OLY 2012’s 2009 Vision for Downtown Olympia

2009 Vision – Introduction

In early May of last year, our group formally began our work by writing our vision for downtown – a combination of a high-level sketch of what downtown should become melded with specific positions and issues for our group address in the year ahead.  In that paper we first laid out our initial position on the isthmus rezone.

Though little has changed from last year to this year in terms of our future vision for downtown Olympia, our 2009 vision paper is written in terms more general than our vision paper of a year ago – more vision, less position.  Our future positions and work will be based on the platform established in our annual vision paper.

Our Downtown Vision for 2009 will focus on four key items: Housing, Parking & Transit, Economic Vitality and Arts & Entertainment.  The work OLY 2012 will engage in over the next year will be directly linked to these issues.

Housing

Housing remains at the top of our list of key issues for downtown.  In order for downtown to thrive economically, people – all kinds of people – must be there at all times of the day and night.  In this day and age, getting

Opinion: Real Progress Must Not Be Thwarted By The Vocal Minority

By Peter Stroble

Like so many times in the past, a small but extremely well-mobilized and highly vocal group of Olympia activists is doing their best to stall, delay or simply incinerate the enactment of the isthmus rezone decision that has, in large part, already been made.

Much of their effort is commendable.  They’ve written poems, recorded songs, held rallies, launched radio ad campaigns, recorded supportive testimony from well known ex-politicians, written letters (and letters and letters) to the editor of The Olympian, and showed up en masse to every public meeting and hearing held on the issue.

But this is not to say that everything they’ve done should be applauded.  They’ve employed a wide assortment of threats and scare tactics with the aim of intimidating our elected city council members into doing what they want done.

Some of these acts have been carefully planned and often publicized by organizations formed to take on this issue, including, but not limited to, Friends

Opinion: An Isthmus Park is Not Feasible, Even if We Had the Funds

By OLY 2012 Steering Committee

When given a choice between an image of the isthmus piled high with monolithic buildings and an image of the isthmus composed of a tree-lined park, most people are naturally drawn to the isthmus park concept.  Although the air-brushed park image is enticing, we do not believe the isthmus park expansion is feasible in light of the City’s land use and urban design objectives – even if our community could afford it.

There are many reasons why an expanded isthmus park is not feasible, with density, sustainability, and transportation goals in the City’s Comprehensive Plan being near the top.  The City is way behind in reaching its downtown housing density goals.   Just meeting the current City goals will require at least 20 blocks of downtown land (figuring 5 story buildings with parking built-in) dedicated solely to urban housing.  Simply put, there is hardly enough room in downtown to accomplish our housing density objectives without being forced to build higher-than-mid-rise structures in most of it.  Downtown already has 63 acres of park space, which occupies approximately 10 percent of the total downtown area. 

Opinion: Show Me The Money!

By Maureen Morris

As we see budgets of schools and other local public services cut, we need to support improving the local tax base.  The current Tri Way proposal for condos and commercial space on the isthmus would increase the assessed value on two small parcels by about $150 million.  Property tax revenues on those parcels would grow from $17,000 to $1.4 million.  Initial sales of condos would generate $1.6 million in real estate excise tax to fund infrastructure projects.   Building and furnishing condos and commercial spaces should generate about $8 million in sales tax.   Condo re-sales and commercial activity would generate other taxes.  This will help fund school, library, city, county and transit services.

If the rezone fails, the site will be filled with an office building already approved for the site.  In addition to adding less value to the tax base, we will have another building in the heart of the city that is empty most evenings and weekends.   Instead of condos stacked on two small blocks, we’ll have more Street of Dreams mega houses replacing acres of forest.

The rezone does not block off the waterfront.  Almost all downtown waterfront is publicly owned.  What is blocking off the waterfront is the lack of a tax base to repair the boardwalk, build the parks and trails for the waterfront we already own, and to purchase waterfront in other areas of the community.

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© Copyright 2009 by OLY 2012. No redistribution without prior written consent.

Opinion: Olympians Must Think Hard about What Makes the Best View

By Peter Stroble

Global Warming. Geo-Political Conflict. Epidemic Disease. The Rising Cost of Living.  Famine. Obesity. Classism. Racism. Political Polarization. Social Entrenchment.

The root cause of virtually every problem in our world today is Suburbia – enabled by our 20th century car culture.  It’s easy to simply blame it all on George W., kick back, and wait for Obama to make it all better.  But until we take responsibility and change how we live at the community level, we shouldn’t be pointing our fingers at anyone but ourselves.

Density is the answer.  It mitigates the threat of war and global warming by reducing our reliance on the oil-dependent automobile.  It lowers our transportation costs, which lowers our overall cost of living.  It enables us to eat more healthfully because less sprawl equals more local farmland.

Opinion: Today’s Vision For Downtown Olympia (May 2008)

When OLY 2012 formed, the members of the steering committee pledged to conduct independent reviews of the issues impacting the revitalization of downtown Olympia.

Over the past several months the steering committee has met with and talked to dozens of individuals and groups interested in improving Olympia’s downtown. We have confirmed that the majority of our area’s residents love downtown and most are passionate about wanting it to be even better.  Our community places a high value on access to the waterfront, including substantial view corridors between Budd Inlet and Capitol Lake.  There is a clear desire for a “walkable” downtown with continuous streets of small retail shops, trees and flowers, good lighting and signage, adequate parking, nightclubs, and sidewalk cafes. 

Opinion: FAQs to ‘Today’s Vision For Downtown Olympia (May 2008)’

Q. What about sea-level rise, especially at the isthmus?

A. The ultimate level of sea level rise is unknown.  The community has made major public investments in the downtown peninsula, including LOTT, the Port, subsidized housing, parks, and the Farmers Market.  The private sector has made additional investments.  It is reasonable to expect that we will protect these investments rather than abandon them. Continuing our auto intensive, sprawling pattern of development will contribute to global climate change.  The City needs to encourage development of housing choices that offer a walkable downtown lifestyle for all so that our community can make an effective contribution in combating climate change.   The City needs to proceed with its study of sea level rise and to develop policies to cope with the projected changes.