Port’s Joe Downing casts doubt on future of KGY radio station building
Fans of the KGY radio station building, a mid-century modern structure that has been perched on the north end of the port peninsula since 1960, are not going to like this story.
That’s because Port of Olympia Commissioner Joe Downing dropped a bomb at Monday’s commission meeting, casting doubt on the future of the building.
During commissioner reports near the end of the meeting, Downing whipped out his smartphone to read from prepared remarks about the building.
Although he didn’t cite the inspiration for his prepared statement, he likely was referring to a story that appeared in The Olympian over the weekend about a nomination to list the structure on the Olympia Heritage Register. That nomination has won the support of the city’s Heritage Commission and Nick Kerry, KGY’s general manager.
“I would like to go on record with my thoughts about the KGY building,” Downing said. “Lately, there have been questions about the future of the building.”
He went on to say that the port is in the middle of the “people’s expressed interest in ‘Destination Waterfront,’ our peninsula plan.”
“Preserving the building has not come up in this plan,” he said. “For one thing, having a radio station on the peninsula has nothing to do with the public use of the peninsula. For another, the building is over the water and is supported by creosote pilings. Both of these facts would make the Department of Natural Resources interested in removing the building.”
He went on to say that “it is time for a more environmentally friendly use of that parcel. I look forward to future community conversations about how to utilize that site.”
Commissioners Bob Iyall and Amy Evans Harding did not comment on the KGY building.
The Olympian reached KGY General Manager Kerry for comment Tuesday morning.
“It’s quite shocking to hear that perspective,” said Kerry, who went on to refute many of Downing’s talking points.
He said the station and its unique location often attract visitors to the area, plus Kerry, who was invited to participate in the Destination Waterfront process, added that he has seen a presentation where KGY is identified in that plan.
There also has been talk of creating a museum/cultural center in the area, which he feels KGY could be part of, and there’s been a proposal for a larger over-the-water development.
As for creosote pilings, you can find them throughout the port’s waterfront properties, Kerry said.
“That’s a strange point to make as well,” he said.
Although Kerry and the Heritage Commission support the building’s nomination to the local register, the port does not, according to an email the Heritage Commission received on Sept. 16.
“At this time, the Port of Olympia cannot support the nomination of the KGY radio building to the local heritage registration and does not consent to such,” said Allyn Roe, business development and real estate director for the port, in the email.
“We feel it would be appropriate to discuss the nomination process after the (KGY) lease expiration and during future planning efforts,” Roe added.
The lease between KGY and the port expires at the end of 2024.
This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
