Envision Downtown Olympia, a reminder

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Envision Downtown Olympia, a reminder

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 11:23pm.

posting via email, a reminder:

SPEECH Sponsors Community Forum, “Envision Downtown Olympia”
A public forum on Downtown Olympia’s future will be held on Thursday, June 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE. The forum will be taped for later broadcast on Thurston Community Television.
The forum, “Envision Downtown Olympia,” is sponsored by the non-profit organization South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH) with support from the Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County. The public is invited to envision different perspectives on what we, as a community, want for downtown Olympia. The forum will also address the Urban Waterfront Rezone proposal submitted to the city by Triway Enterprises.
Forum speakers include Barbara Gooding, former director of the Washington State Department of Community Development and former City of Olympia planning commissioner, who will offer a brief history on Olympia’s current downtown zoning issues, Rich Hoey, Water Resources Director at City of Olympia Public Works who will give a PowerPoint presentation on predicted sea-level rise in downtown Olympia; Steve Cooper, downtown property owner; Bob Jacobs, former mayor of Olympia and member of Friends of the Waterfront, and Daniel Furrer, President, Olympia Downtown Association.
Eve Johnson, former president of the League of Women Voters of Thurston County, will be the moderator. A mediator with the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center will be present and will transcribe the key outcomes of the forum into a community report.
Audience members will actively participate in the visioning and discussion.

it would be cool to get...

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 9:59am.

...the SPSCC group "BRICK" involved (if they are still active).

BRICK

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 2:54pm.

It's my understanding that BRICK is still an active group.

A Perspective and Proposed Use of the Isthmus

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 3:09pm.

Former Mayor Bob Jacobs wrote about Estuary Restoration (in the most recent issue of The Green Pages) as it relates to the proposed rezone and potential use of the isthmus for high rise condos. Here is a link to that article: www.oly-wa.us/greenpages/200806Jacobs.php

and an excerpt:

The isthmus area is a critical location for the health of the downtown and our state capital community. Our beautiful Capitol campus was designed to take advantage of these views across this area. The openness and natural light created by low-rise zoning are critical to the public's enjoyment of the entire area (including the Heritage Park fountain) and community events like Arts Walk, Lakefair, Harbor Days, and the Wooden Boat Festival.
The Growth Management Act does not condone the loss of such vital amenities. In fact, it is obvious that as our population grows, we need more, not fewer amenities. Current projections call for a 50% population growth in Thurston County in the next 20 years: potentially an additional 120,000 people.
There are at least two specific environmental concerns raised by the proposal.
First...

estuary vs. condo?

Submitted by chad360 on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 6:06am.

...oh, it doesn't have to be that way.

I'm not sure if I agree with the assumption that "condo owners" would not want a functional tidal element to their scene...

...all that water rushing past everyday, the surge of the tide & the wildlife it attracts (the "lake" is barely better than an open sewer now).

It is like, "do I want a condo near the stink pond or in an active tidal basin like Nisqually Wildlife Refuge?"

-for me, there is no question about what I'd prefer.

And if we get some more folks downtown, maybe the Black Ditch Trail project could get enough ground-swell to *actualize* (the plan is to connect Capital Forest with Olympia downtown via Black Lake Ditch).

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