Tacoma and Ruston battle over property right along their borders

A border war is brewing between the cities of Tacoma and Ruston.

Tacoma has sent state lawmakers a letter and is lobbying to change state law so it can take a bite out of its neighbor -- without residents weighing in. The reason -- a multimillion-dollar waterfront development and the tax revenue it will bring. Some say this battle could affect the entire state.

It's a battle being waged over the development of Point Ruston, a mixed-use development on the waterfront with apartments, businesses, restaurants, even a new state-of-the-art movie theater.

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On the walkway that runs alongside the property there is a rock that appears to clearly mark the border of Ruston and Tacoma. If Tacoma has its way, the parts in Ruston would belong to Tacoma and so would valuable development on the land.

The new development on the site of the former Asarco smelter and plant that eventually became an EPA Superfund cleanup site. The area has been cleaned up and EPA has given clearance for new development, a move supported by Ruston Council member Jim Hedrick.

“We are working hard to make that go forward. We are issuing permits...we've issued every permit we have a completed application for," Hedrick said.

But the speed of the development is not fast enough for Tacoma. While large segments of Point Ruston have been developed, stretches of construction are visible next to the high -end apartment complexes. The city of Tacoma wants Ruston's part of the project completed sooner. Tacoma's solution to speed up the development is to annex Ruston's part of the project.

Tacoma's mayor is asking three state lawmakers to amend state law and allow the city to annex Ruston's part of the Point Ruston project without a vote by residents.

Some residents, like Kathy Brown of Ruston, voiced their displeasure to Ruston city leaders at a council meeting Tuesday evening.

“A lot of people in Ruston have waited a long time for the development to happen, so it's ripping it from underneath us,” Brown said.

For Ruston residents, it also rips out the tax revenue the multimillion-dollar waterfront development will generate. Ruston resident John Holland doesn't see why Tacoma needs to take a piece of their city -- and many fear what changing state law would mean to the rest of the state.

“Any small town anywhere in the state could be subject to takeover, hostile takeover,” Holland said.

While Ruston wants to keep a big piece of its tax base, Tacoma says it wants the project done. Now the state of Washington will decide.

Hedrick said votes on the issue are slated for Thursday in Olympia. Buses are being chartered by members of the Ruston council to take people down for public comments. Letters explaining the perspective of both cities were sent to lawmakers.

Cox Media Group