East Bay residents want to be included in discussion about helicopter pad proposal
A representative of the East Bay Drive Neighborhood Association brought two questions to the Port of Olympia commission on Monday:
Is the proposal to convert the KGY Radio site at the tip of the Port peninsula in Budd Inlet into a bar, restaurant and helicopter pad for real? And if so, what’s its status?
East Bay resident Richard Wolf asked the question following a story in The Olympian that revealed the president and owner of Glacier Aviation in Tumwater and the general manager at KGY Radio have struck a pending purchase and sales agreement for the historic waterfront property.
KGY has occupied the prominent waterfront spot near Anthony’s Hearthfire restaurant since 1960. KGY’s lease expires at the end of 2024, General Manager Nick Kerry has said.
Glacier Aviation owner Mike Thielen would like to turn the property into a bar and restaurant with a helicopter pad that would allow him to provide helicopter rides or let others fly in, he has said. Kerry has said he would welcome the investment.
Wolf said he lives across the water from the port, so he is very interested in the plan.
“It’s something that has already gathered a lot of input from neighbors as to their thoughts on this,” Wolf said about the KGY proposal. “We are very, very interested in it and want to participate all the way through the project if possible.”
Wolf said he would like to be added to a mailing list to receive updates on the proposal.
The port commission was largely noncommittal on the topic.
Commissioner Amy Evans said she is prepared to follow the public input on the proposal.
“There is no direction on this property at this time,” she said. “I’m excited to continue to follow the direction of the community and figure out the highest and best use of the property going forward.”
Commissioner Joe Downing said The Olympian story was largely accurate, saying both Thielen and KGY have an interest in a certain outcome. Downing encouraged Wolf to reach out to port staff to keep him in the loop.
“The commission has not in any way formally discussed what might happen with that (KGY) lease,” he said.
Port Executive Director Sam Gibboney said the port is set to hear an update on destination waterfront planning in early April.
“There has been no formal proposal to the port for lease assignment or any other type of leasing of that property,” she said.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
