A year-long battle between a group of homeowners in the North Slope Historic District and the City of Tacoma’s public works department over the placement of contemporary streetlights in one of the area’s oldest recognized neighborhoods could be close to a resolution, according to a presentation May 14 at City Hall.
At issue is a public works project completed in early-2007 that replaced 31 streetlights with 62 modern streetlights along a 10-block stretch of I Street, between North Third Street and North 11th Street. Though the former streetlights were not historic (they were installed during the 1950s), North Slope Historic District (NSHD) board of directors argued replacement streetlights should have been reviewed by the landmarks preservation commission before work started. Moreover, they argued, many property owners within the district should have been given the opportunity to form a Local Improvement District to pay for ornamental streetlights more in line with the neighborhood’s historic character.
During last week’s meeting of Tacoma City Council’s environment and public works committee, public works staff conceded an error was made last year when a decision was made to install the streetlights. “We should have presented our design to the historic district,” said Chris Larson, public works assistant engineering division manager.
It was the latest development in an ongoing issue that has seen residents and NSHD board members write several letters to City Hall requesting action. Last June, a former public works director argued that a section of Tacoma’s Municipal Code (TMC 13.07.330.C) exempted the work from review by the city’s landmarks preservation commission because the work did not require a building permit. However, NSHD board or directors argued another section of Tacoma’s Municipal Code (TMC 13.07.320.F) stated street improvements should retain or enhance the historic district’s neighborhood character.
Last July, during a meeting of the landmarks preservation commission, public works staff acknowledged an error was made. Since then, Larson says the city has been working with a local architect to finalize the design, and on determining a cost to install ornamental streetlights. However, a backlog of public works projects has slowed progress on the project.
A similar streetlight project, though smaller in scale and with fewer streetlights, was recently completed along a 10-block section of North L Street. For that project, the city paid approximately $144,000, and property owners formed an LID to pay $50,000 over a 10-year period.
Still, if property owners elect to move forward with an LID, it could cost them as much as $400,000 to pay for their portion of expenses related to removing the streetlights and replacing them with ornamental lights, according to city staff.
Larson and Mike Slevin, interim public works director, said city staff would finalize the cost to replace the streetlights with ornamental lights. They could have the information as soon as May 28, when the council’s environment and public works committee meeting reconvenes.
In the interim, the city will work with NSHD board president Marshall McClintock on initiating the LID, though it would still require property owner approval. And the city’s historic preservation office is expected to update the city’s planning commission May 21 on code revisions aimed to clarify the municipal code in relation to street improvements in historic districts.