South Tacoma Community Center

Location
At their Feb. 12, 2007 meeting, the Board adopted the recommendation from the 15 member Steering Committee to develop SERA as the preferred site for the South Tacoma Community Center.

What's Planned for Your Park
We've begun work to develop an exciting new regional 75-acre community complex to bring multiple programs and services to the South Tacoma region. This new urban complex will include elements maintained by Metro Parks Tacoma such as a community center, a sports complex, outdoor adventure multiplex, and trails systems, in partnership with Tacoma Public School's new Gray Middle School and Boys and Girls Club Topping Regional Hope Center. A proposed Sound Transit center is just 2 blocks away from this site.



STCC Pre-Design Study - completed 04/15/09

View Predesign Document
Click here to read more about the Pre-Design Study.

STCC Selection of Site & Program Elements Project - completed 02/20/08
Click here to read more about the decision to develop SERA.

Budget - Design, Permitting & Construction
Total $14,000,000 ($4,776,370 STCC Bond Funds; $4,240,150 Rec Facility Bond Funds; $1,066,500 WA State CTED Grant (awarded May 2007 & Supplemented March 2008); $987,500 CTED Grant (awarded April 2009); $2,929,480 still to be determined 
The Parks Improvement Bond Measure, approved by the citizens of Tacoma in November of 2005, provides $5,000,000 for South Tacoma Community Center.
Additional Funding:
• On March 10, 2008 the Board of Park Commissioners approved allocating $4,240,150 of funds from the 2005 Park Improvement Bond Program's 'Partnership Contribution' category towards development of the South Tacoma Community Center. Resolution No. R20-08
• Representative Steve Conway and Senator Rosa Franklin successfully lobbied the legislature for $500,000 in state funding for development of the new South Tacoma Community Center. The governor signed the bill April 1, 2008.
The total project cost to develop the South Tacoma Community Center and the outdoor recreational elements has been estimated to range between $18 to $23 million dollars. A grant application to the State of Washington is in the works for an additional $5 million. Additional funding is required.
This project is anticipated to increase MPT's maintenance and operations work levels plus related costs.

Scope of Work - Design Permitting & Construction
Schematic Design Phase - start 05/11/09 / completed 09/24/09
Architectural Program Summary
Design Development Phase
Construction Documents Phase
Bidding Phase
Construction Phase

Project Status - Design, Permitting & Construction
10/21/09  CB Richard Ellis has completed a study for the resale value of the Manitou Center property.
09/25/09 In response to questionable peat soils at the building site, $1 million will be required for a piling (stone column) foundation. A Design Development phase review is anticipated in February.
09/24/09 Schematic Design phase is completed. A presentation to the CPG is scheduled for 09/25/09. An analysis of funding options was presented to the Park Board on 09/21/09. Conditional Use permit application materials are being prepared.
09/11/09 The procurement of fixtures and equipment (approx. $1 million) is expected to be a separate project.
08/28/09 A LEED Eco-Charette was conducted by Miller/Hull architects. This is a requirement of the LEED process. Additional ideas/concepts providing LEED points were identified. The project is currently rated at the Silver classification.
08/14/09 The project has been reduced. The ponds will be lined so that the aquifers will be protected. We will need to provide shade trees in the parking area. The grass will not be irrigated and will include eco turf. The building will be Silver Leed certified. No improvements have been proposed for the school's old shop building - we're talking to the school about bringing the building into our project. Because of the limited budget, inventory to fill the building is not included and will need to be identified elsewhere. A commercial realtor (CB Richard Ellis) has been selected and is being placed under contract to investigate the possible lease or sale of the Manitou Center property as part of efforts to raise funds for the project. Schematic Design phase is being completed. A presentation to the Steering Committee occurred on 08/11/09 and a presentation to the CPG is scheduled for 08/14. An analysis of funding options is being developed for review with the park Board and conditional Use permit application materials are being prepared.
07/17/09 The building needs to be downsized to 31,000 square feet - the large meeting room has been reduced as have space allocations in the exercise equipment and common areas. Peat soils at the building site are making the foundation more expensive. Shared parking with the B&G Club remains an issue. A consultant firm will be hired to do a traffic study as part of the project permitting. A LEED Charette will be held from 10 am to 1 pm on August 28 after the regular CPG meeting.
06/05/09 We continue to investigate the sale of Manitou Center. An RFP is being advertised 06/09/09 for real estate economic assistance. This does not mean that MPT has made a specific decision regarding when or how to dispose of the property. This effort is primarily focusing on providing info to help the Board make decisions regarding the future of the property. We intend to begin a feasibility study for supplemental fundraising for STCC - Schematic Design phase is underway for the reduced floor area design. Conditional Use permit application materials are being prepared.
05/08/09 A project Scope Definition was approved on 05/01/09. Revisions to project space and facility program are under way.
05/01/09 We have confirmation from the State Legislature regarding their contribution to project funding. The project budget shows $2,949,480 remaining to be raised.
04/24/09 At the last COW meeting the board agreed on the size of the building at approx. 32,000 square feet with a budget of approximately $14 million. April 27 the Board will vote to approve an extensin to Miller-Hull's contract for the schematic design development phases of design. The Project Steering Committee will continue. There are a number of complicated permits to go thru - much is dependent on aquisition of the property and an understanding with the City.
April 15, 2009 Predesign Document
Prepared by The Miller/Hull Partnership, LLP
Cover/Contents/Participants
Section 1 - Executive Summary
Section 2 - Program Analysis
Section 3 - Site Analysis
Section 4 - Sustainability
Section 5 - Technical Requirements
Section 6 - Estimate of Probable Costs
Section 7 - Option 1E / Option 1E with Partners / Proposed Elevations / Proposed Building Sections / View to Southeast / View from Southeast
Section 8 - Preliminary concept Plan Summary Report
Section 9 - Preliminary Geotechnical Engineering Report submitted by E3RA, Inc. November 7, 2008 

Project Schedule
• Planning - May 2009
• Design Development - July 2009
  Miller-Hull Partnership
• Completion of design docs & submittal for approval - Oct. 2009
• Completion of Construction & Bidding Documents - March 2010
• All funding must be Secured before Bidding - May 27, 2010
• Construction begin - June 2010
• Occupancy - November 2011

Green Construction Sustainability Considerations
Metro Parks is obligated to meet LEED Silver requirements by the State CTED grant conditions of award. The project manager, Ken Cornwall is a LEED Accredited Professional. All project stakeholders will participate in sustainability forums during the design phase. These collaborations will be managed as elements of the Integrated Design System set up for implementation of the LEED process. MPT's sustainable landscaping goals will govern the execution of site improvements for this project.

Community & Board Participation
  • Project Steering Committee - Public users of the new facilities will be represented during planning by a Project Steering Committee with members drawn from the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, South End Neighborhood Council, South Tacoma Way Business District, Tacoma School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, MPT's Arts Advisory Committee, MPT's Sports & Aquatics Advisory Commitee, Tacoma Police Department and MPT's recreation and operations staff. 
  • Upcoming Meetings
    - Public meeting at conclusion of Schematic Design Phase - TBA
    - Public meeting at conclusion of Design Development Phase - TBA
  • Completed meetings
    - May 6, 2009     at Baker Middle School - Open house to share info about possible land exchange
    - March 10, 2009 at Gray Middle School - Metro Parks staff, project architects, steering committee members and our partners from the Boys & Girls Clubs and Tacoma Public Schools want to hear your ideas about our design concepts for the new South Tacoma Community Center and surrounding campus.
    - January 15, 2009 at South Park Community Center - ten citizens attended and reviewed the work of the architects
    - Introduce project and solicit public comment during the Summer Sounds & Cinema event at SERA on 08/23/08
  • Board Meetings & Resolutions
    Board Meetings
    - Study Session - 02/23/09
    - Study Session - 03/16/09
    Board Capital Improvement Committee
    Find out more about the Board of Park Commissioners.
  • Events
    - Ground Breaking Ceremony - TBA
    - Opening Ceremony - TBA 
  • Metro Parks' Public Participation Policy.
  • Send us your comments about this project.

Last Updated: Nov 4, 2009 9:57 AM