Press Releases

Massive Revitalization of Tillicum Continues

Details: Category: Press Releases; Published on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 10:02; Hits: 284

City of Lakewood Continues Massive Revitalization Project of Tillicum Neighborhood

Habitat for Humanity partners with city to build much-needed new housing

As a part of an expansive revitalization project of Lakewood’s Tillicum neighborhood, approximately 30 new homes will be built in the next four years replacing dilapidated buildings and vacant lots in order to provide home ownership opportunities for low-income families. The new homes are being built through a partnership between the City of Lakewood and the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity.

“This exciting project is a vital part of the remarkable economic transformation that the Tillicum neighborhood is experiencing,” said Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz. “What was once a blighted and very undesirable area of the city is now being transformed to a welcoming residential area surrounded by a vibrant commercial district.”

In November and December 2011, a total of 13 derelict houses and structures that posed safety and health issues were razed, making room for eight new townhouses and seven detached single family homes. These 15 homes will be constructed on adjoining sites and approximately 15 additional units will be constructed on scattered sites throughout the neighborhood.

The new housing is a part of the Tillicum Neighborhood Plan that was adopted by the Lakewood City Council in June 2010. The plan included a massive $18 million sewer extension project in the Tillicum and Woodbrook neighborhoods, which was completed in October 2011. The system will improve overall water quality and public health, protect property values threatened by failing septic systems, and allow for new residential and commercial development. The 30 new homes will all be connected to the city sewer system.

The new housing is being paid for through both private and public funding. The nonprofit Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity is partnering with the City of Lakewood, which is contributing approximately $1.16 million made available through Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding. In addition, hundreds of volunteers will contribute their time and the future home owners will contribute 500 hours of sweat equity to their new homes.

“The response by Lakewood city officials and local community and civic organizations has been tremendous,” said Maureen Fife, executive director of the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity. “We selected Tillicum for this revitalization project because the neighborhood has endured economic challenges for years and the city is 100 percent committed to turning it around.”

Habitat for Humanity has previously built three homes in Lakewood. With the addition of these 30 new homes, Habitat and the City are looking to expand their partnership by eliminating blight and creating much needed homeownership opportunities for the residents of Tillicum.

Habitat for Humanity Groundbreaking in Tillicum

Details: Category: Press Releases; Published on Thursday, 08 December 2011 09:14; Hits: 307

City of Lakewood and Habitat for Humanity Break Ground for Over 30 New Homes

The City of Lakewood and Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity broke ground in Tillicum to make way for over 30 new homes. The homes will replace dilapidated buildings and vacant lots to provide home ownership opportunities for families making 30-50% of area median income ($21,150--$35,850 for a family of four).

The groundbreaking featured the actual demolition of buildings by City Officials, as one entire dilapidated structure was razed during the ceremony. City Manager Andrew Neiditz said the groundbreaking was “symbolic of the economic transformation that the Tillicum neighborhood is experiencing.”

The project was forged by a close relationship between the City and Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable homeownership opportunities to very low-income households throughout Pierce County. Habitat for Humanity has built over 180 units of affordable housing in Pierce County with only one foreclosure in its 26 year history.

City of Lakewood Receives $5.7 Million Grant from Department of Defense

Details: Category: Press Releases; Published on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 16:08; Hits: 519

The City of Lakewood received a $5.7 million grant from the Department of Defense to improve traffic circulation at Madigan Army Medical Center. Lakewood was one of eight successful applicants spread across the country that received a portion of the $300 million allocated by Congress for competition for transportation projects to improve access to military medical facilities affected by the most recent Base Realignment and Closure Commission round.

Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz said “this is a major step forward in the community’s support of JBLM. We are proud of the regional leadership role that Lakewood has played to help make this happen.”

Colonel Thomas Brittain, Joint Base Garrison Commander also noted that regional cooperation was critical in receiving the funding, and was complimentary of Lakewood in the process. Colonel Brittain stated “we're grateful to everyone involved, and to the city of Lakewood in particular, for their efforts to obtain DOD's approval for this important project. Joint Base Lewis-McChord has worked very closely with local, regional and state agencies to plan improvements to transportation infrastructure around the base. This project, when completed, will provide safer, smoother access to the joint base near Madigan Army Medical Center, improving access to this critical health care facility for beneficiaries while enhancing the flow of traffic in the area around the interchange. We look forward to continued cooperation with our neighbors as we confront shared challenges in our area."

The project relieves specific access and circulation issues that impede the provision of care at Madigan Army Medical Center. The improvements will alleviate congestion issues to Madigan throughout multiple peak hours of the morning, mid-day, and evening.

Safety is of paramount concern to WSDOT, JBLM, and the surrounding communities. This specific project proposal provides additional capacity for those accessing Madigan and significantly improves public safety by reducing congestion on the ramps to the I-5.

During a typical weekday the proposed project reduces the amount of total vehicular delay for the Berkeley Street corridor by over 662 hours.

Of the 1.4 million annual visitors to Madigan it is estimated that up to 50% or 700,000 patients, visitors, and patient care workers utilize the Berkeley Street interchange to access the facility. The existing Berkeley Street interchange at Freedom Bridge is a two-lane structure with one lane on-and-off ramps that do not provide sufficient capacity to meet demands especially during peak hours (morning, mid-day, and evening).

The agencies and service providers throughout the region were strongly behind this project. The South Sound Military & Communities Partnership Steering Committee at their meeting on September 30, 2011 unanimously approved the grant proposal submittal.

Lakewood Signs – Upcoming Changes

Details: Category: Press Releases; Published on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 15:54; Hits: 354

The Lakewood City Council adopted an Ordinance revising the City’s sign regulations in June 2011. Many of the changes were business-friendly allowing each business to continuously display one portable sign without a permit, as long as the sign is an A-frame, T-frame, or banner attached flat against the wall of the business. “We understand it is a tough economy for businesses right now and we wanted to provide them with the tools to increase visibility,” said City Manager Andrew Neiditz. Under prior law, similar signage required a permit.

One issue that was not addressed in June was the use of feather banners. The popularity of feather banners emerged after the Ordinance was complete. The Community Development Department issued a clarification on the use of feather banners indicating that these types of signs have different characteristics than A-frame or traditional banners displayed against a wall. The use of feather banners will require a temporary sign permit. “While we understand that these signs are currently popular because their movement draws attention to them, they have had the unintended consequence of creating blight along the City’s streets,” said Community Development Director Dave Bugher. Bugher noted that over time, the feather banners have an increased potential to become torn, frayed and faded. Numerous complaints have been received about the use of these signs, some of which have come from local businesses.

While the City has taken steps to increase business visibility through changing the sign code, City staff has noticed an increased amount of illegal signs along City streets. Much of this sign clutter comes from the overuse of temporary signs. Often the increased use of temporary signs by one business will compel nearby businesses to increase their signage which has an undesired effect on traffic safety, and community aesthetics. Effective immediately, where complaints have been filed regarding illegal temporary signs, Code Enforcement Officers will initiate enforcement efforts. Otherwise, beginning in January, 2012, the City will initiate proactive enforcement for those businesses that have installed illegal signs.

For more information regarding sign regulations, and the specific conditions for the portable signs, contact the City at (253) 512-2261. The regulations can be found in Chapter 18A of the Lakewood Municipal Code at http://municode.cityoflakewood.us/ .

Lakewood Community Collaboration Hosts Informational Forum

Details: Category: Press Releases; Published on Thursday, 20 October 2011 16:42; Hits: 525

The City of Lakewood’s Community Collaboration recently hosted an informational forum with special guest speakers representing the Department of Social and Health Services, Pierce County Community Connections and the Puyallup Homeless Coalition. The forum addressed the upcoming elimination of Disability Lifeline funding. Approximately 3,950 individuals in Pierce County have relied upon the $197.00 monthly cash allowance provided through Disability Lifeline funding. Once eliminated, clients will have access to hygiene and basic need items provided through local essential needs banks. In addition, some landlords may qualify to receive rental assistance in an effort to keep currently housed clients from becoming homeless. It is estimated fewer than 25% of those currently receiving benefits will qualify for housing supplements. Over 100 community members attended the forum including local Lakewood churches interested in identifying potential remedies to the increasing numbers of chronically homeless individuals in Lakewood. The Puyallup Homeless Coalition presented the Freezing Nights program; a program to house Puyallup’s chronically homeless during the months of October through March.