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Submitted by furrerdw on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:16pm.
The Olympia City Council will soon hear public commentary on the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Re-zone concerning Urban Waterfront Housing. The amendment will allow for mid-rise rather than the existing low-rise development on the isthmus; the benefits of which far outweigh any negatives. This proposal is consistent with the State of Washington Growth Management Act and County-wide Planning Policies for Thurston County. Allowing mixed-use development that includes housing increases the density of our downtown and decreases potential sprawl from regional growth. It will extend the perceived perimeter of our active downtown core with the addition of mixed-use retail and office space to an area that is currently underutilized. Residents will provide an influx of customers to existing downtown businesses and provide incentive for further investment by new business or property owners. Concerning views, the Olympia Downtown Association understands the importance of preserving the unique beauty of our capital city and has worked hard for many years to do so. We know that any construction downtown is going to affect a view in some way or another. The proposal recommended by the Planning Commission takes into account view corridors not specifically protected by city plans or regualations and still finds the impact to be minimal. The vacant buildings located on the site already affect pedestrian views. In addition, allowing for a stepped-back facade and minimizing the footprint of the original proposal does not significantly alter the view from the Capitol campus above Heritage Park. Left unaltered, the isthmus is destined to remain low-rise office or commercial space that does not add to the scenic beauty, economic vitality or cultural potential that Olympia strives for. It is past time for our community to consider whether our current stagnant pace of development allows us to be competitive in attracting the substantial growth and investment expected in this region in the coming years. Left unaltered, the isthmus may serve as a reminder that if Olympia has not already fallen behind the times, we are sorely in danger of doing so. The Olympia Downtown Association strongly recommends that the Council support the Planning Commission's position in favor of the amendment. Olympia Downtown Association Mission: The Olympia Downtown Association works to preserve and promote downtown Olympia as the commercial, cultural, residential and recreational center for the region.
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It's strange that the ODA
Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 2:19pm.Park makes more sense
Submitted by Bert on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 4:27pm.It is important that DT Olympia set itself apart. Olympia is an unusual community, and it's special. Olympia is physically unusual, as well as socially unusual. Those aspects must be preserved and encouraged.
Olympia is wonderful because of its novelty. An expanded park feature would add to that novelty and turn downtown into a true destination - for visitors and for residents alike.
Building on the isthmus? Wrong time - Wrong place.
Yours Truly,
Robert F. W. Whitlock
Although I disagree with the ODA position
Submitted by Laurian on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 8:28pm.Reason....
Submitted by samdunkirk on Fri, 09/05/2008 - 7:42am.So does this mean that the
Submitted by w1r3d1 on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 7:54am.Is it customary for
Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 8:14am.The DNA is not the ODA
Submitted by Laurian on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 11:23am.I am a board member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and I need to clear up an all too common misunderstanding. The Downtown Neighborhood Association DNA is distinct from the Olympia Downtown Association. ODA.
The Olympia Downtown Association is a dues paying association who's voting membership is limited to downtown business owners. By definition, it is NOT a neighborhood association. In the past the ODA was erroneously recognized by the City as a neighborhood association but that changed with the establishment of the DNA. See Pat Tassoni and Beth Ward's articles in Works in Progress for more information.
The DNA is a bonafide neighborhood association who's membership is composed of anyone who lives downtown. Currently there are 170 or so people on our membership roles. We have come together to advocate for all who call downtown home. In the past we have sponsored the Street Fair and currently we are working on getting grants for downtown livability and sustainability projects.
The DNA is in the process of taking a position on the Triway rezone proposal. Being a democratic membership organization the board is discussing the best way to poll our membership on the rezone proposal to determine what position, if any, the association should take. I hope we will have that process concluded by Sept. 16th.
(Note: Although I have oppose the Triway rezone in the pages of Olgblog and elsewhere, my personal stance on the issue should not and cannot be construed to be the position of the DNA)
Olympia's Neighborhood Associations do take positions on many issues and lobby the city on them. The Southwest Neighborhood Association has lobbied the city about Lobbyist Houses in their neighborhood and worked with the city to install traffic taming devices on Capitol Way. I believe the Eastside Neighborhood association was instrumental in getting the native plants garden next to the San Fransisco Bakery off the ground. The Southwest Neighborhood Association recently finished a 'walkability' project.
Neighborhood Associations are not political in that, to the best of my knowledge, the associations do not endorse political candidates or parties. They are political in that they take stances and lobby elected officials on issues that effect their neighborhoods.
I hope I have cleared up a few common misunderstandings about the DNA as well as the role of neighborhood associations in politics, but moreover inspired readers to get involved with their associations. Neighborhood Associations just may be democracy at it purest.
The ODA endorsement of the
Submitted by w1r3d1 on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 11:29am.How do you know
Submitted by Laurian on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 12:47pm.the isthmus is not consistent with that of the overall membership. Are you a member of the ODA?
Again, I oppose the rezone proposal but being a person who respects the right of like minded people to organize and take positions, I cannot condemn the ODA for taking a position if that is the sense of it's membership. I suspect supporting the rezone is the sense of the association regardless of what a lone member of the association might have said. If you are a member of the ODA and have proof to the contrary, then I am wrong and please accept my apology.
Is the ODA wrong on the rezone? yes. Do they have the right to be wrong? Yes.
PD isn't "Merry isthmus everyone" a bit defeatist?Well yes Laurian, I am a
Submitted by w1r3d1 on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 1:28pm.well Terry,
Submitted by einmaleins on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 2:55pm.(I, defender of the weak and weary, have to leave my comment here.)
Terry, it's great that you point out all the wrong-doings of the ODA, PBIA and everyone else trying to make something happen in downtown.
How about some positive, creative, constructive contribution??!
The fact is that the ODA is struggeling in trying to reinvent themselves and respond to new demands, new business owners, new challenges. So, they changed their mind on the isthmus, big deal. If the ODA is so bad as you make them out to be, no one should be paying attention to it anyway.
You left the PBIA, by being frustrated with the process, too.
I'm still waiting for the long-term business owners to get off their high horse of "I've been running businesses in downtown for many years" and actually roll up their sleeves and make something happen down here. Something that doesn't just benefit their own business, but the greater downtown community.
I've been running First Friday by myself and started Everyday Olympia. I host olyFORUMS and invite people for an open dialogue every Thursday at noon.
I can do all this by myself and I am growing it, I get a ton of positive feedback and the community loves it.
I don't have the means to take this to the next level, partly because if financial limitations, partly because I'm new in town and don't know the ins and out of this place yet.
But the funny thing is that despite the fact that all the seasoned business owners are harping at the seasoned organizations and their meager efforts, I have yet to see one of you come to me and even want to participate. They are oh, so busy with their own business and always have clever advice of what works and what doesn't - mostly what doesn't.
Hello proud entrepeneurs.... where are you... if not you, who else is supposed to be taking the lead here?? I will, but if you complain I will ignore you and walk right by.
mathias
einmaleins
A downtown business blog?
Submitted by pmenendez on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 3:34pm.Why doesn't the downtown business community, which is made up of so many creative people, start a local business blog to further the discussion about the future of local Downtown Olympia businesses, from the perspective of the people running them?
Call it the Olympia Local Business Blog, or whatever..
The local corporate media always distorts the greater discussion regarding local Downtown Olympia business which is mostly made up of decent, hard working Olympia folk.
for example
Submitted by einmaleins on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 3:38pm.mathias
einmaleins
Cool Site..
Submitted by pmenendez on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 3:55pm.Its RSS feed doesn't work though.
And it doesn't have a place for Downtown Olympia Business specific discussion, which needs to be furthered..
Olyforum is broader than just Downtown Olympia Business.
Submitted by pmenendez on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 3:57pm.yes.
Submitted by einmaleins on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 4:36pm.olyFORUMS is the extension of Everyday OLympia, that allows discussion and community participation.
I don't think it would worth it, creating a blog specifically for businesses downtown.
Not too many are using the internet and blogs in anyway. And I think it's better if the business community sees itself as part of the bigger community as a whole.
mathias
einmaleins
Rss feed?
Submitted by einmaleins on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 4:34pm.mathias
einmaleins
ok
Submitted by pmenendez on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 4:42pm.The ODA is still on the City
Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 11:59am.Well that that is a mistake
Submitted by Laurian on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 12:22pm.Not everything on the Internet is correct. I will be talking to the city about that.
That said the ODA, love it or hate it, has the right to take a position and make it public.
Yeah, you set 'em straight.
Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 2:12pm.