A Historic Property Survey will be conducted within the Lincoln Mixed-Use Center (MUC) to inventory a sample of historic properties in June and July. Public input is sought to help select which buildings will be documented.

This inventory project is led by the City of Tacoma’s Historic Preservation Office in an effort to update the city’s inventory of historic and cultural resources. One goal of the inventory is to include thorough public outreach so that we better understand what is important to the community. This project reflects our dedication to equity and antiracism and the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented.

The project will record 100 buildings over 50 years of age, similar to the survey done for the McKinley neighborhood in 2021.

Buildings will be documented through digital photography from the public right-of-way along with field observations on construction, materials, function, and architectural features. Historical research will be done to address the broad patterns of development for the Lincoln neighborhood, not individual buildings. Inventory forms will be created in the online WISAARD database, maintained by DAHP. Current photos will also be uploaded with each form. A final public meeting will be held later this summer to report back on the project, including the survey findings.

The project is partially funded by a Certified Local Government grant in the amount of $11,000 from the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. As such, this project will comply with Washington State Standards for Cultural Resource Reporting, specifically standards for a reconnaissance-level survey. At a high level, this project will help the City’s Planning and Development Services office to better understand the historic resources in the Lincoln neighborhood, for the purposes of planning, research, economic investment, and public information. There is little existing data on historic properties within the Lincoln neighborhood. 

Do you have ideas about which buildings in the Lincoln Mixed-Use Center have historic and/or cultural significance? Let us know! 

Residents and business owners from the Lincoln neighborhood are encouraged to share suggestions on buildings with community and/or cultural value that they would like to be included in the 100 sample. Comments can be emailed to landmarks@cityoftacoma.org with “Lincoln Survey” in the subject line. 

We want to hear the stories behind the places. Whether it's an old family story or a recent reminiscence, tell us about the places in Lincoln which matter to you, and most importantly, why they matter to you.

Project Schedule

• June 9, 2022 - Project Kickoff (virtual)
• June - July 2022 - Research and field documentation
• August 2022 - Project wrap-up and public meeting to present findings

Documents

• Public Kickoff Presentation 
• Map of project area

Staff Contact

Susan Johnson, Historic Preservation Coordinator

Landmarks@cityoftacoma.org

(253) 281-7445

Past Projects

McKinley Hill Historic Resource Inventory (2021)

Project Description

During 2018-19, the City of Tacoma created a new set of design guidelines for the Old City Hall Historic District, located in the north end of downtown between South 9th Street, the 705 Stadium exit, A Street and Broadway.  Tacoma's first established historic district, created in 1978, Old City Hall Historic District is listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, the Washington State Heritage Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Consisting of approximately 40 buildings, the district represents some of Tacoma's earliest and most important surviving historic buildings, including the Northern Pacific Headquarters (1888), Old City Hall (1892) and the Elks Lodge (1915).

Within the district, development projects that affect the exterior appearance of buildings or public spaces require design approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, a volunteer citizen commission appointed by City Council to oversee historic preservation issues in Tacoma.  The Commission uses adopted historic standards and guidelines to determine whether projects are appropriate and in-keeping with the character of the area.  The Tacoma Municipal Code requires that, when a new historic district is established, a set of design guidelines be adopted to guide the design review process.  However, because the Old City Hall Historic District was created before this requirement was established, no guidelines have ever been formally adopted.  This project seeks to remedy this issue.

Status

Adopted.  Please see Old City Hall Historic District in the Historic Districts link to the left for more information.

Staff Contact
Reuben McKnight, Historic Preservation Officer
Email
(253) 591-5220