OLY 2012 is a volunteer organization dedicated to helping the city of Olympia, Washington achieve its goals to move downtown in a positive direction. Our mission is to build a broad-based and well-informed network of community support to realize the potential for a beautiful and unique downtown between now and 2012.
We intend to achieve our mission by building a network of citizens to provide well-informed and appropriately vocal support to local officials who are committed to economic development in Olympia’s downtown in a timely fashion. We have come together to pro-actively encourage specific targeted proposals and public policies that we have carefully considered to be consistent with our vision, mission and beliefs. We will seek partnerships with other existing like-minded community groups and pursue various avenues to achieve our goals, including political, financial, media and public relations.
We Believe:
- Our 2007 local election signaled the community’s support for leaders who are passionate about downtown and ready to tackle tough local issues.
- Olympia’s City Council’s focus on making downtown improvements a top priority is on point.
- Our Capitol City should attract state, national and international visitors to a downtown that showcases our community. Those visitors should have more opportunity to support local artists, farmers and businesses in our shops and restaurants.
- Many more people would like to live, work, shop, dine and seek entertainment downtown.
- Our existing local businesses contribute significantly to our community and economy, and new businesses would like to find a place to prosper downtown. They deserve our support.
- Intelligent, well-reasoned growth and redevelopment can occur downtown without losing our unique sense of place or the valued role of the arts in our community.
- Our vision for downtown will require focused work on challenging issues.
- Local elected leadership, with support from committed volunteers and private and public investment, can move us from dreams to reality.
- A more concentrated residential housing and commercially developed downtown is essential to our community’s efforts to preserve natural spaces, reduce our carbon footprint, and strengthen and broaden our tax base.
- Downtown Olympia has tremendous potential, and we can learn from other communities that have seen positive redevelopment.
- The path to success is a big vision, implemented in specific, attainable steps.
- The vast majority of area residents support improvements to Olympia’s downtown and want to actively voice their opinions.
Our Approach:
As opportunities and issues arise, or as we identify a downtown proposal or policy we believe is relevant to our mission, we will undertake an independent review to provide information to Olympia area citizens. We will meet with City Council members, City staff, and interested groups and individuals proposing or opposing the specific issue. Once our due diligence is complete we will make a recommendation as to our conclusion and any action we deem appropriate. Our conclusion will be substantiated with critical data and reasoned arguments posted on the Olympia 2012 website.
