Letter to the City regarding the proposed 19th Street closure.

February 23, 2005

The Hillside Development Council (HDC) consists of property owners, business owners, workers, and residents of the area on the "side of the hill" in Tacoma. Our primary areas of emphasis are public safety and working to provide a more vibrant area for working, residing and investing.

We have been informed by Steve Smith of the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) on January 26, 2005 of the University's interest in closing 19th Street between Market and Jefferson. This issue has been discussed both at our meetings and with the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council and at today's meeting of the HDC where we voted to oppose this closure.

There are three major reasons we came to this decision:

1. Closing any downtown street without having a long range traffic plan does not make sense.
There are problems with the exit from the 705 freeway at 21st Street and how that will transition to 19th Street for cross town travel, the proposed closing of Market Street that will split downtown Tacoma into two separate and isolated districts, and the increased traffic congestion on Pacific Avenue from Link Rail.

2. The closure will disrupt traffic patterns and eliminate some parking making it even more difficult for the businesses based in the triangular section of property bounded by Market Street, Jefferson Avenue and 19th Street to remain vibrant assets as well as successful tax paying members of the Tacoma community. The effect on the newly opened convention center is uncertain, but the closure of Court 'C' alone will restrict access to the Convention Center, remove about 40 parking spaces, and decrease the flow of convention attendees throughout downtown.

3. Our discussions with members of the Tacoma Fire Department show that this closure will decrease public safety. There is extreme difficulty for a fire engine coming from the West to turn left on to Jefferson off of Market Street. The patrons of businesses such as the Spaghetti Factory, The Swiss, Rock Pasta and Buzzards CD's along with students at UWT will face longer response times if service from the Tacoma Fire Department was needed.

The Hillside Development Council urges a moratorium on any street vacations in downtown Tacoma until a comprehensive plan is developed. We feel that City planners, UWT, Pierce Transit, first responders, along with community groups such as the Neighborhood Councils, Hillside Development Council and Downtown Merchants Association should be involved in a collaborative process developing this plan.