Olympia celebrates isthmus demolitions while awaiting fate of vacant tower
A short but symbolic celebration was held Thursday in honor of the recent demolition of two vacant buildings on the isthmus in downtown Olympia.
A flat empty lot has replaced the former Thurston County Department of Health building at 529 Fourth Ave. W. Construction crews from WM Dickson Company finished tearing down the city-owned building this month. In April, the contractor tore down the former Thurston County Housing Authority building next door at 505 Fourth Ave. W.
The future remains unwritten for the strip of land between Capitol Lake and West Bay, but a new park still tops the wish list for a number of residents.
Jerry Reilly of the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation reminded the few dozen people gathered Thursday that more than 5,000 residents signed a petition seven years ago to support a new park and civic space on the isthmus.
In 2013, the foundation donated $100,000 toward the building demolitions. Reilly reiterated the foundation’s pledge to contribute an additional $300,000 for future phases of isthmus park development.
“Today, we celebrate real progress,” said Reilly, referring to Thursday as Demolition Day. “Look around. Is this better than two derelict buildings?”
Olympia Mayor Stephen Buxbaum said the celebration should be about “building things” rather than tearing them down. To that end, he cited stakeholders involved with the two isthmus properties, which were purchased by the city in 2013 for about $3.3 million.
One key partner in the demolitions was Thurston County, which provided a Conservations Futures Program grant worth $600,000 in 2012.
Buxbaum also acknowledged members of the 555th Engineer Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord who attended Thursday. Last December, the brigade knocked down interior walls and hauled away wood, scrap metal and drywall as part of a training exercise at the former Housing Authority building.
“We’re very grateful for our partnership with everyone up at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” Buxbaum said.
Buxbaum also noted the history behind the Department of Health building, which was once known as Memorial Clinic.
Built in 1948, Memorial Clinic was located just down the hill from the old Providence St. Peter Hospital on Sherman Street. The clinic was considered an innovative concept at the time because it housed several physicians and specialties under one roof, according to the Olympia Historical Society.
The celebration was attended by several parks supporters, city employees and local dignitaries, including former Secretary of State Ralph Munro. Munro captured a common community sentiment when he pointed a finger at the vacant nine-story Capitol Center Building looming in the background and said, “I just want that building down.”
That building’s fate is still in limbo. This year, state legislators rejected a city request for funding to help buy and demolish the privately owned building.
In September, local developer Ken Brogan told The Olympian that he is exploring a plan to convert the structure into a mixed-use destination with offices, apartments, condominiums and a restaurant.
Supporters of the recently approved Metropolitan Park District say the extra tax revenue could provide some of the money needed to acquire the Capitol Center Building and tear it down for a park.
At the same time, Olympia is moving forward with a Community Renewal Area, an economic development tool that would expand the city’s eminent domain powers over downtown properties in poor condition. The isthmus properties are located within the Community Renewal Area and are considered prime candidates for redevelopment with a private partner.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Olympia celebrates isthmus demolitions while awaiting fate of vacant tower."