City of Puyallup
- I Want To...
- Business
- Government
- Visitors
- Services
- Animal Control
- Cemetery
- Development Services
- Emergency Management
- Fire Services & Prevention
- Health & Human Services
- Prescription Discount Program
- Childcare
- Computer Basics
- Domestic Violence
- Education/Financial Aid
- English Language Classes
- Fair Housing & Discrimination
- Financial Assistance
- Food & Nutrition
- Healthcare & Information
- Housing & Household Items
- Legal Help
- Mental Health
- Military Family Support
- Senior Citizen Resources
- Substance Abuse
- Unemployment Benefits
- Utilities Assistance
- Other Resources
- City Community Funding
- Human Resources
- Library
- Parks and Recreation
- Passport Services
- Pioneer Park Pavilion
- Police Department
- Public Works
- Senior Services
- Utility Billing
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Animal Control
- Contact Us
Business Sectors
Growing a diviersified economy
A one-time center of agriculture, Puyallup has grown and matured into a city with a rich historic downtown, a bustling shopping district and a growing employment base. Puyallup's location is central to the four-county Puget Sound region and provides easy proximity to greater Puget Sound and its international ports. The City serves as a "market crossroads" in east Pierce County connected to the major state freeways serving Central Puget Sound. Puyallup's location on the main west coast rail routes provides easy access for the "Sounder" regional commuter rail service, making the City the top boarding location for connections to the Tacoma, Seattle and Everett markets.
Puyallup's future economic outlook looks bright. Businesses will continue to locate in the City due to relatively inexpensive land and construction costs, the quality and stability of the work force, and competitive utility rates. In addition, many people and businesses are relocating to this region for its natural beauty and many opportunities. Puyallup combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities. Finally, continued in-migration will contribute to employment growth and to new construction that will increase total assessed property values and have a positive impact on the Puyallup economy.
Economic Indicators
The City is actively developing its Pioneer Park downtown “civic center” area, with private interest increasing throughout the City’s downtown core. This civic center received a prestigious Statewide Governor’s “Smart Growth” award in 2009. Specific downtown projects include:
- A 39,500 square foot public library adjacent to Pioneer Park in downtown opened in August 2002 and has become a popular community focal point. The adjacent old library site was subsequently re-developed into the Pioneer Park Pavilion which opened in July, 2004. This City-owned Pavilion houses the popular Farmer’s Market and other community functions.
- The new public-private City Senior-Activity Center / residential and commercial building on a site that formerly contained Puyallup’s City Hall, Court, and Senior Center is open. Forza’s Coffee occupies much of the ground floor, with crowds of customers, young and old, enjoying the business, free Wi-Fi and proximity to Pioneer Park events. TheCity purchased a portion of the ground floor in this 55,000 square foot project to serve as the City’s new Puyallup Activity Center. Sales of the 37 private residential (market rate) condominiums are near completion. By converting the site, the City realizes additional on-going revenues in the form of sales taxes, property and real estate excise taxes.The 50,000 square foot, five-story City Hall building immediately east of Pioneer Park, including a large parkingg arage and pedestrian courtyards, opened in mid-2008. This state-of-the-art new downtown focal point, recently certified LEED-Gold, is part of a larger public-private project, which is planned to also eventually include other adjacent uses.
- On a site immediately south of Pioneer Park is a private mixed-use development, including a bank branch and 11 upper-end condominium units. Condo sales are almost completed in this project. A similar private downtown mixeduse project one block to the east is set to begin construction soon.
Other recent downtown projects include a new State DSHS office contained within a remodeled cannery building, with adjacent 144-unit parking structure, which opened in mid-2006. In addition, the 37,000 square foot Meeker’s Landing commercial/office project is now being occupied by various tenants at East Pioneer-5th Street. A Mexican restaurant (Mazatlan) located downtown, at the corner of Main Street and Meridian, also opened for business in late 2009.
More City Projects
The City recently received two different substantial planning grants (totaling $220,000) which allow for work on upfront environmental review of downtown redevelopment, which is intended to streamline entitlement of future private development projects there. This work will occur in 2010-2012.
Construction of a three-mile phased riverfront recreation/commuter trail (Riverwalk Trail) through the city continues. Another major link in this Trail was completed in 2007, with construction of another portion to commence in late 2010. Eventually, the trail will provide a convenient route between residential and commercial areas and serve as a major link in a regional “sound to mountains” trail. The City has also completed “Phase III” improvements at the 60-acre Bradley Lake Park site on South Hill, consisting of new ball fields and other amenities.
The City continues to selectively annex portions of its Urban Growth Area. A 770-acre annexation to the immediate west of the City (West Hills Annexation), which brought 1620 new residents into the City, was completed in January, 2009. Other smaller annexations are currently under different stages of City review.
Several road projects have occurred in 2004-2010, many of which have been in the planning stage for years. These new improvements are expected to ease congestion and to provide alternate north/south routes throughout the city, including:
- The 5th/9th connector, a joint effort between the Western Washington Fair and the City, opened in 2005, creating a link between 5th Street SW and 9th Street SW.
- The 5th/7th project opened in early 2004, connecting the neighborhoods around 23rd Avenue SE with shopping areas near Wal-Mart and Home Depot.
- 39th Avenue SE, which currently stops west of Meridian, is now being constructed to be extended eastward to connect with the easterly leg of 39th Avenue SW. The majority of this new roadway opened in 2007. Coordination with abutting commercial properties is continuing to allow the final western road leg.
- After successfully obtaining major grants, the City is performing design work for separate street widening projects on both the 9th Street and 39th Avenue SW street corridors on South Hill.
- Improvements were made in late 2008 at the Shaw Rd / 23rd Ave SE intersection with a new traffic signal, widening, improved sight distance and lighting.
- The multi-million dollar Shaw Road extension connector between East Pioneer and East Main in the NE portion of the City was completed in 2010, opening an alternative north/south corridor.
- Using a major grant, the City has designed the 8th Avenue NW Low Impact Development (LID) retro-fit to implement an environmental friendly alternative to stormwater management. Construction on this new demonstration project is anticipated to commence in 2010-2011. The City continues to pursue other innovative low impact development projects.
-
- The City of Puyallup recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship, energy efficiency and conservation in every part of the organization.