TACOMA, Wash. — The Proctor Art Gallery has been a staple in the Proctor District since 2009, so when it came up for sale, Pamela Phelps knew she couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.
“Being tucked in a neighborhood is a little different than being in a business strip, so it was very appealing to me,” she said.
Phelps has been running the gallery since 2016 and says she’s seen quite a few changes over the years. Not everyone was on board, but she’s tried to remain positive.
“Change is hard for a lot of people,” she recalled. “People grumbled a little bit about when some of the high-rise apartments were built, but it just brought more people to the area. More people are walking and they’re having dinner here, so it’s enhanced our business quite a bit.”
Now, city leaders are bringing even more changes to the Proctor District.
Last week, the Tacoma City Council voted to adopt the Proctor Neighborhood Plan as part of its new Neighborhood Planning Program, which invests in Tacoma’s neighborhoods.
Deputy Mayor John Hines grew up in Tacoma and says he’s seen Proctor change over time.
Now, he wants to see what can be done to improve it, such as experimenting with open spaces for people to gather.
“One of the things we’re going to be looking into is closing certain streets in the district and kind of seeing what that feels like,” he said. “So if we close down a street, say one block away, which is one of the ones we’re talking about, and have a street fair, or a concert, or we’ve talked about a fashion show, how does that feel?”
The plan also includes infrastructure that’s more welcoming for pedestrians and bike riders and making sure affordable housing is available.
Hines also says it’s important to look after the small businesses that help make Proctor feel unique.
“I used to go to the train store or there’s a cobbler right down the street. I used to go to these places, and that’s what made me feel like I was part of the neighborhood,” he remembered. “But when those businesses leave, then the neighborhood really doesn’t feel like what you remember.”
Phelps says she’s looking forward to seeing Proctor flourish.
“We’re growing and we’re changing, and change is good, even if initially it’s kind of tough,” she says.
Deputy Mayor Hines says the city is also investigating ways to improve the South Tacoma area, and he hopes the success in the Proctor District can be replicated in other neighborhoods.
“We want to see more vibrancy, more businesses, more people on the streets, more energy,” he says. “When we look at Proctor, I think the more important thing is, these are lessons that we can learn here that we can apply to other places, but this is what we want to see in other parts of our city.”
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