The Port of Tacoma, WA Commission approved a demolition program to raze 129 buildings and other structures on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula in order to clear the way for construction of NYK's planned YTTI Terminal. The demolition effort will be divided into three annual projects, each involving the competitive selection of design consultants to plan the demolition, deconstruction, and hazardous material abatement work. Contractors will bid on the demolition work itself.

The commission approved an initial $17.7 million request, which authorizes the removal of 61 structures. The work is scheduled to begin later this month and finish in early 2009. Twenty-one of the structures will be demolished by three tenants to port specifications. They are the now-closed Portac lumber mill with 14 structures, the Earley Business Center with one structure, and the Weyerhaeuser property with six structures.

The removal of the remaining 68 structures will come before the board at future meetings.