 120-year-old Old City Hall has experienced threats of 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-yearold Winthrop Hotel is in need of nearly $16 million in deferred maintenance, according to a report prepared four years ago. Last year, the City of Tacoma received a similar award from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for its work to rehabilitate the Murray Morgan Bridge.