🏗️ Tacoma Tower Redevelopment Is on Hold

If you’ve ever walked through downtown Tacoma, you’ve probably seen the iconic high-rise at 1119 Pacific Avenue — the tall, stately building that once held the title of the tallest building on the West Coast.

For years, there’s been talk of redeveloping it into Tacoma Tower — a modern space blending apartments, offices, and ground-floor retail to breathe new life into the historic building.

But now, those plans are officially on hold.

🧱 What Happened to Tacoma Tower?

While developers had ambitious plans to transform the tower into a mixed-use urban hub, the project has hit multiple snags:

• Permits have been canceled, halting any immediate redevelopment work.

• Legal disputes over debt repayment are ongoing, leaving the building in limbo.

• The structure remains vacant, despite its prime location and historical significance.

The developers have expressed interest in moving forward eventually, but as of now, no timeline has been announced for resuming the project.

🏙️ Why It Matters for Downtown Tacoma

The project was seen as a potential catalyst for downtown revitalization — part of a broader effort to reimagine downtown Tacoma as a walkable, livable district with more housing, entertainment, and street-level energy.

But it’s also a reminder of how complex urban redevelopment can be, especially when it involves older buildings, layers of ownership, and large-scale financing.

📍 A Bit of History
Originally built in the early 20th century, the tower at 1119 Pacific Ave has long been a defining feature of Tacoma’s skyline. It stood as a symbol of the city’s early economic rise — and now serves as a litmus test for what the future of downtown could look like.

For now, it waits — still standing tall, but without a clear path forward.

📨 Want more updates like this?
Subscribe to the South Sound Report — your go-to Friday update on local stories, real estate, new developments, and events across Tacoma, Olympia, and beyond.

👉 SouthSoundReport.com