Station Art Features:
Artwork at this station reflects a former Buddhist temple in the
area. Note the towers of rock. Colored panels in the station canopies reflect
Tacoma's place in the glass art world.
Station Design:
Double-tracked. Platforms on either side of the street.
Links:
Area Links:
- Tacoma Convention Center
- Mariott Courtyard Hotel (incorporating the Waddell Building)
- Pacific Steps
- Sheraton Hotel
- DaVita (former Schoenfelds) More:
Peter Sandberg Building
- 1501 Pacific
Ben's Thoughts
This station, due to all the construction in the area, sees little
ridership now. However, the day I took these pictures several people were
getting on or off of the train here. When the Convention Center is finished
this station should see lots of ridership, especially if the extension to the
Puyallup Indian casino is built. Convention goers could ride to the casino or
stay at the casino's hotels. Even without this extension, conventioneers and
hotel guests can use Link to go either to the museums at
Union Station
or to the theaters at the
Theater District, as well as go
to the shops and restaurants at the
Tacoma Dome Station. I would
fully expect heavy ridership from this station in the future.
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Stone tower, Convention Center
Station
Map of Convention Center
Area (click to enlarge)
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History
This area of Tacoma was kind of the "bad part" of town, although
the architecture of the buildings suggest that it was pretty nice at one time.
Where the Pacific Steps is being built had been a bunch of decaying old
buildings. Most of these buildings were torn down in the 1980's, except for a
couple (one being the Waddell Building) that are being preserved currently. The
area in front of the Convention enter had been know for drug and other
problems; among other things it held several homeless shelters. The changes in
this area have made it FAR more attractive, and when the hotel and Convention
Center are complete this should be a vibrant area.
Across Pacific stands the Peter Sandberg Building, the former home
of Schoenfelds, a large furniture store. I have memories of
going there with my parents in my younger days, and it being floors and floors
of furniture on display. In the late 90's it was converted for use by Total
Renal Care, now DaVita. The building next door is being used by the Tacoma
Technology Center. All of these buildings have been extensively restored in
recent years.
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