THE DOWNTOWN: 'Everybody's neighborhood' reinvents itself: Debate continues over best way to spur future growth

The Olympian
Olympia, Washington

BACK

Homepage


Progress Sunday, March 17, 2002 Olympia \| Heart of South Sound at another turning point Tony Overman/The Olympian Shoppers and walkers stroll past the shops on the boardwalk at Percival Landing in downtown Olympia. THE DOWNTOWN: 'Everybody's neighborhood' reinvents itself Debate continues over best way to spur future growth MICHAEL BURNHAM THE OLYMPIAN OLYMPIA -- Maybe you heard the radio advertisement while driving to your downtown job, meeting with the financial planner or playing hooky with the kids. "Where can you find drama, comedy, action, musicals, and an incredible number of performing arts," the radio announcer asks. "... Downtown Olympia, of course." Or was it this one: "Where can you find 136 artists, 27 entertainers in 90 locations? ... Downtown Olympia, of course." City officials spent more than $612,000 for these and other advertisements to keep residents coming downtown during the three-year construction of a new Fourth Avenue bridge -- downtown's major traffic artery to the city's west side. Call it an investment in keeping downtown Olympia thumping as the heart of South Sound. It's the community hub for banking, eating, socializing, and niche shopping. And it's often the focal point of grand political visions, community celebrations and political protests. "Downtown is ... really the only neighborhood that's everybody's neighborhood," said Thurston County regional planner Pete Swensson. "There are communities that have lost the vitality of their centers, and that's been a problem from the late 20th century up until today," Swensson added. "In Olympia, it's always been a struggle and an issue; downtown has had to reinvent itself several times." Reinvention Olympia became the territorial capital of Washington in 1853, making downtown a gathering point for lawmakers. With its proximity to vast forests and access to Puget Sound, downtown evolved as a major regional timber shipping hub. The timber industry became less dominant downtown during the later decades of the 20th century, when forest products employment decreased and state government grew. The presence of state offices downtown long helped sustain large retail stores such as Sears, J.C. Penney and Goldberg's. However, the opening of Lacey's South Sound Center in 1966 triggered an exodus of downtown's anchor tenants. Downtown was economically stagnant during the 1970s. But downtown was reincarnated during the 1980s through a string of major capital investments that continues today. In 1985, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts -- which includes two stages and seating for more than 1,100 patrons -- opened. A year later, the city completed construction on the 48,000-square-foot Olympia Center on Capitol Way. Percival Landing -- a public boardwalk lining much of downtown's West Bay waterfront -- opened two years later. The 1990s brought the additions of a downtown transit center, Japanese garden and farmer's market and Heritage Park Fountain. Future growth Many are asking what type of growth should happen next. For much of the past two years, city leaders have considered whether a new, publicly-constructed conference center is right for downtown. While many agree that it would be an economic boon for downtown, voters in Lacey and Tumwater, who could end up supporting it with their sales tax money, wonder what impact it will bring to their cities. Meanwhile, private developers say less cumbersome city permit requirements and the completion of Fourth Avenue bridge construction could mean an influx of private investment. "I think we've hit a level spot," said Ron Rants of The Rants Group, a major South Sound development and leasing firm. Added fellow developer Sandy Desner: "The problem today is that the city has created a regulatory matrix." The result during the past 20 years, developers say, has been heavy redevelopment of existing buildings and fewer new buildings. Still, others say more downtown additions would help existing business and spur new development. A parking garage fits squarely into that discussion. Developers, who consider the potential $15,000-per-stall garage price tag, say the advent of a public partnership offer from the city would be a major step in making a garage a reality. "I think the easy answer is that, if you're going to develop, you need the city as a partner," Rants said. Cultural impact City government has long been a partner in cultural activities. Throughout its history, downtown has been a magnet for community activities both traditional and nontraditional. The Olympia Center houses an annual Irish cottage fair, ethnic celebration and daytime events for both teens and senior citizens. "Any time you try to book a room it's usually full," said the city's Scott River, who coordinates booking for The Olympia Center. Capital Lakefair, which began with a lakeside carnival in 1956, includes parades, floats and fireworks. Like your parades a little more quirky? Downtown is home to the annual Olympia Pet Parade -- a come-one-come-all troop through town of children and pets -- and Procession of the Species -- a romp of denizens donning drums, costumes and spunk. Procession creator Eli Sterling said he wouldn't dream of staging the parade anywhere other than downtown. The surreal caravan of costume-clad music-makers and papier-mache creatures draws thousands of spectators and participants and continues well into the evening. "It's a much more powerful statement to be on the streets downtown after dark with your entire family," Sterling said. "If downtown is going to survive, we need to fill the streets with people at night." Many of the county's 4,000 graduates of The Evergreen State College feed into the procession and downtown's arts community, too. Evergreen students helped create the annual Music in the Park concert series, Olympia Film Society and K Records. Samba Olywa, a community percussion and dance group, began with instruments from Evergreen. "You wouldn't even try to attempt those social projects without first saying let's get a flier up at Evergreen," said Sterling, who received a master's degree from Evergreen. In other words, Greeners have "enriched the tapestry of downtown," said Chris Topher Yates, who presides over Evergreen's performing arts and media program. "A lot of them live downtown because they think it's cool. I do, too." Why? Sterling points to the school's focus on including political, social and environmental aspects into its curriculum and encouragement of students to continue to think broadly after graduation. "There are so many people who have come out of there, stayed in the community and retained that aspect of inclusiveness," Sterling added. When the Fourth Avenue bridge is finished in early 2004, there will likely be some kind of community celebration downtown -- home of crowded streets, historic buildings and the city's future. Michael Burnham covers Olympia for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-704-6869 or mpburnha@olympia. gannett.com. Olympia by the numbers - Population: 42,514 - Demographics in 2000: 85.3 percent white, 1.9 percent black, 1.3 percent American Indian or Alaska native, 5.8 percent Asian, 0.3 percent Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.7 percent other race, two or more races 3.8 percent. - Population growth: The city grew by 4,983 people from 1980 to 1990, then grew by 10,084 people from 1990 to 2000. Downtown's population grew from 1,348 people in 1980 to 1,330 people in 1990. Downtown's current population is 1,878. - Business growth: Sales tax revenue in 1990 was $6.93 million, compared with $12.62 million in 2001. Business and occupation tax in 1990 was $1.58 million, compared to $3.10 million in 2001. - City history: Returning to Oregon Territory from the California gold rush, New Englander Edmund Sylvester platted the town of Olympia in 1850. The city's namesake comes from the Olympic Mountains, which were named by British Capt. John Meares in 1788. In 1853, Washington Territory was carved from Oregon Territory, and Olympia became the territorial capital. [an error occurred while processing this directive] The Olympian Copyright 2002 back to main Progress index

The Olympian - Olympia, Washington Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service. �2002 The Olympian.