May 15, 2002

Olympia City Council must reject taller buildings

If five- and six-story buildings are built on Fourth and Fifth avenues between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet -- an issue the Olympia City Council will soon consider -- we may be assured of a blockage of our views from multiple locations. But there is no assurance that the offset benefits of an 18-hour vital downtown with fewer cars will be realized.

Indeed, there will be many cars spilling out on the narrow streets from the residential garages that are envisioned for the expensive condominiums.

And, unless the condominium buyers are youngish people, I doubt that they'll be out and around each night.

I don't think we should trade a predictable loss -- the view -- for problematic benefits, and I hope others who are concerned about preserving present comprehensive plan limitations on the waterfront will join me and many others in urging the City Council to reject the proposed rezoning.

Bob Arnold, Olympia