Renovations have begun at Tacoma’s Old City Hall. Here’s what to expect when it’s finished
The work to adapt Tacoma’s Old City Hall into a mix of apartments, retail and more is at long last taking shape.
That’s according to Eli Moreno, the local developer overseeing the project.
In response to questions Dec. 23 from The News Tribune, Moreno said via email, “Starting on Nov. 2, the renovation of Old City Hall officially began after three years of planning and permitting.”
Permits to begin the first phase of construction were issued Oct. 28, according to city records.
The city took ownership of the building at a cost of $4 million in 2015 to help save it from further deterioration and with hopes of adaptive reuse.
Moreno and his team were chosen in September 2018 to enter negotiations with the city to renovate the building at 625 Commerce St., beating out several other contenders.
Moreno and the city entered into a formal agreement in April 2019, and his team is overseeing the project along with project manager Guion Rosenzweig.
The first part of work is focused on interior seismic reinforcement, “which will keep the building strong for generations to come,” Moreno wrote. It’s the first time the building has received seismic upgrades in its 128-year history, he noted.
“During construction we have completed several important tasks on the road to full renovation with the preservation of key historic pieces, such as tile and stairways” Moreno wrote. “These important pieces are being carefully stored to be reinstalled after all renovation is complete.”
Some artifacts aren’t sticking around, such as the elevators.
The team has removed “several non-functioning, non-historic pieces of machinery, such as the old elevators, to make way for modern mechanical options,” according to Moreno.
The first phase of the project, which includes 60 percent interior build-out and exterior work, is set for a May 2023 completion.
Amended agreement with city
This fall, the development team and the city negotiated an amended agreement on the project’s timeline and other details. The two sides described it as a result of coronavirus pandemic delays, complexities related to the seismic retrofit portion of the project and other issues.
Originally, the agreement between Tacoma Old City Hall LLC/Surge Tacoma, led by Moreno, and the city called for 40 micro residential units (20 market rate and 20 affordable at 60 percent AMI) in the mixed-use redevelopment, along with office space, shops and three restaurants, including one on the rooftop.
Under the new agreement, approved by City Council on Sept. 28, the micro units have been reduced to 19 (10 market rate and 9 affordable) and a food hall along with a bar/café in the basement without any rooftop restaurant. The glassed-in rooftop space would still be available to the public as event space.
“The Development Plan is somewhat revised in order to meet the requirements of the International Building Code,” the council action memorandum stated, in explaining the changes.
According to the memorandum, “development of a commercial kitchen in this space was disallowed by code.”
“Exhibit, retail, office and co-working space will continue to occupy the first four levels,” it noted.
Changes to the public benefits portion of the agreement included an added computer literacy skills program and a boost in the value of the entrepreneurial education program, to help offset the loss in its estimated housing subsidy with the reduced number of apartments.
“The budget for the 10-year Entrepreneurial Education Program will be increased accordingly, and a new one-year Computer Literacy Skills Program will be developed to account for a total public benefit of $2 million,” the city’s memo said.
Phase 2 of the project, according to the city’s memo, is set to begin immediately after Phase 1. It includes the remaining 40 percent of the full build-out, including basement office space, cafés, a bar and/or office space on the first level (Pacific Avenue); apartments on the fifth level; the event space on the sixth level; and any required brick veneer reinforcement.
The affordable units are targeted for “persons living or doing business in underserved geographical areas of Tacoma who are at or below 60 percent AMI,” the city’s memo said.
Phase 2’s target completion date is Nov. 30, 2024.
