The Port of Olympia, LOTT Clean Water Alliance and City of Olympia all have interests in the state Department of Fish and Wildlife properties declared surplus by the 2011 Legislature. They envision different, albeit compatible, uses for the downtown Olympia sites.
The properties include the former Department of Game headquarters office at 600 Capitol Way N. and a nearby Department of Fish and Wildlife warehouse and parking lot on Washington Street Northeast.
A land appraisal completed for the state in June set the value of the properties at $2.425 million, according to Department of Enterprise Services spokesman Jim Erskine.
The Port of Olympia envisions the parcels would be home to mixed-use commercial development, linking the Market District to the East Bay Redevelopment Area, said Mike Reid, port senior manager of business development.
The Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County (LOTT) utility partners would like to build large subterranean holding basins under newly constructed buildings to manage wastewater overflows during future storms, LOTT executive director Mike Strub said.
The city sees the area as a viable location for downtown housing and mixed-use development, according to a memorandum of understanding drafted by the three parties.
The LOTT board is expected to sign the agreement at its Wednesday night meeting, followed by the port commission Nov. 14 and the City Council Nov. 22.
The City of Olympia would, by state law, be the first in line to purchase the property, Erskine explained. However, the memorandum suggests the port and LOTT would finance the purchase with staff assistance from the city.
The state agency is likely to accept letters of interest on the property in the next several weeks, followed by a formal bid process 45 days later.
The memorandum of understanding doesn’t obligate anyone to purchase the land, but it sets the wheels in motion for the three governments to prepare an offer to the state, Reid said.
John Dodge: 360-754-5444
jdodge@theolympian.com
