Neighbors fought it, but work’s begun on apartment project in Tacoma’s Proctor District
Gig Harbor-based The Rush Companies has started work on its Proctor III apartment project at the corner of North Adams and North 27th streets in Tacoma.
Proctor III is Rush’s third mixed-use development in the Proctor District, following Proctor Station and Madison25, both located along North Proctor Street. Proctor III is a block off the main thoroughfare.
The project follows a court battle with some of the project’s neighbors earlier this year in which a Pierce County Superior Court judge upheld the city’s approval of the project.
Those involved in the court fight included Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan, whose house is next door to the project.
“After 38 years as Tacoma homeowners and taxpayers at this address, Paula and I aren’t going anywhere,” Lonergan told The News Tribune via email in response to questions.
“Shoehorning this out-of-scale project next to established homes requires extra vigilance, and I believe this is a test case for the proposed up-zoning of one-sixth of the residential neighborhoods in Tacoma,” he wrote, referring to the proposed Home in Tacoma project.
A sign saying, “We demand a better project,” was still in place next to the fenced off construction zone Thursday.
The city approved Proctor III with a final determination of nonsignificance in its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) decision in October 2020. Some neighbors argued the planned apartment building was not a good fit, given its six stories surrounded by residential homes, and were concerned about parking demands in an already congested area.
Following the court verdict in May, the company told The News Tribune in a statement: “We are looking forward to moving ahead with the project, and are confident that the community will see this new building as an asset to the neighborhood when it is completed.”
The plans have changed slightly since its approval for an eight-year multifamily tax exemption in October 2019,
According to the latest plans promoted this week by Rush, the six-story, 95-unit apartment site will include about 600 square feet of retail, apartments on five levels, and 23,568 square feet of underground parking space over two levels.
The plan when approved by the city for the tax exemption said it would have about 1,000 square feet of commercial space.
Many of the units will be “micro” or less than 450 square feet. The building’s units will range in size from 273-681 square feet and priced between $1,300-$2,000 per month, according to Rush.
The original plans called for a wider range of sizes up to 800 square feet, but at a higher price.
“Micro-units are a popular option right now for renters. It makes living in neighborhoods that are generally out of reach for younger renters more affordable,” said Chris Dewald, vice president of Rush Development, in a news release issued this week.
“All 95 units are fully serviceable and have bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities,” he noted.
The site will feature a fitness center, pet spa, electric vehicle charging stations, storage/parking for up to 95 bikes, and a roof top deck with views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier.
A target completion date was not made available.
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
