RESTORATION! It's about Time!

Seriously now...How long has Tacoma waited for someone to step up and take on the humongus task of restoring the Elks Building? Oh my gosh! Every single time I get off on the Stadium Way exit I have to cringe and make a comment (possibly an expletive) about the fact that the (at the time) owner of the building was being so pig headed (that means stubborn) about allowing it to be saved, all because of some old feud with the city over a "hand slapping." Now...That beautiful piece of architecture has a chance to be refurbished. It will have life breathed in to it again and it WILL come alive. Yea! Hmmm, what will I complain about:-) The Winthrop Hotel will hopefully be getting the opportunity also.

An article in the Tacoma News Tribune, (Sunday, October 1, 2006) titled "The Winthrop" a return to glory," Tells us a little bit about two men who have stepped up to bring the Winthrop back to it's hey day status.

Tim Quigg of Aberdeen and Chester Trabucco, Tim's partner in restoration. These two guys are responsible for the restoration of the historic Morck Hotel in Aberdeen. Their vision is to restore the Winthrop and turn it in to a four star hotel. It's been done in Portland with the Benson and the Paramount Hotels, the Paramount in Seattle and many others in other cities.

An Oakland, California company holds an option to purchase the Winthrop for $5.2 million and plans are to turn it in to low income housing. HELLOOOO...just what Tacoma needs in the middle of the downtown area that has struggled to come back from blight! Just my opinion, mind you. Anyway, the Oakland company's option to buy expires on October 28 and if that happens, because of a conditional agreement, the Quigg group could then purchase it for $6.1 million.

So, not only would Quigg and Trabucco revive this grand piece of Tacoma's history but they have offered to build 250 units of subsidized housing to replace the 170 units that would be lost because of their purchasing the Winthrop. Geez! That's what I call a good sport!

Now let's take care of the "Ford" Building's Crystal Ballroom!