It is now absorbing the inevitable southward migration of families and companies who can't afford Seattle or the Eastside and find they sacrifice little in amenities by relocating to Tacoma. Any optimism about Tacoma's recovery must be tempered by experience, so it is wise to regard it as still a fragile thing. A collapse in the tech economy or in real estate lease rates in the Seattle area could throttle the move of companies to Tacoma. City government and civic groups could break down in squabbling that delays and eventually deters any development. Tacoma's nickname, the City of Destiny, began as a boast when it landed the transcontinental railroad, but for years after it lingered as a sort of taunt, a reminder of promise unfulfilled.
Every city has a destiny, good or bad.
His column appears Mondays and Wednesdays.