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Sixth Avenue is a cross-town avenue in Tacoma, Washington, which throughout a large portion of the city provides the division between the north and south numbered streets. Previous to the construction of State Route 16, Sixth Avenue was a portion of the designated route through Tacoma to reach the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The historic business district of Sixth Avenue from approximately State to Alder remains one of the most active business districts in the city, hosting numerous shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. Newer strip mall style shopping centers have developed in the portions of Sixth Avenue between Orchard and Jackson. The SABD (Sixth Avenue Business District) has been a recognized business district in Tacoma since 2000 and became a recognized 501(c)(6) in June 2011. Over the years, previous District Boards have made gallant efforts to facilitate business improvements in the area, but lack of funding from the city and declining District membership hampered their erstwhile efforts. Kudos to them are still warranted, however. Recently, 6th Avenue has fallen on hard times with many small businesses closing or moving to more viable business districts. A large national coffee chain closed a location that had been in operation for over 10 years. Many storefronts are vacant, and 6th Avenue has fallen victim to the current trend of 'Pot Shops' opening where mainstream businesses formerly existed. 6th Avenue now has almost a dozen such locations. None of them are licensed facilities (Tacoma only has 1 licensed dispensary). A huge number of DUI arrests occur along 6th Avenue due to the rather lax attitude many bars and restaurants have regarding how many drinks to serve a patron. Noise complaints are rampant from residential properties close to the many bars and restaurants that operate until early AM hours. The Sixth Avenue Business District has an art committee that tries to promote the creation and installation of publicly funded art projects in the District. Works include artist decorated garbage cans, intentionally rusted sculptured letters bolted to the sidewalk and similarly curious attempts to encorage foot traffic. Despite the presence of decorated garbage cans as a business improvement effort, things continue to tumble down on 6th. Sixth Avenue plays host to the yearly "Art on the Ave" event, featuring art, alcohol, food, alcohol, cars, alcohol, and live music in a section not occupied by the beer garden. Not seen as family-friendly, AOTA has also been declining in recent years. Day of the Dead is also celebrated on Sixth Avenue. Several paper mache classes are held and the public is invited to learn to make Day of the Dead figures. On November second a procession is held. There are musicians on several street corners and after the procession participants gather for Mexican hot chocolate and cakes. Unfortunately, that did not happen in 2015. The lack of leadership in the Business District is noticeable. The current board is composed mostly of well-intentioned volunteers, but none have the skills, experience, or any significant business success to use in helping other businesses survive the hostile conditions found on 6th Avenue. The current President has virtually no business experience, was discharged in Bankruptcy in 2015, and has been sanctioned by the WA Department of Revenue for 'inaccurately' reporting his business income and fined for under paying his taxes. It's hard to imagine that such have the ability to pull this deteriorating area up by the scruff of its neck, give it a shave and a haircut, and set it on a course toward prosperity. Most Tacoma locals know 6th Avenue as the seedy area with people staggering across the street during red light stops. Most of them just keep driving. ==External links== *(Sixth Avenue Business District ) *(Sixth Avenue on Tacoma's Neighborhood Business Districts Website ) *(Art on the Ave website ) *(Store Directory for 6th Ave ) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sixth Avenue (Tacoma)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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