Few places in Tacoma are more ideal to play host to a meeting about the neighborhood revitalization than Neighborhood Coffee House & Espresso.

Its building is a former single-family house built in 1926 on McKinley Hill in Tacoma. It fell into disrepair over the decades, and the city eventually shuttered the derelict building. When an investor purchased it, he discovered rooms jammed with dirty mattresses, half-eaten food, syringes and crack pipes.

Now it's a laid-back coffee shop serving a neighborhood shrugging off its reputation of crime and reinvesting in itself. So perhaps it shouldn’t be a shock that about 25 people crammed into the largest room of the Craftsman-style home to talk to County Councilman Tim Farrell, Cross-District Business Association Chairman Marty Campbell and county council candidate Carolyn Merrival to discuss issues like economic revitalization, improvements to infrastructure, the prevention of sprawl, conservation of open space and stimulating business growth.

The meeting felt like a neighborhood discussion, with Farrell and Campbell nominally moderating. And much of it focused on the varying visions of the future of Pierce County.

“When you talk development,” Farrell said, “you need to think 10-20 years out. Try to look long-term for where you want to go.”

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Connor Rataezyk’s feet didn’t reach the ground as he sat in the captain’s chair. He stared in amazement at the board of knobs and switches as a wide smile grew across his face.

“It’s really cool!” the 7-year-old exclaimed after a chance to tour the Commencement, the Tacoma Fire Department’s newly refurbished fireboat.

Connor’s grandparents were impressed too. Jerry and Sandi Rataezyk were among hundreds at the Commencement Bay Maritime Fest on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma. They toured the dozens of boats – mostly tugs and other working vessels – moored along floats near Dock Street. The steady drumbeat from nearby dragon boats thumped through the air and mixed with the chattering of families touring the ships and viewing what rows of vendors were selling. In the distance, an Army landing craft ferried festivalgoers past the waterfront.

“We think this is a great way to spend the day,” Sandi Rataezyk said. “It lets everyone know what’s going on on the waterfront. It shows what we can do.”

“Most people have no idea,” Jerry added.

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We're heading out to the Maritime Fest -- and the East Side -- today.