A Modest Proposal

The Tribune had an article yesterday with some info on The Commencement's potential default on their property overlooking Ruston Way. (Hat tip Exit133.com) This begs the question, was it the scale of the project that was trouble, was it the high price of the condos (near a million). Or maybe they just spent way too much money on billboards all over Tacoma for a project not yet built.

So what do you do with the land now? Here's a radical idea: Cheney Stadium II. Move the Tacoma Rainiers to the shore of Commencement Bay in a beautiful new stadium with water views and one of the best Mount Rainier views around. Think AT&T Park in San Francisco. Or better yet, the classic: Candlestick. We could have a better park than Safeco for much cheaper, just by choosing a better location.

Moving the Rainiers out of their Central Tacoma to the waterfront would help sell tickets and bring even more life to the waterfront. Not to mention: you don't have to build condos over an environmental cleanup site. Many may not be willing to move over a former smelter, but plenty wouldn't mind going to a baseball game there.

Worried about traffic? What better reason to connect the Dome's garage with Ruston via light rail. Heck, even use the Burlington Northern line and run a rail shuttle up and down the tracks before and after games.

It's got my vote!