Russell bids farewell to Tacoma

Russell announced last Wednesday it would move its headquarters and 900 local employees from Tacoma to the tower at 1301 Second Ave. in Seattle in 2010. President and CEO Andrew Doman said in a prepared statement that "the unique conditions of the commercial real estate market in Seattle" were a factor in the decision.

Russell Investments' parent company paid $115 million for the 42-story downtown Seattle tower known until recently as the WaMu Center, according to a document filed Thursday with King County.

City staff will continue to work with partners in the Tacoma Partnership to fill the current Russell headquarters building and to attract additional businesses to downtown Tacoma.