Seattle_NP1 's_GE stature_NN1 ,_, bargain_VV0 on_II building_NN1 won_VVN over_II Russell_NP1 Russell_NP1 Investments_NN2 will_VM move_VVI its_APPGE headquarters_NN from_II Tacoma_NP1 to_II downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 's_GE WaMu_NN1 Center_NN1 in_II 2010_MC ,_, lured_VVN by_II Seattle_NP1 's_GE higher_JJR global_JJ profile_NN1 and_CC a_RR31 good_RR32 deal_RR33 on_II a_AT1 slightly_RR used_JJ skyscraper_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA Russell_NP1 Investments_NN2 weighed_VVD whether_CSW to_TO keep_VVI its_APPGE headquarters_NN in_II Tacoma_NP1 or_CC move_VV0 to_II Seattle_NP1 ,_, the_AT Downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 Association_NN1 arranged_VVD a_AT1 meeting_NN1 this_DD1 spring_NN1 between_II Russell_NP1 officials_NN2 and_CC the_AT CEOs_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 half-dozen_NNO major_JJ Seattle-based_JJ companies_NN2 ._. 
Tacoma_NN1 ,_, with_IW state_NN1 support_NN1 ,_, already_RR had_VHD offered_VVN the_AT global_JJ financial-services_NN2 company_NN1 $148_NNU million_NNO in_II tax_NN1 breaks_NN2 and_CC other_JJ incentives_NN2 to_TO stay_VVI ._. 
But_CCB Russell_NP1 's_GE leaders_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX want_VVI to_TO talk_VVI money_NN1 ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 wanted_VVD to_TO know_VVI ,_, 'Does_NN2 Seattle_NP1 play_NN1 on_II a_AT1 global_JJ stage_NN1 ?_? '_" 
"_" Kate_NP1 Joncas_NP2 ,_, president_NN1 of_IO the_AT Seattle_NP1 business_NN1 group_NN1 ,_, recalled_VVD Wednesday_NPD1 ._. 
"_" 'Is_APPGE Seattle_NP1 competitive_JJ in_II getting_VVG the_AT best_JJT talent_NN1 from_II around_II the_AT world_NN1 ?_? '_" 
"_" Russell_NP1 must_VM have_VHI liked_VVN the_AT CEOs_NN2 '_GE answers_NN2 ._. 
The_AT company_NN1 announced_VVD Wednesday_NPD1 that_CST ,_, after_II 73_MC years_NNT2 in_II Tacoma_NP1 ,_, it_PPH1 will_VM move_VVI its_APPGE headquarters_NN and_CC 900_MC employees_NN2 by_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO next_MD year_NNT1 into_II the_AT 42-story_JJ tower_NN1 known_VVN until_II recently_RR as_CSA the_AT WaMu_NN1 Center_NN1 ._. 
Russell_NP1 's_GE parent_NN1 company_NN1 ,_, insurance_NN1 giant_JJ Northwestern_JJ Mutual_JJ ,_, purchased_VVD the_AT skyscraper_NN1 --_NN1 at_II a_AT1 bargain_NN1 price_NN1 ,_, sources_NN2 said_VVD --_NN1 as_II the_AT move_NN1 was_VBDZ being_VBG announced_VVN ._. 
A_AT1 high-profile_JJ player_NN1 in_II global_JJ markets_NN2 ,_, Russell_NP1 boasts_VVZ offices_NN2 on_II five_MC continents_NN2 and_CC more_DAR than_CSN $151_NNU billion_NNO assets_NN2 under_II management_NN1 ._. 
Its_APPGE ties_NN2 to_II Tacoma_NP1 have_VH0 weakened_VVN since_CS its_APPGE acquisition_NN1 by_II Milwaukee-based_JJ Northwestern_JJ Mutual_JJ 10_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
Andrew_NP1 Doman_NP1 ,_, Russell_NP1 's_GE president_NN1 and_CC CEO_NN1 ,_, said_VVD in_II a_AT1 prepared_JJ statement_NN1 that_CST the_AT move_NN1 will_VM "_" place_VV0 Russell_NP1 in_II the_AT center_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 major_JJ Pacific_NP1 Rim_NN1 city_NN1 ,_, alongside_II other_JJ like-minded_JJ global_JJ firms_NN2 and_CC business_NN1 pioneers_NN2 ._. "_" 
Tacoma_NN1 could_VM offer_VVI money_NN1 and_CC history_NN1 ,_, but_CCB not_XX the_AT bigger_JJR city_NN1 's_GE bright_JJ lights_NN2 ._. 
The_AT presentation_NN1 by_II the_AT Seattle_NP1 CEOs_NN2 was_VBDZ powerful_JJ ,_, said_VVD Craig_NP1 Kinzer_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 real-estate_JJ consultant_NN1 who_PNQS advised_VVD Russell_NP1 ._. 
The_AT executives_NN2 spoke_VVD of_IO the_AT benefits_NN2 of_IO doing_VDG business_NN1 in_II such_DA a_AT1 diverse_JJ ,_, culturally_RR rich_JJ city_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
The_AT move_NN1 is_VBZ in_II Russell_NP1 's_GE best_JJT interests_NN2 long_JJ term_NN1 ,_, Kinzer_NP1 said_VVD :_: "_" They_PPHS2 'll_VM have_VHI great_JJ opportunities_NN2 not_XX only_RR to_II recruit_NN1 ,_, but_CCB to_II network_NN1 with_IW other_JJ ..._... businesses_NN2 ._. "_" 
In_II his_APPGE statement_NN1 ,_, Doman_NP1 also_RR attributed_VVD the_AT move_NN1 in_RR21 part_RR22 to_II "_" the_AT unique_JJ conditions_NN2 of_IO the_AT commercial_JJ real-estate_JJ market_NN1 in_II Seattle_NP1 ._. "_" 
Russell_NP1 spokeswoman_NN1 Jennifer_NP1 Tice_NP1 would_VM not_XX elaborate_VVI ._. 
But_CCB real-estate_JJ industry_NN1 insiders_NN2 said_VVD that_CST because_II21 of_II22 the_AT recession_NN1 ,_, Washington_NP1 Mutual_JJ 's_GE collapse_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 and_CC fast-rising_JJ vacancy_NN1 rates_NN2 in_II the_AT downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 office_NN1 market_NN1 ,_, Northwestern_JJ Mutual_JJ almost_RR certainly_RR got_VVD its_APPGE new_JJ building_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 steeply_RR discounted_VVN price_NN1 --_NN1 perhaps_RR less_DAR than_CSN one-third_MF of_IO what_DDQ it_PPH1 would_VM cost_VVI to_TO build_VVI now_RT ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 're_VBR getting_VVG a_AT1 tremendous_JJ value_NN1 by_II buying_VVG that_DD1 building_NN1 at_II this_DD1 point_NN1 in_II the_AT market_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Matt_NP1 Christian_JJ ,_, a_AT1 senior_JJ director_NN1 at_II brokerage_NN1 Cushman_NP1 &;_NULL Wakefield_NP1 's_GE Seattle_NP1 office_NN1 ._. 
Neither_RR Northwestern_JJ Mutual_JJ nor_CC seller_NN1 JPMorgan_NP1 Chase_NN1 would_VM disclose_VVI the_AT purchase_NN1 price_NN1 of_IO the_AT tower_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ will_VM be_VBI renamed_VVN the_AT Russell_NP1 Investments_NN2 Center_NN1 ._. 
Russell_NP1 is_VBZ downtown_JJ Tacoma_NP1 's_GE largest_JJT private_JJ employer_NN1 ,_, and_CC civic_JJ leaders_NN2 there_RL waged_VVD a_AT1 fierce_JJ campaign_NN1 to_TO keep_VVI the_AT company_NN1 ._. 
"_" &lsqb;_( The_AT move_NN1 &rsqb;_) hurts_VVZ Tacoma_NP1 a_RR21 lot_RR22 more_DAR than_CSN it_PPH1 helps_VVZ Seattle_NP1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Oscar_NP1 Oliveira_NP1 ,_, managing_JJ director_NN1 of_IO the_AT Broderick_NP1 Group_NN1 ,_, another_DD1 Seattle_NP1 brokerage_NN1 ._. 
Russell_NP1 's_GE decision_NN1 could_VM attract_VVI other_JJ financial-services_NN2 firms_NN2 to_II downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 added_VVD ._. 
What_DDQ 's_VBZ more_RRR ,_, it_PPH1 gives_VVZ the_AT downtown_JJ office_NN1 market_VV0 a_AT1 badly_RR needed_VVN psychological_JJ boost_NN1 ._. 
The_AT three-year-old_JJ WaMu_NN1 Center_NN1 ,_, once_CS Washington_NP1 Mutual_JJ 's_GE headquarters_NN ,_, was_VBDZ acquired_VVN by_II JPMorgan_NP1 Chase_VV0 a_AT1 year_NNT1 ago_RA as_II part_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE takeover_NN1 of_IO the_AT failed_JJ thrift_NN1 ._. 
Since_II then_RT ,_, layoffs_NN2 have_VH0 largely_RR emptied_VVN the_AT building_NN1 :_: Where_RRQ more_DAR than_CSN 4,000_MC once_RR worked_VVN ,_, fewer_DAR than_CSN 500_MC are_VBR employed_VVN today_RT ._. 
And_CC Chase_NN1 made_VVD no_AT secret_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE desire_NN1 to_TO unload_VVI the_AT tower_NN1 ._. 
Russell_NP1 spokeswoman_NN1 Tice_NP1 would_VM not_XX say_VVI how_RGQ much_DA1 of_IO the_AT 900,000-square-foot_FO skyscraper_VV0 the_AT company_NN1 will_VM occupy_VVI ._. 
Other_JJ sources_NN2 had_VHD said_VVN Russell_NP1 was_VBDZ in_II the_AT market_NN1 for_IF about_RG 300,000_MC square_JJ feet_NN2 ._. 
Chase_NN1 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO lease_VVI about_RG three_MC floors_NN2 ,_, spokeswoman_NN1 Darcy_NP1 Donohoe-Wilmot_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Its_APPGE bank_NN1 branch_NN1 on_II the_AT ground_NN1 floor_NN1 will_VM remain_VVI ._. 
As_II21 for_II22 the_AT remainder_NN1 of_IO the_AT building_NN1 ,_, Oliveira_NP1 and_CC Christian_NN1 said_VVD the_AT presumably_RR low_JJ purchase_NN1 price_NN1 could_VM allow_VVI Northwestern_JJ Mutual_JJ to_TO offer_VVI lower_JJR rents_NN2 and_CC better_JJR incentives_NN2 to_II prospective_JJ tenants_NN2 than_CSN comparable_JJ downtown_JJ office_NN1 buildings_NN2 could_VM ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 'm_VBM sure_JJ they_PPHS2 'll_VM be_VBI aggressive_JJ ,_, "_" Oliveira_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" The_AT question_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, how_RGQ much_DA1 ?_? "_" 
In_II Tacoma_NP1 ,_, Mayor_NNB Bill_NP1 Baarsma_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ "_" deeply_RR disappointed_JJ "_" by_II Russell_NP1 's_GE decision_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ disappointing_JJ for_IF employees_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS will_VM have_VHI to_TO travel_VVI up_RP that_DD1 godforsaken_JJ freeway_NN1 ,_, or_CC hopefully_RR get_VV0 on_II a_AT1 bus_NN1 or_CC the_AT Sounder_NN1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 's_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO affect_VVI their_APPGE families_NN2 and_CC quality_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
Baarsma_NP1 contrasted_VVD Russell_NP1 's_GE choice_NN1 with_IW the_AT recent_JJ decision_NN1 by_II kidney-dialysis_JJ giant_JJ DaVita_NN1 to_TO keep_VVI its_APPGE 900-employee_JJ accounting_NN1 and_CC billing_NN1 office_NN1 in_II downtown_JJ Tacoma_NP1 :_: "_" They_PPHS2 said_VVD their_APPGE employees_NN2 are_VBR No._NN1 1_MC1 ._. "_" 
"_" Russell_NP1 has_VHZ been_VBN a_AT1 big_JJ leader_NN1 in_II Tacoma_NP1 ...._... 
They_PPHS2 will_VM be_VBI just_RR another_DD1 company_NN1 in_II Seattle_NP1 ,_, "_" said_VVD U.S._NP1 Rep._NNB Norm_NP1 Dicks_NP2 ,_, D-Bremerton_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE district_NN1 includes_VVZ downtown_JJ Tacoma_NP1 and_CC who_PNQS worked_VVD hard_RR to_TO persuade_VVI the_AT company_NN1 to_TO stay_VVI ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 think_VV0 we_PPIS2 did_VDD everything_PN1 we_PPIS2 could_VM ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 just_RR do_VD0 n't_XX think_VVI we_PPIS2 could_VM compete_VVI with_IW a_AT1 discounted_JJ WaMu_NN1 building_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II a_AT1 written_JJ statement_NN1 ,_, Seattle_NP1 Mayor_NNB Greg_NP1 Nickels_NN2 said_VVD he_PPHS1 recognized_VVD the_AT effect_NN1 of_IO Russell_NP1 's_GE departure_NN1 on_II Tacoma_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB "_" the_AT most_RGT important_JJ fact_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST workers_NN2 can_VM stay_VVI in_II the_AT Puget_NN1 Sound_NN1 area_NN1 and_CC that_CST a_AT1 prominent_JJ company_NN1 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO call_VVI the_AT Northwest_ND1 home_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 added_VVD ._. 
Nickels_NN2 and_CC some_DD Seattle_NP1 City_NN1 Council_NN1 members_NN2 insisted_VVD they_PPHS2 did_VDD not_XX offer_VVI Russell_NP1 a_AT1 tax_NN1 break_NN1 or_CC other_JJ incentives_NN2 to_TO move_VVI ,_, despite_II their_APPGE plan_NN1 to_TO take_VVI up_RP legislation_NN1 that_CST would_VM lower_VVI the_AT local_JJ business-and-occupation_NN1 (_( B_ZZ1 &O);_NULL tax_NN1 rate_NN1 paid_VVN by_II the_AT company_NN1 ._. 
Under_II the_AT proposal_NN1 ,_, Russell_NP1 would_VM avoid_VVI Seattle_NP1 's_GE highest_JJT B_NP1 &O;_NULL tax_NN1 of_IO 0.415_MC percent_NNU and_CC instead_RR pay_VV0 a_AT1 lower_JJR rate_NN1 of_IO 0.15_MC percent_NNU ,_, saving_VVG roughly_RR $450,000_NNU a_AT1 year_NNT1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 June_NPM1 2_MC letter_NN1 to_II a_AT1 Russell_NP1 representative_NN1 ,_, Nickels_NN2 estimated_VVD the_AT company_NN1 would_VM pay_VVI $250,000_NNU a_AT1 year_NNT1 in_II B_ZZ1 &O;_NULL taxes_NN2 to_II the_AT city_NN1 under_II the_AT reduced_JJ rate_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT big_JJ picture_NN1 ,_, though_CS ,_, the_AT Seattle_NP1 tax-code_JJ change_NN1 was_VBDZ more_RRR a_AT1 friendly_JJ gesture_NN1 than_CSN real_JJ competition_NN1 with_IW Tacoma_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE wide-ranging_JJ incentive_NN1 package_NN1 included_VVD complete_JJ elimination_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE B_ZZ1 &O;_NULL tax_NN1 for_IF Russell_NP1 ._. 
Seattle_NP1 City_NN1 Council_NN1 President_NNB Richard_NP1 Conlin_NP1 said_VVD Seattle_NP1 did_VDD not_XX offer_VVI any_DD such_DA major_JJ incentives_NN2 and_CC had_VHD no_AT plans_NN2 to_TO do_VDI so_RR ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 did_VDD n't_XX go_VVI out_RP and_CC solicit_VVI them_PPHO2 ,_, "_" Conlin_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD the_AT only_JJ other_JJ possible_JJ city_NN1 action_NN1 for_IF Russell_NP1 would_VM be_VBI a_AT1 change_NN1 to_II the_AT restrictive_JJ sign_NN1 ordinance_NN1 to_TO allow_VVI the_AT firm_JJ to_TO put_VVI a_AT1 large_JJ Russell_NP1 logo_NN1 on_II its_APPGE new_JJ building_NN1 ._. 
City_NN1 Councilmember_NP1 Jean_NP1 Godden_NP1 said_VVD in_II a_AT1 news_NN1 release_NN1 that_CST the_AT council_NN1 's_GE Finance_NN1 and_CC Budget_NN1 Committee_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ she_PPHS1 chairs_VVZ ,_, will_VM take_VVI up_RP the_AT tax-code_JJ legislation_NN1 next_MD Thursday_NPD1 ._. 
Eight_MC council_NN1 members_NN2 already_RR have_VH0 signed_VVN a_AT1 letter_NN1 generally_RR supporting_VVG the_AT proposal_NN1 ._. 
Tice_NP1 said_VVD she_PPHS1 knows_VVZ of_IO no_AT other_JJ incentives_NN2 Seattle_NP1 has_VHZ offered_VVN Russell_NP1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 said_VVD the_AT company_NN1 is_VBZ exploring_VVG ways_NN2 to_TO help_VVI workers_NN2 with_IW the_AT new_JJ commute_VV0 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 possible_JJ relocation_NN1 assistance_NN1 ._. 
Not_XX surprisingly_RR ,_, most_DAT Russell_NP1 headquarters_NN employees_NN2 live_VV0 closer_RRR to_II downtown_JJ Tacoma_NN1 than_CSN to_II Seattle_NP1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 recent_JJ state_NN1 commuter_NN1 survey_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 Downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 Association_NN1 affiliate_NN1 has_VHZ plotted_VVN transit_NN1 routes_NN2 to_II downtown_JJ Seattle_NP1 for_IF every_AT1 Russell_NP1 employee_NN1 ,_, Joncas_NP2 said_VVD :_: "_" That_DD1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 big_JJ hurdle_NN1 for_IF them_PPHO2 --_NN1 how_RRQ to_TO get_VVI people_NN to_TO work_VVI ._. "_" 
Russell_NP1 's_GE move_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX solve_VVI the_AT financial_JJ pressures_NN2 facing_VVG the_AT Seattle_NP1 Art_NN1 Museum_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ owns_VVZ a_AT1 16-story_JJ tower_NN1 connected_VVN to_II the_AT future_JJ Russell_NP1 Investments_NN2 Center_NN1 and_CC leased_VVD half_DB of_IO those_DD2 floors_NN2 to_II WaMu_NP1 before_II the_AT Chase_NN1 takeover_NN1 ._. 
Those_DD2 floors_NN2 are_VBR now_RT vacant_JJ ._. 
Museum_NN1 spokeswoman_NN1 Cara_NP1 Egan_NP1 said_VVD SAM_NP1 still_RR is_VBZ searching_VVG for_IF tenants_NN2 ._. 
Seattle_NP1 Times_NNT2 staff_NN reporters_NN2 Jim_NP1 Brunner_NP1 and_CC Mike_NP1 Lindblom_NP1 contributed_VVD to_II this_DD1 report_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ also_RR includes_VVZ material_NN1 from_II The_AT News_NN1 Tribune_NN1 of_IO Tacoma_NP1 ._. 
