Public can comment on plans to condemn property next to Olympia elementary school
The public can comment Tuesday on plans to condemn a duplex and property located next to a Thurston County elementary school.
Thurston County officials have been planning for years to get the property adjacent to L.P. Brown Elementary School condemned and later sold to the Olympia School District.
The 0.28-acre property at 1904 and 1906 26th Ave. NW has a reputation for hosting various unsafe and illegal activities for the past 15 years, according to the county. Such activity has reportedly caused fire damage and the accumulation of solid waste as people have trespassed on the property to camp and use drugs.
On Tuesday, the county will accept public comment on a resolution authorizing the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to begin condemnation proceedings for the property. They also will accept comments on a planned interlocal agreement with the Olympia School District to improve the property and share costs.
Under the agreement, the county would pay for the cost of legal fillings and proceedings while the district would pay for an environmental review of the property. If appropriate, the district also would buy the property.
State law allows counties to condemn property that constitutes a blight on the surrounding neighborhood and meet certain criteria. The county also may transfer the property for public use, such as for a school.
The county has been unable to contact the property owner, Patricia L. Hunt, since 2015, despite repeated attempts, according to a draft of the resolution. A fire severely damaged the property in 2020, prompting firefighters to fence off the property at county expense, the resolution says.
In a statement, Jennifer Priddy, Olympia School District’s assistant superintendent for finance and capital planning, called the property an “eyesore to the community” and a dangerous attractive nuisance. The district is interested in putting the property to better use, she said.
“The burned/condemned building will need to be demolished and any hazardous materials cleaned from the property,” Priddy said. “The district will use the property to expand the L.P. Brown School, especially using the property to stage construction in an upcoming remodel.”
Though the property has a notorious reputation, Priddy said the district has not received any reports of students being harmed or frightened by activities at the property.
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved setting this public hearing during a March 22 regular meeting.
During the meeting, Commissioner Gary Edwards commended Joshua Cummings, director of community planning and economic development, and staff for advancing this plan.
“It’s always difficult when we do have to come to this point of condemnation,” Cummings said. “It’s not very often that occurs, but I appreciate the work of our legal team to ensure that we’re doing it in the most appropriate manner.”
Commissioner Tye Menser also thanked Cummings, saying this plan has been a focus for his office since he got elected to the board.
“This is not a typical path, it’s kind of a new pathway for the county,” Menser said. “I think it’s one we’re going to need to embark on more in the future. Having the Olympia School District as a partner is very exciting because that was my end goal when we started out a few years ago.”
The public hearing will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, Room 280. The courthouse is at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia.
A Zoom meeting has been set up to allow for virtual public comment. The public can register in advance by visiting the county’s public meetings website.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
