Tacoma’s Old City Hall ‘nearing the finish line’ for Phase 1, but with new opening date
Plans for opening the first phase of the redeveloped Tacoma’s Old City Hall late this year have been pushed into next year.
That’s according to the Surge Co. redevelopment team, led by local developer Eli Moreno.
Moreno and his crew have been working since before the pandemic to restore the city landmark, which was added to the National Register in 1974, and bring it back to life.
The bulk of that work at the site, 625 Commerce St., has involved shoring up the 1890’s-era building’s shell, reinforcing the interior perimeter with rebar and concrete from the base to the tower roof, and installing reinforced slab floors on each level, among other improvements.
The site’s Instagram page posted a recent photo showing some of the work that remains as the brick-lined interior begins to take shape for leased spaces.
The first phase includes restaurant, retail, office and coworking spaces. Moreno told The News Tribune in July that the site was “scheduled to open the first phase of the building by the fourth quarter of this year.”
Aimee Kwon is a senior interior designer with Surge. Kwon told The News Tribune in response to questions last week that while they are “nearing the finish line on Phase 1 for the new building systems like the HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression and lighting,” the site’s opening will be next year.
“Due to the construction constraints, we will be opening closer to February 28, 2025,” she said via email.
“Unfortunately, our construction team ran into an issue ordering a key piece of heavy equipment for our new plumbing system which will cause a slight deviation in our opening schedule,” Kwon wrote.
The rest of the space (apartments and event space) is still listed on the Old City Hall website as opening next year.
Parking for the site will be offered at the nearby Spark Park garage, 745 Commerce St..
Moreno is probably best known for developing coworking sites in Tacoma under the Surge Tacoma brand as well as Tacoma Flats microunits (formerly the Merkle Hotel). His plans were selected by the city in 2019 to redevelop the site as a multifunctional hub for living, working and event gathering.
The deadline for Old City Hall’s debut has been adjusted before, including pandemic-related delays. Before COVID-19, Moreno had envisioned a grand opening to ring in New Year’s Eve 2021.
Meanwhile, Kwon said last week that “The elevator has arrived and our crews are coordinating that long installation.”
Also, plans are moving forward for opening a model office space on the building’s second floor in early December. For leasing information, go to oldcityhalltacoma.com
