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Open Up Your Eyes

Submitted by ronnie on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 1:07am.

Olympia is a place I always imagined could exist but didn't think it actually did. It's small. weird, polite, old, beautiful, and quirky. It's uniqueness is in danger though. I feel that the wave from the north is barreling down on us. How do we retain the open space and natural beauty of the city? Is it too late? Will development, money, and shortsightedness win again?

The following article set me off today. I live near this parcel. I enjoy seeing the trees as I got to work. Yeah, it's all very selfish I guess. I think others enjoy this scenery as well. I'd like to see the city buy this and other pieces of land for parks or open space. Can't the city planners see the aesthetic value in keeping Olympia green?

Well here's the story.

If anyone has got info on an organization either public or private that could purchase this parcel for all the citizenry let me know. Thanks.

ronnie's blog
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Cities change. Housing,

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 1:19am.

Cities change. Housing, industrial, markets etc. all have to go in for a city to prosper. To stop that would be telling folks that we are too good and you can't live in this wonderful city unless someone dies or decides to move out.

I really don't understand...

Submitted by Rick on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 8:45am.

...why you talk like this, Norm. It is not wrong or "anti-business" for people to have some input and control over what happens in their city. I'd argue that it is good for business in the long run if cities do protect their resources. It creates a better atmosphere that attracts a better type of business, rather than just taking the first offer that comes along. Cities can be smart shoppers, too!

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow

I don't think it's wrong

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 3:17pm.

I don't think it's wrong either but I think it just is what it is. I remember listening to the city manager of lacey talk about all of the things that were going to be demolished and have something else built on top of them. I like the way lacey looks/looked but it is a prospering city at this point. I think that Olympia wants to compete in that sense ie all of the construction by the capitol mall. It's the nature of the beast, consume more or dwindle.

Open up YOUR eyes

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 5:01pm.

people do have input, every day... not just when they read an article in the paper about a piece of land they like being developed.

Sorry ronnie, but I empathize with your emotions, but not the facts of the matter. The right time to be concerned with this was when the parcel was zoned, not this morning. Both the city and the county have public land use processes (that could admittedly be more open, but that's another topic).

If you are concerned with open space and wildlife habitat, the right organization for you is the Capital Land Trust. Or the Olympia Parks committee.

Also, if you're interested in what your favorite piece of land is zoned (you might want to inquire for it to be changed before a newspaper article appears) check out the County's geodata maps.

I'd like to see the city buy

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 9:33am.

I'd like to see the city buy this and other pieces of land for parks or open space.

The Olympian (October 28, 2006): "Olympia budget ready for close-up; Cuts will not match 2006 but will be felt"

[City Finance Director Jane Kirkemo] expects the city will have to find $875,000 to cut from the 2008 budget in order to balance expenses.
The cuts are part of a long-term plan to slim city government by 2008, when the city will contribute more for the state pension and when other state tax laws reduce city revenue.

The City doesn't have money to purchase land for "open space."

no money for open space, but money for a new city hall?

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 12:09pm.

Sometimes I just don't get it. I'm pretty sure that a new city hall is still on the agenda for the city of Olympia. New city halls are pretty expensive, I'm wondering where that money is coming from and if it is really necessary to spend that source of money on a city hall. I do believe that a new city hall could be a good fixture in the downtown area but I get this feeling, as it is being envisioned, that the new city hall will be nothing but a liability to the downtown area.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^

the toxic avenger

Submitted by enpen on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 1:05pm.

Apparently our ancestors have conspired against a new City Hall. May their memories rise up bubbly.

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"

extremely interesting

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 2:49pm.

Having read this article I'm wondering, how on earth, people would seriously consider relocating the city's artesian well to anywhere near this location. I'm fairly certain the plan is still to cap the downtown artesian well and drill a new one near the Farmer's Market. Not sure I'll be drinking any of the water from that site. The time has come, my friends, to demand the downtown artesian well, in its present location not be shut down, but rather turned into a park. I guess parking lots are fine and necessary, but they do nothing for water quality or the soul of a city.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^

$25 million for the city hall, $1.998 million a year for parks

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 5:16pm.

The city hall will cost about $25 million and save us much moola in terms of rent and efficiency. Just in the taxes collected from the utility levy we passed a few years ago, there is $1.9 million for buying new parks (a form of open space).

$25 Million?

Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/05/2006 - 5:22pm.

Is maybe half of what it will cost. I'm not sure why you think $25 million is a sufficient amount of money, but the original $20 million dollar price tag was grossly under water. I'm not making up the data below - it came straight from the paper and Steve Hall. The current price tag is $35 million (after it was capped at $25 million) and more likely $40 million. Doesn't account for a days worth of cost over run. Living in the Pacific NW will add cost simply as a result of weather - see Safeco and Bellevue City Hall.

City Halls ARE Expensive

Submitted by Ehver Green on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 1:00pm.

While not on the same level as Bellevue ($130 million a few years ago - $121 million for budget, ran over by $19 million), Olympia is in way over their heads on this one. About a year ago, the price tag was $20 million dollars. Last spring the price tag went up to $25 million. 3-4 months later it was a $10 million dollar bump to $35 million dollars. Ground has yet to be broken. I expect it will cost more than $50 million dollars at completion (if it happens at all). Funding is expected to be through bonds the city will issue. At this price tag it would be wise to place the bonds on a ballot. But, to date, this has not yet happened or even been discussed in a public forum. Something here is seriously wrong.

City Hall FAQ

Olympian Article (Spring '06) from $20 million to $25 million

Olympian Article (End of Summer '06) $35 million

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