The board of the North Slope Historic District urges MultiCare to reconsider building its steam plant on South J Street opposite Wright Park.

The park is a historic landmark. Historic churches surround the site, and two National Historic Districts – Stadium/Seminary and North Slope – are a block away. Yet MultiCare treats the area as its private industrial park by planning to locate a four-story plant with nine-story smoke stacks here.

This proposed plant is extraordinarily poor urban planning, and we urge the City Council to close loopholes that removed any effective public review of the plans.

Metro Parks will shortly pour more than $6 million into Wright Park while MultiCare thumbs its nose at those efforts. Tacoma will not be a major city as long as its major businesses show such blatant disrespect for the city and its heritage.

In the past, Tacoma’s businessmen sought to build up their city. Charles Wright donated the land for the park that bears his name. Clinton Ferry donated the statues he purchased in Paris. A.C. Mason built bridges across Garfield, Buckley and Puget gulches and gave them to the city.

Although these businessmen benefited in the long run, several generations have appreciated their gifts and Tacoma values them still. MultiCare demonstrates none of their civic spirit. Rather, its proposal shows its intent to degrade the legacy that Wright and Ferry left to Tacoma.

MultiCare should locate its steam plant in an area that does not adversely affect Wright Park or its surrounding neighborhoods.