Thea Foss Waterway

Foss Waterway Seaport

 

Tacoma, Washington

 

The planning of this project started with a series of public meetings that involved citizen public input. As a result, many proposed ideas were incorporated into the final design. The design team and the public worked closely to develop the ABC slogan: Access, Boating, Character, which became the motto for this project. The vision was to bring the city to the water once again and re-establish the maritime character as the "front door" of the city. The downtown city plan grid was extended to the Waterway. View corridors provide water views from the city and access from Dock Street. Recognizable and fond images of Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest are incorporated into the design of the esplanade components through integral art. The development parcels are defined by esplanade, view corridors, and Dock Street. The esplanade is for pedestrian use only, motorized vehicles and bicycles are confined to Dock Street. Marinas are just now in the process of being built as in-water cleanup is completed. The project was done in association with Zimmer Gunsul Frasca as the design architect.