Harbor View Manor sits right in the center of downtown Tacoma at 919 Fawcett Avenue, and is a tall 16-story building that gives people who live there really nice views of Mt. Rainier, the water at Commencement Bay, and downtown Tacoma itself, with lots of big windows and private balconies to look out at the city and mountains, and being so close to the bus line and local railway stops makes getting around pretty easy. The building has 169 apartments, mostly studio and one-bedroom units, and all come with private bathrooms, full kitchens with energy-saving appliances, insulated double-paned windows to keep out the weather, spacious closets, cable TV, high-speed Internet, and utilities included in the monthly rent, so you don't have to pay extra for heat or lights. Harbor View Manor is for people 55 years and older, and it's focused on helping older adults with many types of needs with different services like independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, respite stays, adult day care, home care, and more, and there's even Alzheimer's and dementia care available if needed, which means people with different health needs can stay in the same building as their needs change.
Something people talk about here are all the social activities and things to do, like weekly bingo, movie nights in the theater room, holiday parties, safety seminars, exercise classes in the fitness room, family events in the gathering room, neighborhood excursions to get people out walking, community gardening, and a daily coffee service in the community space, plus a mini-mart and regular visits from a massage therapist if that's something you like, so no one needs to feel left out or bored if they want to be involved. There are ADA-accessible elevators, covered and open parking options, an on-site laundromat, a library, a computer lab with free Internet, and a beauty salon right in the building, and a Service Coordinator is around to help people get connected with medical services and with whatever paperwork or outside help they need, which has been a help for a lot of folks here. The non-smoking policy keeps the building healthy except for outside designated areas, and there's also a pet policy that means you can bring a common household pet if you follow the rules about pet care and paperwork, which can mean a lot if you've got a dog or a cat you don't want to leave behind.
Harbor View Manor is a mixed-use affordable housing spot with rent that's aimed at older adults who need something a little more affordable, since it uses Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and provides rent options based on income, usually about 30% of what you make a month, with some apartments set aside for Section 8 vouchers, and the building is certified under the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard, with new roofs and heating systems put in as part of recent renovations that kept prices down so folks weren't forced out. The community has been around since 1970, originally set up for low-income elderly and disabled people, and after all these years, it's still run by HumanGood with fair housing rules and some programs for people with disabilities, making it a steady place for seniors who want to stay in their own apartment but might need a little help.
Anyone interested has to send in an application, usually with some ID, proof of income, background and credit checks, references, and there can be an application fee, sometimes about $25 to $50, and people have to meet age and income guidelines set up for low-income housing. With a walk score of 98, most places you need, like the local schools or shops, are close enough to walk to, and when something's farther away, complimentary van rides are available. It's not the fanciest new place but Harbor View Manor's been a reliable part of the Tacoma community for a long time, with modern improvements, a good set of services, and a focus on helping people stay active and comfortable as they get older, and they let people come by and take a tour to see what it's really like and to meet some of the staff and folks who call it home.
