Monday May 4, 2026
Cookies & Cider from 5:30 p.m.
MONTHLY MEETING 6:00 pm
****MEETING ROOM LOCATION****
University of Puget Sound
Presentation Room (#102) in the Welcome Center
(N. 15th St. and N. Alder St)
Virtual – Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 882 2046 7648
Passcode: 649767
Historic Preservation
A History of the North Union Avenue Greenway
Agenda
- Introductions and welcome—
- Announcements —
- Standard Liaison Reports
Police – CLO Kristen Braziel
Fire – Josh Schlesner
Parks – Alisa O’Hanlon Regala
City Manager’s Office – Christina Caan
- Council Member Reports
- Tacoma News Tribune – Isha Trivedi – City Hall Reporter
- Marshall McClintock on “Historic Preservation: A History of the North Union Avenue Greenway”.
The North Union Avenue Greenway is a unique vernacular landscape developed from 1886 to 1964 centered between the traffic lanes of the 18 blocks of North Union Avenue between North 9th Street and North 30th Street. Marshall, on behalf of Historic Tacoma, is in the process of nominating the North Union Avenue Greenway to the City of Tacoma Register of Historic Places.
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
Our next meeting will be on Monday June 1 for regular Liaison, City and Council Member reports and will include speakers from Tacoma Public Works on Connect Tacoma – Safe Streets and Sidewalks Initiative Connect Tacoma is a measure approved by the City Council on April 14 and will be included on the primary election ballot in August. If approved, the measure would authorize a 1.5% increase in utility-earnings tax and an increase in property tax of $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value. City officials claim the utility-earnings tax would cost about $1.97 per month and the property tax would cost the average Tacoma home about $8.46 per month, raising $200M (plus an estimated $120M in grants) over 10 years.
Please submit questions to prepare our speakers to address your interest areas
The NENC provides a forum for education and discussion of issues of interest to members of our community. The NENC does not endorse the opinions of speakers or any proposed legislation unless otherwise noted.
May is Historic Preservation Month
National Historic Preservation Month was established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in order to promote historic preservation and community pride in local historic sites. A central aspect of any celebration of preserving history and heritage invites us to acknowledge that Tacoma’s history is layered and complex. It begins with the fact that we inhabit the traditional lands of the Puyallup Tribe, who have lived here for thousands of years and continue to do so. During this month of May, there will be many great opportunities to enjoy a variety of events celebrating Tacoma’s past.
City of TacomaHistoric Preservation Program
https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/planning-and-development-services/historic-preservation/ The website provides numerous links to resources about Tacoma’s history:
• Tacoma’s Historic Districts and Landmarks • Self-guided Walking Tours • Advocacy • Historical Research • Historic Preservation Programs • On-demand Virtual Tours • Historic Perspective: Video Interviews and Lecture Archive
There are over 190 properties individually listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, which includes registered City Landmarks in addition to Historic Districts and Conservation Districts. These landmark buildings and properties range in age from the 1870’s to the 1950’s and are scattered throughout the City, representing a wide variety of perspectives, architectural design and local history.
City of Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission. This Commission is currently working on the nomination of the North Union Avenue Greenway to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places.
Tacoma’s Local Historical Organizations
• Historic Tacoma www.historictacoma.org
Many resources are available on this website including the wonderful new audio for the “The Proctor Neighborhood History and Walking Tour.”
• Tacoma Historical Society www.tacomahistory.org
Tacoma History Museum is currently in the process of moving into the UWT District. This group sponsored the “Historic Home Tour” on May 2nd and 3rd and will have many more events coming up.
Tacoma’s History Museums’ Upcoming Events
• Job Carr Museum www.jobcarrmuseum.org
• Washington State History Museum washingtonhistory.org
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
https://www.parkstacoma.gov/place/fort-nisqually-living-history-museum
Tacoma’s Heritage Tree Program
“ Trees are living historians, patient observers writing the story of life around them in each year’s new growth ring.” City of Tacoma Heritage Tree website
If you would like to learn about Tacoma’s current list of Heritage Trees, please go to their website.
Also, you will find information about how you can nominate a Heritage Tree.
Tacoma Tree Foundation www.tacomatreefoundation.org
Wed., May 13, 5:30, Bike Ride: “Monkey Puzzle/Sequoia Map and Roll”,
Meet at the Wright Park Conservator
Sat., May 30 5:00-8:00, “Reach Out and Take Root”, TTF Fundraiser, Eastside Community Center,
Speaker: Warren King George, Muckleshoot Oral Historian,
Dinner, Community, Silent Auction, Jazz Under the Firs
At Large and District Council Members:
https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_council
CM John Hines represents citizens District 1 CM Sarah Rumbaugh represents citizens District 2
Three Council Members represents citizens in At-Large:
Kristina Walker Position 8, Olgy Diaz Position 7 and Latasha Palmer Position 6
North End Neighborhood Council Board
Direct your questions or comments to: officers@gmail.org
Chair- Peter Bennett, Vice-Chair- Tobi Bet, Treasurer- Jodi Cook, Secretary- Bonnie O’Leary,
Joe Tieger, Georgette Reuter, Geoff Corso, Danielle Villegas, Sandra Strong, Deb Anderson, Joe Strong, Michael Haines
NENC Meeting Topics
- June 1 – Connect Tacoma Safe Streets and Sidewalks Initiative
- July 6 – Home in Tacoma – Environmental Services (Director Chavez)
- August 3 – 4:30 pm Tree Walk followed at 6:00 pm with Lowell Wyse’s presentation of “Tacoma’s Urban Forest”
- September 14 – Business Development/Port of Tacoma
- October 5 – Election Forum
- November 2 – Cushman/Adams update; (NENC Board Elections)
- December 7 – Climate Action