MultiCare boiler plant to feature nine-story smokestacks

An article in the News Tribune this morning gives us a little more detail about the boiler facility MultiCare wants to build on the edge of Wright Park. One feature folks may not like are the nine-story, stainless steel smokestacks it'll have -- three of 'em. We've seen the drawings before (see links below) but knowing the scale is interesting. The rest of the building's description doesn't sound too bad:

MultiCare spokesman Todd Kelley said the building’s architects have built ground-level windows into the brick and masonry building and plan a facade of opaque reflective glass covering most of the building’s east side that borders I Street. The reflective glass is designed to mirror the greenery across the street.

That could be an interesting design if it doesn't get altered between now and construction time. I think, however, for most folks viewing this building from the ground those windows will probably mostly reflect the sky. Laws of light and physics and all. Tilt 'em downward a bit and then you might have something. The smokestacks are also suppose to reflect the colors of the surrounding area. Will they be constantly cleaned or will they develop a dulling moss/mildew like most things that sit outdoors around here?

3/7 - Nine-story stacks next to park? TNT

Previously...
2/23 - MultiCare Steam Plant Drawing and Fact Sheet, Exit133
2/18 - MultiCare steam plan, Chapter 2, Inside the Editorial Page

So, what do you think? Does this sound like a good neighbor to have living next to Tacoma's front yard?

Comments (8) | To Top

3/7/2007 @ 8:16am

I'm not that worried about the smokestacks. It seems to me like one of the reasons Central Park in NYC is so cool is because it's surrounded by tall structures. Wright Park might look better surrounded by taller buildings like Park Tower and the smokestacks.

by erikemery

3/7/2007 @ 9:01am

I know what you're saying Erik. The design doesn't look too bad so long as they can stick pretty closely to it.

by KevinFreitas

3/7/2007 @ 9:14am

As long as the building is somewhat aesthetic (and it looks to be so), I don't think it'll be much trouble. If nothing else, Wright Park has more than enough trees to help people ignore peripheral structures as needed.

by Joe Izenman

3/7/2007 @ 10:25am

Maybe this is from eighteen years of being yearly deprived in the frigid north, but a major negative for me would be blocking out the sun. Not that this building would necessarily be so bad, but Wright park isn't big enough (like Central Park) to be surrounded by tall buildings and still have ample sunny spots.

by Heidi

3/7/2007 @ 12:02pm

The problem is not so much with the amount of the polluton that will be generated but the proximity of the pollution source to visitors to Wright Park.

Pollutant Natural Gas

Carbon Dioxide 117,000
Carbon Monoxide 40
Nitrogen Oxides 92
Sulfur Dioxide 1
Particulates 7

(pounds of pollutants per billion BTU – British Thermal Units)

The 90 foot smoke stacks are not on the plant for nothing. They are required to attempt to disburse the pollutants.

We still do not know how much natural gas is expected to be burned at the facility. Without that information, we cannot calculate the pollution generated.

It is the concentration of pollutants that will be the problem.

Multi care is basically proposing to put the tailpipe exhaust of their facility right against Wright Park.

Aesthetically, they are basically proposing to put one of the worst buildings against the park as well.

I hope Multi Care will reconsider and place the burner where it is located now or a place not so close to the park.

by Erik

3/11/2007 @ 11:25pm

On March 14th, The New Tacoma Neighborhood Council will hear from Multi Care on their proposal to erect a natural gas burning plant 100 feet from Wright Park at 5:30 p.m. at the city Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, 7th floor.

The current proposal would consist of a large windowless facility with three 90 foot "smoke stacks" to disburse the pollutants.

Anyone interested in the likely pollution and aesthetic impact of the facility on Wright Park should attend.

(If someone could modify the "artist rendition" to make the smoke stacks look more realistic rather than faint penciled rectangles, that might be useful so that the public can see what will be built)

(Cross posted on E133)

The current proposal would consist of a large windowless facility with three 90 foot "smoke stacks" to disburse the pollutants.

Anyone interested in the likely pollution and aesthetic impact of the facility on Wright Park should attend.

3/13/2007 @ 9:57pm

Here ya go buddy!

by RR Anderson's Multi-Stacks Artist Modification

3/14/2007 @ 1:23am

Multi Care will be giving a presentation before the new Tacoma Neighborhood at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall 747 Market Street to discuss their proposal to place a gas burning plant adjacent to Wright Park.

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Wed. March 7, 2007, 07:02am PST