First Step - Finally!

Tomorrow marks the first time the public will be able to walk through the former smelter property (although we have to stay on the sidewalk and not wander through the entire development). It is literally the first real step in a very long process to transform this industrial site into a public jewel. It's been 19 years since the stack was imploded, touted at the time as the beginning of a new vision for the area - and 27 years since the smelter closed its doors. Those of us in Ruston who have watched and waited and hoped for this day will be celebrating not only the progress, but the fact that the town survived to see this day.

Everyone is invited to gather at the center of the site (pictured above) for speeches at 9:15 am (including Norm Dicks and Adam Smith), The eliite race begins at 10 and the fun run at 10:45 am. Ruston Way will close at 6 am and reopen by 2 pm. Everyone is encouraged to park in Ruston and walk in from this side. The full press release is copied below. See you there!
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MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

Contact:

Point Ruston, LLC

Sarah Wagner – Marketing Manager

Phone: 253-219-8944

Fax: 253-752-7083

 

Point Ruston, LLC

Loren Cohen – Manager of Legal Affairs

Phone: 253-752-2185 x236

Fax: 253-752-7083

 

April 20, 2012

 

POINT RUSTON CELEBRATES MAJOR PROJECT MILESTONE

 

April 21^st ribbon cutting ceremony and Ruston Way 5k to commemorate the grand re-opening of the new Ruston Way.

 

TACOMA, WA – On Saturday, April 21^st Point Ruston LLC, the company behind the redevelopment of the former Asarco Superfund site, will be joined by hundreds of community members and local elected leaders to celebrate the grand re-opening of the new and improved Ruston Way.  The Point Ruston site has undergone dramatic changes, most recent being Point Ruston’s completion of the new Ruston Way public infrastructure improvements. This project was funded through a $28.7million Local Improvement District bond sale by the City of Tacoma, which will be repaid by Point Ruston. The project completes nearly one mile of public road replacement and infrastructure repair, realigning the new tree-lined, pedestrian oriented boulevard around the crumbling Ruston Tunnel.

 

The ribbon cutting ceremony will feature public remarks from local dignitaries that have been integral to the success of this project, including; Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Town of Ruston Council Member Jim Hedrick, City of Tacoma Council Member Jake Fey, State Senator Derek Kilmer, along with United States Representative Adam Smith and Representative Norm Dicks. The day’s events will be capped off by two separate 5k races; the first featuring Elite profession level runners, and the second, a fun run for amateur runners and walkers of all types. Both races begin and end at the new Grand Avenue roundabout, located at the main entrance of the Point Ruston development.

 

The program for the day is as follows:

 

Local media is advised to arrive early to account for easier parking and access to the event.

§  8:00 - 9:00AM – VIP & MEDIA ARRIVAL

§  9:15AM – OFFICIAL PROGRAM

o   Point Ruston – Loren Cohen

o   Ruston Council Member Hedrick

o   Tacoma Council Member Jake Fey

o   Tacoma Mayor Strickland

o   State Senator Derek Kilmer

o   Rep. Adam Smith

o   Rep. Norm Dicks

 

§  9:45AM – RIBBON CUTTING & MEDIA PHOTO-OP AND TACOMA & RUSTON POLICE & FIRE VEHICLE PROCESSION

§  10:00AM – ELITE RACE

§  10:45AM  – FUN RUN RACE START

 

WHAT:           Ruston Way 5k and ribbon cutting ceremony

WHEN:          Saturday, April 21, 2012, Event open at 8:00 am

WHERE:       Tacoma/Ruston, WA - Point Ruston on Ruston Way

5005 Ruston Way

Tacoma, WA 98407

Please enter the event from N. 51^st Street from the Town of Ruston end of Ruston Way

Directions to the event are:

From HWY 16
- Take the North HWY 163/Ruston exit
- Turn right onto N Pearl St/WA-163 (continue approx. 3 mi)
- Turn right at N 51st Street and proceed straight to the Point Ruston site.

 

Members of the Press are encouraged to cover this event. For more information or to obtain VIP parking access, please contact Sarah Wagner, Point Ruston LLC’s Marketing Manager.

 

About Point Ruston, LLC

Point Ruston is located on nearly one-mile of Commencement Bay waterfront and being developed into a vibrant mixed-use lifestyle center, featuring residential housing for nearly 3,000 residents and approximately 2,000,000 total square feet of mixed-use real estate. The development includes The Waterwalk at Point Ruston, a lifestyle shopping center with more than 250,000 square feet boutique shopping, restaurants, cafes, and other public amenities, all anchored by a four-star 175-room Silver Cloud Hotel, 30,000 square foot organic grocer, a brand new 9-screen Century Theatre multiplex cinema, and, The Waterwalk, a mile-long public shoreline esplanade.

 

For more information visit http://www.RustonWay5K.com.

 

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