South Tacoma Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Tacomans struggle with high temperatures, heat and access to cooling varies across the city

By Lauren Gallup July 12, 2024

Tree canopy over a paved pathway through Tacoma's South Park on the afternoon of Friday, July 12. (Credit: Lauren Gallup / NWPB)

Four days a week, Kevin Ruby’s team is responding to calls and, often complaints, about people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma. “We always are trying to put people in touch with resources,” Ruby said. “It's just the resources right now, this week, last week, this time of year in general, include a lot more often water, cooling shelters, transportation to cooling Read More

Controversial Tacoma warehouse proposal moves forward

By Lauren Gallup October 10, 2023

The currently vacant site that developer Bridge Industrial is seeking to use for an industrial warehouse in South Tacoma. / Courtesy of Michelle Mood.

The City of Tacoma hearing examiner has upheld the city’s decision to issue a development permit for a mega-warehouse in South Tacoma. The permit decision was appealed by Seattle nonprofit EarthJustice, on behalf of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and 350 Tacoma, which argued that the city and developer hadn’t adequately analyzed the environmental impacts of the Read More

Mega-warehouse legal battle continues over traffic, water quality

By Lauren Gallup August 2, 2023

The site where Bridge Industrial has proposed building a warehouse in South Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Michelle Mood.

In South Tacoma, there is about 150 acres of land sitting vacant where dry grasses and trees cover an area that, in part, once served as a rail-yard for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Read More

Tacoma residents appeal permit decision for Bridge Industrial warehouse

By Lauren Gallup May 9, 2023

The property where a 2.5 million square-foot warehouse is being proposed in South Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Michelle Mood.

Two Tacoma groups have filed a joint-appeal against the city’s recent decision to issue a land-use permit for a highly controversial warehouse in South Tacoma. The South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and 350 Tacoma, a grassroots environmental organization, filed the appeal on May 5. Earthjustice, a non-profit, environmental law organization, is representing the groups. Read More

Bridge Industrial gets land use permits to develop warehouse in South Tacoma

By Lauren Gallup April 28, 2023

The City of Tacoma approved land use permits to develop a warehouse in South Tacoma. The decision came April 21 after over a year of feedback from residents and public agencies expressing environmental equity concerns over the development. Read More

Environmental justice concerns raised over Bridge Industrial warehouse proposal

By Lauren Gallup December 1, 2022

South Tacoma is heavily populated by industry, covered with concrete and pavement, where traffic clogs up around commuting times. Alejandro Fernández has lived in the area since 2018, and he knows the industrialization of the neighborhood well. He and others who call the area home enjoy the remaining Garry oak trees and green spaces. Read More

Planting trees for the Greening Research in Tacoma project

By Lauren Gallup November 8, 2022

Courtney Johnson with the Tacoma Tree Foundation, left, begins to plant a tree in a right-of-way in South Tacoma, with the help of volunteer Lana Hanford, right.

If a tree is planted with love and care, in the open space between sidewalk and street, outside of the home of its excited new caretaker, will it provide cooling canopy cover and deep roots to benefit soil structure? Odds are, yes. Read More

Tacoma Greening Project (GRIT) Wants Community Input On Trees

By Lauren Gallup July 5, 2022

A pop-up forest set up in the Tacoma Mall this past Earth Day as part of the GRIT project, as a way to engage the community with greening efforts and the science behind it. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

The Tacoma Mall Neighborhood has less green space and tree canopy than most of the city — and because of this, higher temperatures, which can cause illness and even death. The Greening Research in Tacoma, or GRIT project, is hoping to involve residents in efforts to curb these detriments.Read More