Starting in 2000, the Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) has undertaken the largest residential redevelopment in the history of the City of Tacoma. This project will demolish and rebuild the neighborhood of Salishan. This redevelopment started with 855 old, worn out, and unsightly public housing units built on 188 acres during World War II to house war workers and their families. In addition, the infrastructure needed replacing – electrical grid, water distribution system, sewers, storm water system, roads, curbs and lights.

THA, and its many partners, will demolish this housing and this infrastructure and will build a new neighborhood. New Salishan will be a new mixed-income, mixed use neighborhood of affordable and market rate rental housing, single family homes for sale, commercial buildings and community buildings, and parks, all on brand new infrastructure.

The project will cost over $ 225 million. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sparked and inspired this effort with a $ 35 million HOPE VI grant. When complete, it will transform not only Salishan but also the surrounding community of East Tacoma.

THA’s development goals for this ambitious project include the following:

increase the number of dwelling units from 855 to 1,200 – 1,300


mix of homeownership units and rentals


mix of incomes


no net reduction in the number of affordable units


community and commercial services


new parks


new underground infrastructure


design friendly to walkers, children and disabled persons


environmentally responsible features


it will look lovely

New Salishan has already won notable awards for the design of its housing, its neighborhood design, landscaping, environmentally responsible features and its contributions to social justice.

THA expects to finish New Salishan in 2011 or so.