Political Buzz - Tacoma looks to Denmark to rescue Tollefson Plaza from its funk

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Monday, March 24th, 2008

Tacoma looks to Denmark to rescue Tollefson Plaza from its funk

Posted by Jason Hagey @ 09:44:23 am

Danish architect and lecturer Lars Gemzoe is coming to Tacoma next month to talk about making downtown Tacoma a more inviting and people-friendly place, particularly the moribund Tollefson Plaza.

City Manager Eric Anderson and Councilman Jake Fey spent about an hour visiting Gemzoe at his office last year when they traveled to Sweden and Denmark as part of a tour organized by International Sustainable Solutions.

"He's a brilliant architect," Anderson said.

Anderson and Fey were discussing ways they could apply what learned from their trip and apply it to downtown Tacoma, and decided to arrange for the visit.

Gemzoe is the co-author of "New City Spaces, Strategies and Projects," and "Public Spaces, Public Life." He is a senior consultant and associate partner of Gehl Architects, and a senior lecturer of urban design at the Center for Public Space Research at the the School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

He is expected to give a presentation at the City Council study session April 22, and meet with the Tollefson Plaza and Century Park Design Group, the city said.

The city is paying $15,000 to bring Gemzoe to town.

City officials may return to Sweden and Denmark this fall for another urban sustainability tour. Anderson said he intends to make another visit, and he's hoping to persuade as many council members as possible to join him.

Categories: Tacoma • 2 comments

COMMENTS:

Comment by scottsch111 @ 11:53 - Monday, March 24th, 2008

$15,000: Best money spent by the City in a long time!

Comment by nineinchnachos @ 17:23 - Monday, March 24th, 2008

http://www.holisticforgeworks.com/

I already fixed Tollefson PLaza with my Goddess of Commerce statue. We don't need no stinking danes!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tacoma-political-cartoonist/2224313913/

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