The City of Tacoma is currently reviewing a land‑use permit for the proposed Tacoma Community Cancer Center, a $50 million, 125,000‑square‑foot, three‑story medical office slated to begin construction in November 2027. The facility, which will include 440 parking spaces on a 7‑acre site at 602 N. Orchard St., is intended to expand cancer‑care options for residents of the South Sound region.
Project background and timeline
The effort began with a pre‑application filed in September 2025 under the name South Sound Cancer Center. An October 8, 2026 filing updated the project name and confirmed the original cost estimate of $50 million, though no revised cost has been recorded since. The city’s planning department notes that the permit is still pending, with construction expected to start in November 2027.
Location and current use
The site currently houses First Christian Church and a tiny‑home village operated by Seattle’s Low Income Housing Institute in partnership with the church. The village, which has provided affordable housing since 2020, is slated to relocate to South 69th St., according to the Tacoma News Tribune.
Leadership and partners
Dr. Frank Senecal, chief medical officer of the South Sound CARE Foundation, is leading the development effort. The foundation, a Tacoma‑based nonprofit founded in 2008, focuses on serving cancer patients who have exhausted other treatment options. Its board includes medical professionals from MultiCare, Franciscan, and Northwest Medical Specialties.
The project will collaborate with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, a renowned Seattle research institution affiliated with the University of Washington Medicine. While Fred Hutch serves patients primarily from King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, the Tacoma Community Cancer Center will concentrate on serving the South Sound community.
Community impact
Local leaders anticipate that the new center will create construction jobs and, once operational, a range of medical and support positions. The addition of a dedicated cancer‑care facility is expected to reduce travel distances for patients seeking specialized treatment, keeping more care within the community.
City officials have emphasized the importance of thoughtful land‑use planning to balance the needs of existing religious and affordable‑housing uses with the anticipated health benefits of the new center. The pending permit reflects the city’s commitment to thorough review while supporting projects that enhance local health resources.
Next steps
Stakeholders await the city’s decision on the permit. If approved, the project will move forward to detailed design and financing phases, with construction slated to begin in late 2027. Community members are encouraged to stay informed through city council meetings and public notices as the process unfolds.
Original reporting: KIRO 7 (Tacoma / Pierce County stories) — read the source article.
