Calendar

Category All Art Classes Classical Music Concerts DANCE Etc Exhibits Families Farmers Markets Film Happenings Holiday Holiday Lectures Music (non-classical) Theater

Submit events

ProLogis has plan for BNSF site

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: April 24, 2008

A major operator of distribution centers plans to build a $100 million facility in an area of South Tacoma that was once a bustling center of industrial activity.

Denver-based ProLogis is in the process of completing a purchase of 115 acres just west of South Tacoma from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF).

ProLogis plans to build five buildings totaling about 1.9 million square feet.  

Ryan Petty, director of the city of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department, briefed Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee on the project April 22.

Once a major facility for maintenance operations for the railroad, the old shops closed down long ago. Possible ideas for redevelopment have been discussed in this committee in recent years.

“It is in the community’s overall best interest to have this property redeveloped,” Petty said.

Petty noted there are wetlands along the western edge of the property. He said ProLogis wants to fill in just under an acre of wetland and has applied for a permit to do so.

The board of Tacoma Public Utilities will hear about the project during their May 20 study session. They are scheduled to vote that evening on agreements related to access to the site from Highway 16 to the north.

Councilmember Connie Ladenburg said it seemed that heavy truck traffic would not be going through residential neighborhoods in South Tacoma if the company is able to secure permission to run trucks between the freeway and the site.

“The TPU Board’s decision is essential in managing traffic to and from the site,” Petty remarked.

The Economic Development Committee is scheduled to hear another update on the project May 13. Between that date and June 10 there will be two public meetings.

Petty said the company is developing a transportation plan for the property. Its buildings would be for distribution, with a possibility of some manufacturing taking place there as well, he noted.

Petty said two public meetings will take place between May 10 and June 10 on the proposal. He said notices will be sent to South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, New Tacoma Neighborhood Council and several business districts. He said getting information out to the public is important because “the whole community is impacted.”

The full council will hear more about the proposal during its June 10 study session.

If ProLogis is able complete its purchase of the site, construction could begin in 2009.

Story Tools

This Week's
Front Page