Location

DreamCity is located on the Eastside neighborhood in the easterly portion of the city south of Interstate 5, north of East 72nd Street and east of Pacific Avenue. The area’s unique terrain of rolling hills and valleys provides scenic views of the Port of Tacoma, downtown, the mountains and the valley areas for many of the Eastside neighborhoods.

History

The area was first inhabited by the Puyallup and Nisqually Indian societies because of its proximity to the Puyallup River and its vantage points overlooking Commencement Bay. The area began to develop in the late 1800s and grew with the arrival of streetcar lines and the 1905-1915 railroad boom. Development of the tide flats into a port facility contributed to the growth of the area, as did the outbreak of World War I and the construction of Fort Lewis and the McChord Military Reservation.

People and Land Use

The Eastside is home to approximately 32,087 people, 15,847 male and 16,239 female and 4408 children. It has the highest percentage of low-income residents in the City and contains one of the largest subsidized housing complexes in the west. It is also home to the Puyallup Tribal Center. Land area is approximately 9% of the city with 40% of the land used for residential development and only 2% for commercial uses.

A portion of the Eastside neighborhood is included in the City of Tacoma’s Enterprise Community/Empowerment Zone and will be a focus for future investment. A coordinated housing initiative and an effort to build a nonprofit development corporation are now underway. In addition, DreamCity Northwest Community Developers a non-profit organization has established a service center in the area.

Area Vision

The Eastside is shaped by a distinct sense of place formed largely by cohesive, culturally diverse neighborhoods, shared values and a strong sense of community direction. Revitalization of the Lower Portland and McKinley Business Districts and increased economic development activity throughout the Eastside are viewed as necessary and important priorities. The Eastside neighborhood has had a rich and varied history. Its future is based on enhancing its important historic qualities, developing physical improvements to public and private facilities and creating economic development opportunities for the neighborhood and its residents.