Downtown Redevelopment: Another Perspectiveby Curt Pavola Here's my vision for downtown housing and the Olympia waterfront. What's yours? The Olympia City Council is faced with competing priorities in deciding how — more specifically, where — to help jump-start market-rate housing in downtown Olympia. A variety of public benefits can be gained by accommodating more of Olympia's growing population in the downtown area. But where should we begin? The council is now in phase two of a study to determine the city policy changes and other factors that will help our community build housing in the urban core to accommodate some of the growth currently impacting our neighborhoods and our remaining natural areas. The debate has quickly polarized around one parcel of city-owned property along the boardwalk at Percival Landing. I'm writing to request your thoughts on this topic. First, however, I'll share my vision for downtown housing. I strongly support the city's active encouragement — not "subsidization" — of market-rate downtown housing. Given quality design and affordability, I'd actually like to live in it someday. So, my vision ... The City of Olympia could easily double in population by 2025, given current population trends and annexation of our urban growth area. To concentrate more of that population near the core of urban services (jobs, businesses, transportation options, entertainment, et cetera), the city needs to move toward a more mixed- use downtown that includes residential housing for all income levels. It is most efficient and friendlier to both the environment and existing neighborhoods to "build up" in the heart of the city than to "build out" on remaining undeveloped parcels. Many opportunities exist downtown for the creation of substantial multi-level residential neighborhoods. The city's downtown housing consultants highlighted four potential residential neighborhoods. Perhaps the two most appealing for the near future are the area surrounding the city-owned park parcel and the most westerly area between Heritage Park and the grocery store at the foot of the 4th Avenue bridge. The area "influenced by the existing city park," as our planners say, includes more parcels and opportunities than simply the adjacent city-owned lot that is currently used for community center parking. The focus on this one parcel is the issue that has caused the most controversy recently in our efforts to promote market-rate downtown housing. The city-owned lot across from the community center is considered by some as the prime location for downtown housing. This lot won't "make or break" the future of downtown housing development, however, and we need to take a very long-term view when discussing public amenities such as waterfront property. I feel this lot, and the adjacent parcels to the north and south, will best serve the community as open space. I see the existing park, the current parking lot, and, hopefully in the future, the Les Schwab lot as the key parcels needed to create a view corridor extending from the Capitol Campus, through Heritage Park, and along Percival Landing to the Port of Olympia park that is currently being built in front of Anthony's Homeport restaurant. (Perhaps we could entice Les Schwab to relocate as an "anchor store" in a new parking garage.) Some have posed the question "How much green space do we need?" and I agree with that sentiment. However, the city-owned parking lot is currently also used as a staging area for many events at Percival Landing. As the existing green park to the north is improved and retained as green space, my hope would be that the parking lot area could be developed as urban park space with a performance platform and additional areas for both native vegetation and vendor booths. Similarly, I agree with those who say that the buildings at the Les Schwab lot provide a visual and sound buffer for the city park, so if the city were able to purchase this lot, I'd like to see it also developed as urban park in a way that continues to buffer both park parcels to the north while also providing a view corridor to Heritage Park and the Capitol Building in the south. Any park acquisition and development plans would need to be weighed against other city priorities, and this year is an excellent time to have a community discussion since our park plan is being reviewed. I'd like to hear your thoughts, by phone or mail, and I'm sure our parks staff would love to have your participation in the city's planning efforts as well. To find out about future comment opportunities on parks, call the city at 753-8380. For information about the downtown housing study, call the city's housing project planning staff at Thurston Regional Planning, 786-5480. Thanks for taking the time to consider the future look, feel, and diversity of Olympia's downtown. Feel free to comment on this issue. Contact Councilmember Curt Pavola, City of Olympia. 357-3715, P.O. Box 7568 Olympia, WA 98507 Curt Pavola is a member of the Olympia City Council. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of other members of the City Council.
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