April 28, 2005
Ground broken for UWT housing, parking complex
UW Tacoma broke ground this week for Court 17, the new housing and parking complex to be developed through a public/private partnership.
Speakers at the event included Patricia Spakes, the new chancellor of UWT, Bill Baarsma, mayor of Tacoma, representatives from Lorig Associates, UWT’s partner in developing the project, and representatives from Berschauer Phillips Construction Co., the contractor building the garage portion of the project.
Court 17 is a public/private development consisting of a three-story, 309-car parking garage to help meet the parking needs of UWT students, faculty and staff, and a five-story, 129-unit apartment building. The garage will be financed, owned and operated by the University; the apartments will be financed, owned and operated by Lorig Associates, a Seattle developer.
The garage portion of the project is funded with $3 million provided for Phase 2 of campus construction, a $1 million low-interest loan from the City of Tacoma and $3.1 million in bank financing.
Developers expect the project to continue fueling the dramatic economic revitalization taking place around the campus in Tacoma. Housing will help draw people into the community to support amenities that will also benefit busy students.
Both the garage and apartment complex were designed by Mithun Architects of Seattle. The parking garage, which will be completed first, will be constructed by Berschauer Phillips and should be finished in late 2005. Construction of the housing, by Walsh Construction Co., will begin when the garage is complete. Apartments should be available for rental in late 2006.
UWT students and faculty will be given first choice when the market-rate apartments are available, but the general public will also be able to rent units in the complex.
