Four former Tacoma Power substations could soon be sold to a private developer who plans to build residential housing on the sites.

The substations — known as Ruston, Fairmount, Downing, and Lincoln Park — became obsolete after Tacoma Power upgraded its electrical distribution system, according to City of Tacoma staff and Tacoma Public Utilities staff. Four years ago, properties were included in a list of nine former substations deemed surplus and no longer needed.

Earlier this year, local developer Reggie Brown, co-founder of Puyallup-based Puget Sound Builders Association, approached the City of Tacoma with an interest in purchasing the parcels for $317,000 and building five single-family homes on the four parcels of land, according to City of Tacoma staff and Tacoma Public Utilities staff. The properties for sale include a .2-acre site at 5001 N. Visscher St. (Ruston Substation) for $87,000, a .3-acre site at 1801 N. Orchard St. (Downing Substation) for $123,000, a .14-acre site at 4924 N. 31st St. (Fairmount Substation) for $77,000 (pictured above), and a .19-acre site at 1009 S. 35th St. (Lincoln Park Substation) for $30,000. The Tacoma Public Utility Board last month approved the plan to sell the surplus properties. A public hearing on the issue was held last week at Tacoma City Hall.

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to sell the properties during its regular weekly meeting on Tues., Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located at 747 Market St. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV Tacoma and online at tvtacoma.com. Copies of the agenda and meeting materials are available online here.