Foss Waterway Seaport: Tacoma officials to discuss further renovation plans

Foss Waterway Seaport officials will be at Tacoma City Hall next week to share plans for the next phase of their museum’s renovation.

The museum, which is located 705 Dock St. in the historic, century-old Balfour Dock Building, aims to celebrate Tacoma’s rich maritime heritage by offering exhibits, land- and boat-based education programs, guest boat moorage, and event rental space. In May, museum officials hosted a grand re-opening celebration to mark the completion of a $1.8 million renovation of their historic building and former warehouse. Foss Waterway Seaport was founded in 1996 as the Commencement Bay Maritime Association. It was later renamed the Working Waterfront Museum before the name Foss Waterway Seaport was adopted nine years ago, according to the organization’s Web site.

Next week, Foss Waterway Seaport Executive Director Wesley Wenhardt and Foss Waterway Development Authority Executive Director Su Dowie are scheduled to meet with Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee to discuss a fund-raising campaign for the next phase of the building renovation, according to City of Tacoma staff. The project will install an HV/AC system to provide heating to the building for the first time in its history, as well as enable museum officials to offer programs and services to visitors year-round.

The public meeting will be held on Tues., Sept. 9, at 10 a.m., at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 248, in downtown Tacoma. Copies of the agenda and staff memo are available online here and here, respectively.