County council moves Garfield plans forward, declares “PLU Day”
June 08, 2006
The Pierce County Council on Tuesday night approved the “Garfield Streetscape Improvement Plan” and named Tuesday “PLU Day” in the county.
The plan is designed to improve the pedestrian experience on Garfield Street and surrounding blocks just east of campus.
Wider sidewalks, planters full of flowers, more lighting, pedestrian-friendly street crossings and other amenities will now be required elements of any new construction projects in the area under the ordinance passed by the council.
It is part of a wider economic development effort in the area referred to as the “Garfield Activity Center,” which, it is hoped, will bolster existing businesses and lure new business in by providing a ready-made environment for people to walk, shop and dine in the Garfield Street area.
PLU contributed $10,000 to the $40,000 it cost to create the plan, with the rest of the money coming from Pierce County.
The council also declared June 6, 2006 to be “Pacific Lutheran University Day” in Pierce County. The resolution was passed “to recognize (PLU’s) leadership, wisdom and vision realized in the opening of the Morken Center for Learning and Technology.”
PLU was directly involved in the planning process for both the Garfield Activity Center and the Garfield Streetscape Improvement Plan. Director of Auxiliary Services Mark Mulder said he is thrilled by the passage of the ordinance.
“It’s definitely been a rewarding process because of the collaboration between so many partners,” Mulder said. “The exciting part is that when we get to the actual completion of the streetscape, it will be a great resource for both the community and the PLU campus, and it will serve our area for generations to come.”
The plan’s approval puts it in line among other county projects awaiting funding. Council members and planning team members will also be out looking for auxiliary funding. In the meantime, any major projects undertaken in the area must conform to the new standards established by the plan.
The improvements to the pedestrian experience on and near Garfield Street dovetail nicely with PLU’s planned new bookstore. The new bookstore is being built on the corner of Garfield Street and Pacific Avenue and is intended to serve both the PLU community and the local community.
Construction on the new bookstore is awaiting final permit approval by the county’s planning and land services division. The construction timeline originally called for the bookstore to be open by the end of December, but Mulder said early spring is now more likely.
The News Tribune published at editorial about the project on Friday, June 9. Click here to read it.
Wider sidewalks, planters full of flowers, more lighting, pedestrian-friendly street crossings and other amenities will now be required elements of any new construction projects in the area under the ordinance passed by the council.
It is part of a wider economic development effort in the area referred to as the “Garfield Activity Center,” which, it is hoped, will bolster existing businesses and lure new business in by providing a ready-made environment for people to walk, shop and dine in the Garfield Street area.
PLU contributed $10,000 to the $40,000 it cost to create the plan, with the rest of the money coming from Pierce County.
The council also declared June 6, 2006 to be “Pacific Lutheran University Day” in Pierce County. The resolution was passed “to recognize (PLU’s) leadership, wisdom and vision realized in the opening of the Morken Center for Learning and Technology.”
PLU was directly involved in the planning process for both the Garfield Activity Center and the Garfield Streetscape Improvement Plan. Director of Auxiliary Services Mark Mulder said he is thrilled by the passage of the ordinance.
“It’s definitely been a rewarding process because of the collaboration between so many partners,” Mulder said. “The exciting part is that when we get to the actual completion of the streetscape, it will be a great resource for both the community and the PLU campus, and it will serve our area for generations to come.”
The plan’s approval puts it in line among other county projects awaiting funding. Council members and planning team members will also be out looking for auxiliary funding. In the meantime, any major projects undertaken in the area must conform to the new standards established by the plan.
The improvements to the pedestrian experience on and near Garfield Street dovetail nicely with PLU’s planned new bookstore. The new bookstore is being built on the corner of Garfield Street and Pacific Avenue and is intended to serve both the PLU community and the local community.
Construction on the new bookstore is awaiting final permit approval by the county’s planning and land services division. The construction timeline originally called for the bookstore to be open by the end of December, but Mulder said early spring is now more likely.
The News Tribune published at editorial about the project on Friday, June 9. Click here to read it.