WILDLIFE HABITAT IN THE INDUSTRIAL HEART OF TACOMA

WILDLIFE HABITAT IN THE INDUSTRIAL HEART OF TACOMA

By MARTY A. LYON
Marty A. Lyon Landscape Architects

Habitat restoration and major industrial development are not mutually exclusive.

With the help of a consultant team and supportive government agencies, Simpson Tacoma Land Company tested this conviction in a recently completed project: Simpson Landing. At the 70-year-old industrial site on Commencement Bay, landforms now dominate, indigenous plants are reestablished and habitats flourish. The redevelopment incorporated recycled industrial materials into the project.

The 75-acre industrial warehouse project is located on the old site of the St. Regis Paper Company sawmill at the Port of Tacoma near the mouth of the Puyallup River.

Simpson Landing before redevelopment.
Simpson Tacoma Land Company, owner and developer, is a subsidiary of the Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company. The interdisciplinary project team also included: Preston, Gates & Ellis, attorneys; Marty A. Lyon, Landscape Architects; Barghausen Consulting Engineers, civil engineer; Earth Consultants, geotechnical engineer; Lance Mueller, architect; and the Trammell Crow Company. City of Tacoma and State of Washington public agencies also played a role, accepting some of the innovations proposed by the project team.

Simpson Landing is unique for several reasons.

The plan was developed within the guidelines of a visionary plan adopted in 1993 by the Commencement Bay Cleanup Action Committee for the rehabilitation of the Port of Tacoma, the Puyallup River and Commencement Bay. With a stated goal of "sustained economic and environmental health" the plan identified the need for cleaning up not only the Bay, but the entire watershed to the source of the Puyallup River.

The new Simpson Landing.

The client, Simpson Tacoma Land Company, has demonstrated leadership in the effort to revitalize Tacoma, both economically and environmentally. With Kenneth S. Weiner of Preston, Gates & Ellis, the company was instrumental in formulating the "Vision for Commence Bay" plan. These objectives were further defined into a scope of work for the Simpson Landing master plan by the landscape architect.

As a part of Simpson's "landscape ecology concept" for the development, the company wanted to promote "greening" of both the tideflats and upland areas that went far beyond what was required or conventional in a typical industrial landscape plan. (In fact, the city code does not require landscaping in this area.)

The basic objectives of the landscape plan were: to soften views of the warehouse buildings from offsite; to screen certain functional areas from view; consider ecological, historic or symbolic benefits to people working at or visiting the site; consider the long views to the property from off site; provide a sense of place; retain and enhance views of Mt. Rainier, the Puyallup River, Commencement Bay, and downtown Tacoma; and develop a landscape which promotes a healthy environment and allows reestablishment of plant and wildlife habitats at the Port of Tacoma.

The landscape firm participated in siting the buildings to retain significant views from the property. The requirement for a concrete sidewalk was waived by the city in lieu of an asphalt pedestrian/bike path that enters the property and winds through the landscape.

At the request of the landscape architect, the stormwater detention ponds were reconfigured from a strictly functional form to a more natural shape and the flow of water reversed from the original plan. After it was found that the ponds would retain water year-round, a wetland habitat was introduced to the plan. What was originally a flat site now has undulating hummocks surrounding ponds that support a variety of native plants and fauna.

Native indigenous plants, many with berries and fruit, were planted to provide food, promote shade, and create shelter and nesting areas for waterfowl and wildlife. Species used include Douglas fir, western red cedar, shore pine, Indian plum, serviceberry, willow, dogwood, Oregon grape, salaal, wild rose and big leaf, red, and vine maples. It is anticipated that the landscape habitat that has been created will enhance the project's location in the Pacific Flyway.

The railroad tracks on the site inspired the use of lombardy poplars planted as "hedgerows" to reinforce the linear quality of the site and tie it together visually.

There was a concerted effort to recycle as much of the material found on site as possible. Concrete foundations and paving from the sawmill site were pulverized and reused as fill for construction and road beds. Wood beams from the sawmill drying sheds were also reused on site.

On-site soils included 70-year-old sawdust, which was found in some areas to be in over ten feet deep. Sand and muck from filling the old waterway were also underfoot. These materials were tested by a soils testing lab in Nebraska and were amended with fertilizer for reuse on the site.

Land forms and berms define the new character of Simpson Landing -- and move the area a step closer to realization of the Vision for Commencement Bay.

Marty A. Lyon is principal of Marty A. Lyon, Landscape Architects, P.S.

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