Why live in downtown Tacoma?

There's the culture: the museums, the restaurants, the nightlife.

There are the views: of the city, of Mount Rainier, of the historic Thea Foss Waterway and Commencement Bay.

There's the convenience: Link Light Rail, Sounder, freeways.

And there's The Esplanade: a nine-story mixed-use retail and luxury waterfront condominium community, ready for occupancy, right on the Thea Foss Waterway. It was designed by Bellevue-based MulvannyG2 Architecture, which also designed the award-winning Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center.

The Esplanade Thea Foss Waterway Condominiums features 162 sophisticated urban homes ranging in size from 800 up to 2,200 square feet; prices range from $278,250 to $1,000,000. Over 19,000 square feet of retail and commercial space surrounds the first floor public parking garage. Every homeowner receives one or two parking spaces in the gated underground parking garage. Community amenities include an extraordinary grand lobby with cloistered seating and a fireplace; a business center for conferencing; a computer bistro (Wi-Fi enabled) and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The community lounge will include a kitchen, an audio-video theater with built-in surround sound system and a gaming table. Three centrally located elevators will service every floor.

Interior features on floors two through eight include slate tile entry, large windows and plush carpeting in the living, dining and bedrooms. The master bathroom includes a freestanding vanity with a marble slab countertop, two under-mount sinks, wood-wrapped mirrors and marble-tile floors.

Kitchens feature slate flooring; designer cubed pendant lighting; granite slab countertops with under-mount stainless steel sink; a ceramic tile backsplash with glass mosaic tile accents; built-in gas cook tops; and electric convection wall ovens. Whirlpool stainless steel appliances and full-size washer/dryers are included in each home. The penthouse added features are a five-piece master bathroom, gas log fireplace, gas plumbed decks and an upgrade KitchenAid appliance package.

Purchasers will benefit from Tacoma's 10-year tax abatement, which allows you to pay property tax only on the land (not your condominium) for 10 years. Public moorage is also available, ask our representatives for details.

For more information and to view our models at The Esplanade, visit the information center, located at 1515 Dock St., Tacoma. (16th Street Lobby Entrance) Validated Parking! Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse the Web site 24/7 at www.theesplanadetacoma.com or call (253) 383-1143.