The Garfield Center Building as been the heart of historic Parkland, Washington since 1948, on the corner of Garfield and ‘C’ Streets north of Tacoma. Built by the Gratias family in 1948, in conjunction with Pacific Lutheran University to accommodate the growing student population, it remained in the family until 1994 when it was sold to Joe Thomas. The building occupies the entire north side of the 400 block of Garfield Street and contains over a dozen businesses including the anchor spot Northern Pacific Coffee Company, the "living room" of Parkland. On the second floor are 23 apartments most studios rented to students from the University. It's affordable friendly apartments in an active campus district. The building has also been called the “Gratias Apartments” and “Parkland Apartments”. Since November of 1993, it has been managed by Joe Peterson.