Fire reduced downtown Tacoma building to rubble in March. When will debris be cleared?
Nearly nine months after flames engulfed a commercial building in downtown Tacoma, sending water and debris streaming down streets, the property remains vacant and full of debris.
Heavy smoke clouded the sky March 21, and it took fire responders several hours to extinguish the flames at 710 Fawcett Ave.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it might have started by a squatter staying in the empty building, Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke told The News Tribune Dec. 4. City records show there’s been a long history of complaints about the building’s derelict status, as well as reports of criminal activity and break-ins.
Meinecke said the property owner has been working with the city’s code enforcement team to apply for demolition permits. Review of the property owner’s demolition permits are anticipated to be completed by Dec. 19 or sooner, said Maria Lee, a spokesperson for the city, on Dec. 6.
A complete application for demolition was routed for review on Nov. 2, comments were provided Dec. 1 and a re-submittal was received Dec. 5, Lee said. The plan is for the building to be demolished and debris removed, with the foundation to remain, Lee said.
Debbi Anderson with property management company Real Estate Investment Services told The News Tribune via email on Dec. 4 that the owner of the building has been working with their insurance agency since the fire, but the agency denied their claim.
The bid and cost of removal is between $150,000 to $250,000, Anderson said. When the site is cleared, it will be put up for sale, she said.
According to Anderson, in 2022 the owners had numerous issues with squatters breaking into the building and staying there. Numerous attempts to board up the building and calls to police were left unanswered in May, July and August of last year, Anderson said.
This story was originally published December 11, 2023 at 2:38 PM.
