TDI -- Reporter's Blogi.FeedTacoma.com

Tacoma's Homeless Goddess of Commerce

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:12:00 -0800

What to do with the 700-pound, seven-foot tall, $122,000 bronze Goddess of Commerce statue? Place it in Tollefson Plaza? More »

Up Above Tacoma

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:45:00 -0800

It's early spring cleaning this morning at the 16-story, 85-year-old Washington Building in downtown Tacoma. Here's the view out my window here at Tacoma Daily Index 'world headquarters' . More »

Tacoma Streetcar Field Trip

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:55:00 -0800

The news today that a citizens initiative was filed last week in an effort to build a streetcar line in Tacoma reminded me of a trip I took a couple years ago to Snohomish County. According to friend and historic preservation advocate Morgan Alexander, a 100-year-old streetcar that once operated in Tacoma was sitting in an open field in Rockport, Wash. More »

New Pac Ave Retailer

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:57:00 -0800

I spotted this on the way to Tacoma Daily Index 'world headquarters' this morning . . More »

A New Link Light Rail Station?

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:41:00 -0800

Tacoma's Link light rail passes along Commerce Street between South 11th and 12th Streets on Wednesday. A note in Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson's weekly report Dec. More »

Lakewood Police Memorial

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:15:00 -0800

I was in the Dome District earlier today to photograph the procession of law enforcement officers attending this afternoon's memorial for the four Lakewood police officers killed Nov. 29. More »

THS Downtown Exhibit Center RIP

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0800

I was sorry to learn this morning the Tacoma Historical Society will close its downtown exhibit center later this month. According to an e-mail from long-time THS member Dale Wirsing, the organization will consolidate its operations at its Cedar Street location. More »

Murray Morgan Bridge Update

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:35:00 -0800

Anyone following the ups and downs of saving the Murray Morgan Bridge would be interested to know Tacoma is inching closer toward taking ownership (again) of the 96-year-old structure that spans Thea Foss Waterway and connects downtown Tacoma to the tide flats. The State took ownership of the bridge in the 1990s while it constructed State Route 509 from Interstate 705 to Milwaukee Avenue. More »

Tis The Season

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:40:00 -0800

I stepped outside this afternoon for a break and saw this guy across the street from Tacoma Daily Index world headquarters . . More »

Biden @ Hotel Murano (Take Two)

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:50:00 -0800

I stopped by the Hotel Murano this morning around 11:30 a.m. Just in time, it turns out, to see Vice President Joe Biden leave the hotel and head to Fort Lewis. More »

Endangered Locally, Recognized Nationally

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Luzon Building, RIP Demolition of the 1890s Luzon Building in September has left many Tacomans wondering how the building could have been saved, what lessons can be learned from the destruction, and what other historic buildings run the same risk. If you have similar concerns, you should know that the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) is accepting nominations to its 2010 'America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places' list. More »

Downtown Spaces for Tacoma Notables

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:35:00 -0800

Harry P. Cain Promenade (left) and Ben Gilbert Park (right) The City of Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved recommendations Oct. More »

Downtown Space Available

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:10:00 -0800

I really like LeRoy Jewelers' sense of humor. More »

Boring Campaign Signs 101

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Last name in bold red letters? Check. More »

Pierce County's History Detectives

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:40:00 -0700

Earlier this month, I spent some time with Susan Johnson and Katie Chase, two architectural historians at Tacoma-based Artifacts Consulting -- a firm commissioned by the county this year to survey historic sites in Pierce County. The results will be compiled in a database that will be available to historians, educators, researchers, and the general public online via the Pierce County Library System by next year. More »

TDI Mail Bag III

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:05:00 -0700

A couple months have passed since we cracked open the TDI Mail Bag. Here are a couple interesting items that landed on my desk this week at Tacoma Daily Index 'world headquarters.' First, much has been written about Pacific Plaza's renovation. More »

Invisible Ink Downtown

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:20:00 -0700

This was the picture in April . . More »

PHOTOS -- Downtown Bank Robbery

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:22:00 -0700

Here are some quick photos from the downtown bank robbery / bomb investigation near 9th and A Street . . More »

The Notes of Spanish Steps

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:20:00 -0700

Anyone who has dared to visit downtown Tacoma's 93-year-old Spanish Steps in recent weeks might have noticed a curious feature: an array of personal notes and messages scrawled on the columns, decorative urns and pedestals. At first glance, it is nothing more than graffiti. More »

Downtown's Lost Block

TDI-Reporters-Notebook — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:20:00 -0700

When the Luzon Building is knocked down this weekend, it will be a significant loss to Tacoma's architectural history. It will also mark the loss of yet another old building that once comprised a stretch of Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. More »