Janine Gates, Olympia — May 20, 2008

Testimony to the City Council - Public Comments Period

May 20, 2008

Dear City Councilmembers:

My name is Janine Gates and I've lived in Olympia for 25 years.

I am here to talk about the application by Triway Enterprises, owned by Mr. Tri Vo, to rezone his downtown properties to a building height maximum of 90 feet. The area he owns is immediately as you come into downtown Olympia off the 4th and 5th Avenue bridges up through the Percival Landing area. For an understanding of how high 90 feet is, the old Department of Corrections building, which is not part of this project, but will remain standing, is 108 feet high.

You will have your first public hearing on this issue on June 24 and then you could vote for the proposal in September. From what I understand from your staff, after you have your first public hearing, we are not able to comment on the issue in public in front of you. I'm concerned that this is not enough time for the community to learn about the implications of this project and share their concerns with you.

I love downtown and want it to be more than it is, but this project is not the answer.

Mr. Vo's project intends to build 141 condos that will retail for $800,000 - $1 million each. He says there is a pent-up demand for view condos at that price. I question that, and I question whether or not Triway's investors have our community's best interests at heart. If that kind of money was already here somewhere, then perhaps it could come forth to fix up the downtown structures we already have.

I learned from the project architect that the proposed design is not necessarily what we will get if the area is rezoned. In reality, once it's rezoned, Triway Enterprises can do whatever they want.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to me, the designs are not "Olympia." By looking at Triway's very own materials, our skyline and views of Budd Inlet, The Olympics, Capitol Lake, the Capitol Building, and Mt. Rainier as you come into downtown or walk around the lake will be obstructed from the general public.

This is a critical, beautiful area that serves as everyone's playground. Triway does have a real opportunity to make something of this area, but I think their slogan for this project says it all: their slogan is "City Life - It's There For the Taking." I'd like to say to Mr. Vo, no, it is not for the taking. It's for the sharing.

I urge you, the city council, to please listen to concerns about this project and consider all sides. Together, with Mr. Vo, maybe we can envision alternatives.

Thank you so much.