“Of course we’re disappointed, but not surprised,” says Bonnie Jacobs, founding member of Olympia’s “Save our Waterfront” organization, who since February have been fighting an effort launched by developer Tri Vo and his company Triway Enterprises to erect two massive, mixed-use buildings between Budd Inlet and Capitol Lake in downtown Olympia. Jacobs’ comment came in response to the Olympia Planning Commission’s 7-3 vote on Monday, July 21, to recommend raising the building-height limit from 35 feet to 65-90 feet in the area in question — a necessary step if Triway’s development is to become reality. According to plans, Triway’s proposed behemoths, which if built will tower above Olympia’s relatively diminutive skyline, will be 5-7 stories tall and include 141 separate million-dollar condos, along with retail and parking space. Now that the Planning Commission has voted to recommend the height-limit change, that recommendation will be forwarded to the Olympia City Council who will decide the matter later this year.



“It’s kind of energized us, actually,” says Jacobs. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy. We may not prevail, but we’re planning on it. I’m not sure where we stand with the City Council. They’re very pro business right now, too.”



If you know Olympia, take a moment to envision 141 million-dollar condos sitting tall along the waterfront near the 4th Avenue Bridge.



Really think about that.



Unless you’re a developer, real estate mogul, or someone with a million dollars to spend on a view, it’s an alarming mental picture.



Naturally, the idea is an issue of contention within Olympia. At the heart is the desire by most, it seems, to maintain waterfront views for all to enjoy — as well as the traffic implications of the proposed development. More than 300 people showed up to a Planning Commission meeting in June where Triway’s proposal was discussed; and according to the signup sheet, the room was over two-to-one opposed to the idea. Additionally, according to the Planning Commission’s Senior Planner Jan Weydemeyer, they’ve received in excess of 700 pages of written public comment on the issue. 



While the Planning Commission has officially given its blessing to the Triway condos, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the City Council do the same, Jacobs says if public opinion holds any weight, Olympia should be able to fend off the development.



“The people of Olympia don’t support (the Triway development.) It’s not just us,” says Jacobs, referring to her Save Our Waterfront group and citing several others that have formed in opposition, one made up of Olympia Planning Commission alums. “As far as having the public on our side, it did not sway the Planning Commission. Hopefully the City Council will be different.”



While public sentiment may be on Jacobs’ side, at least talking to folks in Olympia’s coffee shops and watering holes, the decision by the Planning Commission to recommend the building-height limit change was one taken seriously.



“I think encouraging downtown residential development positively impacts Olympia,” says Weydemeyer. “We haven’t had a lot of new market housing. Concentrating the population in a central area is part of the long term vision.”



The question is: Whose vision for the future of Olympia will the current Olympia choose?

It remains to be seen.



Olympia’s City Council will take public comment on the issue during a meeting Sept 16, and are expected to make a decision by the end of the year.