Will City Hall be moving?

What would a City budget capital project item like the following say to you?

They adding on a new bathroom? Taking over a nearby office space? Knowing that this issue has been looked at before, it seems to me like it's money set aside to study the feasibility of moving City Hall from downtown Tacoma.

Anyone at City Hall that read this care to explain? Link to the budget document (PDF, 2.8MB, see page 18)

Thanks Erik!

Comments (3) | To Top

11/6/2007 @ 8:29am

Proposing to move the seat of government is a very major policy decision whether it be a city, state or nation.

I would think the city as a whole community would do some soul search and examine very carefully the many, many aspects of this decision first before allocating $2,000,000 which makes it look like a done deal.

The last study showed that building a new city hall would cost 10s of millions even if the current city hall was sold.

I would think the policy of whether the seat of goverment for Tacoma is moved or not should be discussed

There was an interest to re-build a new city hall above UWT as a "campus," and leave the Theater District and sell the current building for condos.

Moving the seat of government is a bad decision in my view as City Hall should be in the heart of the central business district and adjacent to the Winthrop Hotel where dignataries will stay as well being close to the Theaters where many events are. Plus, the occupation of city hall demonstrates a model re-use of a historical building. Condos have far less of intensity of use that an office building.

The City is trying to promote the benefits of downtown. Abandoning the area shows that it may not believe what it is promoting. The city should consider modifying their operations to an urban form as other private groups are doing and even buying a new building if extra space is needed.

The seat of Tacoma's government has been in the Theater District for nearly the life of the city. I understand the desire to have a new and upgraded building as other parts of city government have. However, I think upgrading the building would be preferable.

This is a hige historical decision for the city that should not be taken likely. Much, much bigger than parking.

Taking government facilities out of downtown one at a time is a "bloodletting" of sorts.

(By the way, credit goes to Morgan for the initial identification in the city budget)

by Erik B.

11/6/2007 @ 8:38am

"Taking over a nearby office space? Knowing that this issue has been looked at before, it seems to me like it's money set aside to study the feasibility of moving City Hall from downtown Tacoma."

Hmmm. One would think it would simply say "study" than facility if that were the case.

From the plain language of the budget entry, it looks to be for land to place a building, to buy anoher existing building or for an annex of sorts to expand into.

by Erik B.

11/6/2007 @ 5:18pm

Just received:

"The 2 M in the budget is for $1 m in deferred maintenance to the existing City Hall and $1 m for ADA facility improvements."

Hmm. The budget item certainly reads a bit differently.

by Erik B.