Although Tacoma's eight Neighborhood Councils are similar in many ways, the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council faces one challenge most others do not. Members must address the concerns of several diverse areas within the Council's boundaries, including some of the city's largest industrial and commercial zones, in addition to several residential neighborhoods.
Perhaps one of the Council's greatest accomplishments came in its work to create a neighborhood park at 8th and I streets. Working in cooperation with Metro Parks and Tacoma CARES, the Council was instrumental in the transformation of what was once a blighted, vacant lot into a cherished spot for neighborhood children. They even went so far as to use a portion of their bond money to purchase a dilapidated and vacant building next to the park, demolished it and install a new basketball court in its place. The first phase of the project gained national attention when it received an award at the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference in 1996.
- Our stories, Our times: A Retrospective Of Achievements (1999)
Visit the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council website for more information.
New Tacoma Neighborhood Council Profile
Location
The New Tacoma Neighborhood Council is the most unique of all of the neighborhood council areas. The name New Tacoma is derived from the New Tacoma Addition based on the platting of the City of Tacoma. This neighborhood council area consists of several smaller and identifiable neighborhood areas. Within these neighborhood areas, there is a diverse mixture of housing, businesses, and industries that provide a challenge in designing, implementing, and balancing city resources. The New Tacoma is bounded by Marine View Drive and Foss Waterway to the east; South "L" Street to the west; North 5th and Schuster Parkway to the north; and I-5 to the south. Within these boundaries the following neighborhood areas have been identified: Dome District; Downtown Business District; Hillside Neighborhood; Midtown Neighborhood; Port Industrial Area; Stadium; Wright Park; Hawthorn; Carr Hill; and Lower Pacific Avenue.
This neighborhood council is bounded by the Northeast Tacoma, Eastside (ENACT) Neighborhood Council, North End, and Central Neighborhood Council areas. In several instances, they share common boundaries and collaborate in joint projects.
Area Vision
This area’s vision is optimistic, and includes a variety of issues and concerns as the City of Tacoma moves forward in addressing the economic vitality, housing, mixed uses of existing structures, art, culture and tourism, international trade, social service related activities, educational opportunities, waterfront developments, transportation, and infrastructure improvements that make Tacoma "#1 Wired City" in America.
The vision is to create a blueprint for public-private investments to address the needs and concerns of a community in transition while keeping in mind how the area relates to other areas of the city. Tacoma, as an international city and a major player in the Puget Sound area, must focus its attention to a more comprehensive approach to meeting the needs and demands that complement this development effort. The vision can be best achieved by revisiting and utilizing existing plans and documents, developing implementation strategies based on realistic goals, and establish a policy of inclusiveness for all the citizens of Tacoma.