The Foss Waterway Development Authority is proud of the progress that has been made to reclaim what was once a SuperFund site.
We could not have done this alone and appreciate all the efforts put forth by our partners, both public and private.
As we continue our quest to make Tacoma's downtown waterfront a great place to live, work and play, we will update our website to reflect our newest projects.
Until then, we welcome you to come down and visit - we've got a lot for you to do...
21st Street Park

This small
park is the newest installation of public space on the waterway.
Built by the City of Tacoma and maintained by the Foss Waterway Owners
Association, this park has become one of the waterway's most popular
areas for early-morning tai chi groups, joggers of all ages, commuter
and recreational bike riders, and families looking for a little
exercise. Old-growth timbers from the former Municipal Dock
Building near the north end of the waterway were re-purposed into the
arbors and the open space design is intended for active use. While
large boulders provide great climbing opportunities for small children,
they also provide a convenient place for sitting and enjoying the fresh
air or reading your favorite novel or newspaper. Restrooms are
available on site and are open at varying times throughout the year.
During the summer/early fall months they will be open Mon-Fri 11:00 am -
7:00 pm and on Sat-Sun 9:00 am - 9:00 pm.
Museum of Glass 
This dramatic world-class museum celebrates contemporary and glass art
in a 55,000 square foot facility at the south end of the waterway.
Designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, the Museum of Glass
gives visitors a first-hand experience of the creative process in its
cone-shaped hot shop auditorium and exhibition halls. To contact the
Museum of Glass, please call (253) 396-1768.
(Photo
courtesy of Chuck Lysen)
Chihuly Bridge of Glass
The spectacular 500-foot pedestrian bridge links the Museum of Glass to the plaza at Union Station and frames the entrance to downtown. Conceived by Dale Chihuly, artist and native of Tacoma, and designed in collaboration with architect Arthur Anderson, it is a display of color and form soaring 70 feet into the air. The bridge showcases the largest collection of Chihuly glass in a permanent outdoor exhibit,
and is the City of Tacoma's gift to its citizens and visitors. You
are welcome to take as many photos of this fabulous collection as you
wish!
Albers Mill Development
Just
south of the Museum of Glass is the site of Albers Mill Lofts, a former 1904 brick cereal mill. Heritage
Properties of Anchorage, Alaska has rehabilitated the building,
incorporating some new construction and preserving some old. Albers
Mill houses the Traver Gallery and 36 loft apartments. To inquire
about apartment availability, please call (253) 627-5200.
Dock Street Marina & Delin Docks
Located at 1817 Dock Street on the south end of the Thea Foss Waterway
and situated near the Museum of Glass, Chihuly Bridge of Glass, Washington State History Museum and Tacoma Art Museum, the marina provides easy access to Downtown Tacoma and the light rail system. Dock Street Marina and Delin Docks were opened to the public in March,
2006. Slips are designed to attract and service larger boats, with
potable water, sewer connections and fiber optics available at all the slips.
Restrooms, showers and laundry facilities for Dock Street Marina are
located on the upland esplanade, just steps from your boat.
Dock Street
Marina was recently awarded 2009 Marina of the Year by
Marina Dock Age Magazine and
General Manager Craig Perry was named 2009
Tourism Professional
of the Year by the Tacoma
Regional Convention and
Visitors Bureau. Needless to say, the FWDA and Tacoma boating community are very proud of these accomplishments and we welcome sailors
from far and wide to come and enjoy our world-class facility.
Dock Street Marina and Delin Docks are the perfect places to tie up for a day or a week...so set sail and join us in the City of Destiny! For more information, please call (253) 272-4352
or e-mail your inquiry to
info@dockstreetmarina.com
Thea's Landing
Developed by Team Tacoma LLC, Thea's Landing has 188 residential
apartments, 47 condominium homes and 431 parking stalls. This $35
million project abuts the northern edge of the Museum of Glass. Total
square footage of Thea's Landing is about 343,600, including more than
19,000 square feet of retail/commercial space. Views of Mt. Rainier and
the waterway are complemented with a roof top garden and courtyard.
Apartments may be available for rent and you can receive more
information by calling (253) 572-8432.
The Esplanade
Originally
developed by Thea Foss Holdings, LLC and currently owned by i-Star
Financial, The Esplanade houses 162 condos, includes 19,000 square
feet of retail/commercial space and provides 280 secure parking
spaces. Residents can also enjoy a fully-equipped fitness
center, a business center and conference room. This $75 million
project is located at the foot of the 15th Street bridge and is
fronted by a newly installed, publicly owned dock that is suitable
for excursion boats. Many of these luxury condos provide
stunning views of Mt. Rainier, and access to downtown Tacoma and the
freeway system is convenient. Condos of varying sizes and
prices are still available and you can receive more information by
calling (877) 433-3677.
Foss Harbor Marina
FW Development LLC is
redeveloping Foss Harbor Marina as a mixed-use project. Market-rate
condominiums and/or office space with marine-related retail are
anticipated for this $50 million project. The marina itself is fully
operational, and if you wish to inquire about slip availability, please call (253) 272-4404.
The City of Tacoma has recently completed construction of another section of the shoreline esplanade
near this marina which will, when fully completed, stretch the entire
1.5 mile length of the Waterway. Construction of additional
portions of the esplanade will be completed in conjunction with the upland development.
Foss Waterway Seaport
The Balfour
Dock/Puget Sound Freight Building is one of only two remaining buildings
that were once part of the "mile long warehouse" that brought thousands
of ships bearing goods and sailors from around the world to Tacoma and
the West Coast.
that was THEN...
THIS IS NOW...
This former
warehouse is now home to the Foss Waterway Seaport and is being
redeveloped under a public/private
partnership. With completion of the replacement wharf in 2008 and
a capital campaign in full swing, phases of this $21.5 million project
will include a fully restored historic building, short-term moorage, and
a public esplanade. In addition to having some of the best
maritime displays and educational activities in the state, the Foss
Waterway Seaport is a great venue for events of all types - from small
weddings to large-scale festivals.
The Seaport also
manages the public docks at the mouth of the waterway, which are
reserved for smaller boats and are dedicated to short-term use. To
find out more about the Seaport or to inquire about event & moorage
possibilities, please call (253) 272-2750.
...And you'll want to keep an eye on this project, because great things
are about to happen! If you have never visited this building
before, you will surely want to see it when the first stage of its
renovation is complete. Here's just a teaser of what's to come...
.
Washington State History Museum
Visit the following Web sites for more information about what's happening
in and around the Thea Foss Waterway area: