A June 2005 Tacoma News Tribune editorial declared that, “The little city that could, does it again,” referring to the $6 million Federal grant the City received toward the construction of Town Center parking and streetscape improvements.
The headline for 2006 will hopefully exclaim, “Despite All Odds…UPtown Breaks Ground!”
For over four years the City Council has held on to the dream of creating both an identity and a “sense of place” for
University Place
. We have held fast to the dream of beginning to build
Town
Center
– a unique, quality shopping experience for the entire South Sound community – a new revenue source for
University Place
, enabling the City to both maintain and increase our service levels by capturing local tax dollars.
This Council has never taken the “easy road” on any major project or challenge facing the City – and never will. It’s always a temptation to take the easy way. We have kept the vision alive by continuing to hope, believe and dream. We have accepted well intended criticism, initiated changes and forged ahead.
I challenge this community to keep dreaming even greater dreams with us, with great expectation and anticipation of what lies ahead. When we quit dreaming, we stop living.
For
University Place
… the BEST is yet to come!!!