Should the Wedge neighborhood become a historic district? At 5 p.m. on March 17, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the matter to the Tacoma Planning Commission.
The area of the proposed district extends from Division Avenue to South M Street to Sixth Avenue and to Sprague. The North Slope Historic District — established in 1994 and listed on the Tacoma, Washington and National registers of historic places — borders the proposed Wedge District.
In June 2008, the Wedge area neighbors made a request to the City to be considered for historic district status. Following a year of due diligence and a public hearing, on July 22, 2009, the Landmarks Preservation Commission recommended creating of a new Wedge Historic District and a Wedge Conservation District to the Planning Commission. The Wedge Conservation District provides a buffer and transition from the proposed historic district to adjacent areas.
The next step in the process will take place on March 17 — the Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the most recent version of the Wedge Historic District and Conservation District boundaries that were recently proposed. Interested individuals may testify in person on the proposal, or submit comments in writing to the Planning Commission by e-mail ( planning@cityoftacoma.org ) or via fax (253) 591-2002. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 26.
Following the public hearing, the commission will consider making a recommendation to City Council on the proposal. If the City Council approves historic district status, a new “historic overlay zone” and a conservation overlay zone would be established, which would introduce a design review requirement for projects in the district, protect historic buildings from demolition and make historically contributing buildings eligible for local tax incentives.
The public hearing will take place in the Council Chambers of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., first floor. For more information on this proposal, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/planning (click on Wedge Neighborhood Historic District).
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For earlier Tacoma Daily Index coverage of the Wedge Historic District nomination, click on the following links/articles:
1. Will Tacoma’s Wedge neighborhood go historic? (09/05/08) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1318920&more=0
2. A Slice of History: Two meetings will explore Wedge historic district nomination (09/23/08) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1355266&more=0
3. MultiCare, Wedge residents discuss hospital expansion, historic district effort (10/02/08) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1385425&more=0
4. MultiCare weighs in on Wedge historic district nomination (02/09/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1485714&more=0
5. Big decision ahead for proposed Wedge historic district (02/11/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1487900&more=0
6. New timeline for Wedge historic district review (02/18/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1491340&more=0
7. A Hike through History (03/05/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1502432&more=0
8. Decision expected this week on preliminary Wedge Historic District boundary (03/24/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1514668&more=0
9. Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission sets ‘working boundary’ for Wedge Historic District (03/27/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1517636&more=0
10. A house in the city, a home to neighborhood history (04/16/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1529595&more=0 or http://www.wahmee.com/tdi_walkup_residence.pdf
11. Another opportunity to weigh in on Wedge historic district proposal (05/21/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1553879&more=0
12. Wedge Historic District public hearing June 24 (06/19/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1573389&more=0
13. Wedge residents share support for historic district during public hearing (06/25/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1576698&more=0
14. Opposing sides emerge in Wedge historic district nomination (06/30/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1579134&more=0
15. More voices weigh in on Wedge historic district proposal (07/21/09) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1591525&more=0
16. Key meetings ahead for Wedge Historic District proposal (02/16/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1717406&more=0
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For coverage of the LPC’s walking tour of the neighborhood, visit http://i.feedtacoma.com/TDI-Reporters-Notebook/walking-wedge-photos-from-neighborhood/ .
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For more information about the Wedge historic district, visit http://tacomaculture.org/wedge.asp .
