AT HOME IN TACOMA
A blog about all the little things that make Tacoma home.

Street Gardening With Parking Strips

  • By Kelli Jo Hjalseth
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  • 23 Aug, 2018
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Bring Your Block to Life

Recent years have seen the rise of urban farming help to both beautify neighborhoods and provide affordable, sustainable nourishment to families in need. With an increasingly developed city like Tacoma, though, viable areas in which to plant a garden are becoming somewhat scarce. Industrious urban planters have started capitalizing on those unused bits of earth known as parking strips. After all, why let them sit untouched and just keep our sidewalks and cars company when they can be transformed into a personal garden? And, besides some minor legal requirements to address, this is a relatively easy project to undertake.

Thanks to recent changes in City of Tacoma policy, you don't even need a permit to plant a garden in your parking strip anymore, which significantly reduces the red-tape headaches you might've gotten in the past. All the city requires is that your garden is contained in a raised bed, and that it allows enough room for cars and pedestrians to pass by unimpeded.

Detailed information on how to set up your garden according to city standards can be found at tacomapermits.org, but here are the main things to keep in mind: the raised bed can be no higher than two feet, and you must allow two feet of space separating the garden from all curbs and sidewalks. If you're planting more than one garden, they must be kept at least three feet away from each other, to allow a path between the sidewalk and street. In essence, you've just got to be conscientious of your fellow Tacoman.



Once you've built your gardening area according to the city's specifications, all that's left to do is prepare it like you would any garden: spread soil, mulch, a border of wood chips, and whatever else you think would best result in a thriving home for vegetation. From there, any and all flowers or delicious produce you choose are yours to cultivate in the middle of the city! A nifty solution to a modern problem, urban gardens enrich and elevate every environment they're in. Parking strips are there for the planting.

Updated Historic Craftsman in Tacoma’s North End 

By Sharon Benson • April 16, 2025
Merely blocks to the heart of the Proctor District, this beautifully curated Craftsman masterpiece offers the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming about in Tacoma’s North End. With a 1,632-square-foot layout plus an unfinished basement, this home-sweet-home is replete with historic charm, modern updates, and versatile spaces ready to evolve in the years to come. A picturesque backyard getaway blossoms with springtime wonder, while the newer detached garage promises even more flexibility. Located at 2411 N Union Avenue Tacoma, WA 98406 and just minutes to University of Puget Sound, the waterfront, Downtown Tacoma, and of course the Proctor District, this North End Craftsman is listed for $739,500.

Charming Cape Cod in North Tacoma’s Proctor/UPS Neighborhood

By Kelli Jo Hjalseth • April 4, 2025
Bright and beautiful, this classic Cape Cod retreat is a delight through and through, from its impeccably appointed living spaces to the spacious backyard. Imagine cozy evenings relaxing alongside the fireplace in the living room, enjoy the perks of having a formal dining room to host in, and discover dialed-in design in the kitchen. And that’s only the beginning! One of this home’s most enviable features is the fact that it's just down the street from University of Puget Sound and only 0.8 miles from the heart of the popular Proctor District. Located at 1102 N Washington Tacoma, WA 98406, this 2,084-square-foot home is listed for $640,000. Pre-inspection available after your tour.

2-Story Condo with Garage Along Greenbelt in Renton

By Sharon Benson • April 1, 2025
Effortless low-maintenance living beckons from this turnkey condo in Renton. Featuring a 1,209-square-foot layout over 2 stories, here you’ll find plenty of space to spread out—in addition to 2 bedrooms and 2.25 baths, generous open-concept living offers an inviting atmosphere. This rare opportunity includes a few other enviable condo benefits as well—this home comes with an attached garage, and is even nestled alongside a greenbelt so you can enjoy natural beauty from your private outdoor retreat! Located at 3800 NE Sunset Boulevard #B101, Unit B101 Renton, WA 98056 and no more than 5 minutes to shopping, dining, schools, freeway access, The Landing and more, this condo is listed for $425,000.
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