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Tours
Take a first-hand look at what Tacoma has done to revitalize itself. Choose from:
Space is limited for mobile tours – please send just one person from your city on each tour. Tours limited to registered delegates.
Wednesday afternoon
Boat tour
Tour the Thea Foss Waterway for a spectacular vision of a big economic development project. But that’s not what this tour is really about. From your vantage point, you’ll see the smaller components, vital to waterfront
economic development, that can be scaled down to fit any community size.
Take a look at habitat restoration, and how urban features and the ecosystem mix together—a unique combination that’s good for good economic development. Focus on elements like the walkways that bring people down to the
waterway, making it a vital part of the community.
Tour limited to 70.
Thursday morning
Walking tour
Experience a variety of urban living options--both new and historic rehab and repurposed market rate housing, in different stages of development. See how these properties serve as an economic driver. To attract new
businesses, Tacoma uses downtown housing to meet retailers’ needs. Market rate housing creates an environment for other activities, from local theatre to community fairs and events. Residents create vibrancy. See how these
properties serve as an economic driver.
Tour limited to 40. Wear comfortable shoes, tour includes some hills.
Thursday morning
Bus and Walking Tour
Tacoma's Salishan Housing Project rose in 1943, serving first veterans and military families, then low-income families and immigrants. Crime plagued the community over the years, but residents organized to make their
neighborhood a better place.
After 60 years, the Tacoma Housing Authority received a $35 million HOPE VI grant to revitalize Salishan, along with other public and private funding. You’ll see the transformation of existing homes into a new mixed-use
development that will still serve low-income families, as well as homeowners and market-rate renters. The new community will also feature a new health and dental clinic, a new education/technology center, and an expanded
childcare facility.
Tour limited to 45.
Thursday afternoon
Bus and walking tour
You’ll visit a variety of districts, giving you a flavor of the different environments that make Tacoma a livable and progressive city. In each of the districts, you’ll see applications that can successfully be replicated
in cities of all sizes.
Find out what’s been done in the city’s core district. Look at the planning that’s taken place in each district, the application of main street program elements, streetscaping and the interaction with neightborhood
councils. You’ll hear how the different districts work with their downtown associations.
Tour limited to 45.
Friday morning
Boat tour
Take an inside look at the Port of Tacoma--an independent, municipal corporation that operates under state-enabling legislation. Created by Pierce County citizens in 1918, the port has 2,400 acres (972 hectares) that are
used for shipping terminal activity and warehouse, distributing, and manufacturing.
Port activities account for more than 43,000 jobs in Pierce County, and 113,000 jobs in Washington state.
Tour limited to 45.
Immerse yourself in the world of Tacoma glass. Create a unique float or paperweight during a private group session at the Tacoma Glassblowing Studio. The studio delivers the finished piece to the convention center the
next day. Ticket purchase required.
Take all the time you want exploring Tacoma’s three downtown museums:
Buy a three-day, use any time pass for only $18 (one visit per museum). Tickets are purchased by visiting one of three museums listed above and presenting your AWC name badge. Be sure to keep the receipt, as this is your
ticket into the other museums.
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