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Council to vote on spending$3 million more on Pacific Plaza

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 24, 2008

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote July 29 on a resolution that would authorize spending $3 million to complete the renovation of Park Plaza South.

As part of a $35 million project, construction is underway on the parking garage, which has been renamed Pacific Plaza. So far the city has committed $15.3 million for its share of the renovation of the city-owned building. Pacific Plaza Development, LLC, is the private sector side of the public/private partnership. Retail space along Pacific Avenue is being remodeled, while office space is being built above the garage.

City staff and the developers are seeking nearly $2 million for general contract changes. This includes $665,000 for escalation costs, $276,000 for environmental cleanup, $771,000 for code requirement changes, and $284,000 for operational enhancements and miscellaneous changes.

They also want just over $1 million for proposed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) enhancements. Of this, $200,000 would go for an irrigation cistern for the roof the developers want to make out of a former Turkish spa found 15 feet below Pacific Avenue. Another $733,000 would go for the green roof and $75,000 for garage lighting controls.

The council’s Environment and Public Works Committee recently heard an update on the project.

Ben Ferguson from BLRB Architects told them the design is meant to “disguise” the fact that much of the building is a parking garage.

Each floor will have a design theme based on various elements in nature, he added.

Tom Absher, a partner in the development group, said the environmental focus will appeal to retailers at the street level and tenants for the office space above, which he described as “the first significant Class A office space in eight years.” The last building downtown to fall into this category is the Columbia Bank headquarters.

“We want to set the trend and make a statement,” he said. “There still is an attraction to Tacoma for a business.”

Dan Putnam, another partner in the LLC, said they want to make this the most energy efficient building in Tacoma. “We are literally going to do anything to get that,” he said. The developers hope to achieve platinum, the highest rating in the LEED system. It is possible they may settle for silver, a lower rating. “Platinum is really the standard,” he remarked.

Ferguson said the roof design would dramatically reduce runoff of rainwater. He feels the design could be an example to other developers. “There are a lot of opportunities for this to be a case study,” he said.

Mike Slevin, interim public works director, said the Solid Waste Department would like to utilize its TAGRO fertilizer product. He said that department has an interest in getting involved in such “green” building projects.

Slevin also said that underground tanks containing toxic material were found by construction crews. This accounts for the additional funds sought for cleanup.

Members of the committee sounded agreeable to spending the additional money for the environmental benefits. “We are no longer satisfied with bare minimum development,” said Councilmember Connie Ladenburg.

“Make sure the public gets the full story,” Councilmember Jake Fey added.

Improvements to the garage are expected to be completed by May 2009, with office, retail and site improvement completed in July 2009.

The council will vote on the matter during its July 29 meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. The public will have the opportunity to testify on the matter prior to the vote.

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