Drug treatment services are coming to Pacific Avenue. Here’s who’s behind the effort
The Nisqually Indian Tribe and its representatives met with Olympia officials Wednesday to get feedback on a proposal to build the Nisqually Healing Center, including drug treatment services, on Pacific Avenue.
The site, which used to be home to Frankie’s Bar & Grill, was acquired by the tribe in 2021, Thurston County Assessor data show. The building that housed the bar at 3663 Pacific Ave. SE has already been demolished.
Wednesday’s meeting was with the city’s site plan plan review committee, comprised of planning and building officials who outline what the city will require for development of the project. It’s a preliminary step in the development process and takes place before a land-use application is submitted.
According to an informational flier shared with The Olympian, the tribe intends to construct an off-reservation substance use disorder integrated care clinic, which will include medication assisted treatment. The center will serve up to 500 tribal and non-tribal members per day, according to the flier.
“The clinic will provide substance use disorder assessments, individual and group counseling, medication including Methadone, Suboxone, Subutex and Vivitrol, mental health counseling, primary medical care, dental services, transportation, child watch, case management, psychiatric medication management, recovery support and related services,” the flier reads.
Tribal spokeswoman Debbie Preston said the flier was created not only to provide information to tribal members, but also for its efforts to secure grant funding. The tribe seeks grants and state money for the project estimated to cost $28 million, according to the flier.
The tribe wants to provide all those services under one roof because those in drug treatment “falter when required to manage referrals themselves,” the flier reads.
Some of the details discussed Wednesday include:
▪ The property is zoned HDC-4 (high density corridor), which allows for outpatient medical services, but not in-patient services, associate planner Lydia Moorehead said. She praised the design of the center because it needs to be built close to Pacific Avenue with parking in the rear.
▪ Project manager and Rice Fergus Miller architect Blake Webber said the center could be between 20,000 and 28,000 square feet.
▪ The tribe will need to meet with the city’s solid waste department because after checking the design it didn’t appear garbage trucks will be able to access the site, said Tiffani King, the city’s engineering plans examiner.
“We need to see on paper that the trucks can get in and out as needed,” she said. “Different types of collection have different truck profiles.”
▪ After the land-use application is submitted, a community meeting will be required, associate planner Moorehead said.
During Wednesday’s meeting, resident Angela Longnecker tried to ask some questions. Although the meetings are open to the public, they typically don’t take comment from the public.
After the meeting, Longnecker, who is co-owner of J&I Power Equipment next door to the site, told The Olympian she is concerned about the site having enough parking for those seeking treatment and those who will work there. She also questioned why a healing center would be built among retailers and not closer to other medical facilities.
Parking is a concern because Frankie’s customers used to park in the J&I lot, she said, resulting in incidents of theft or garbage being strewn about. They finally posted a sign warning drivers they would tow vehicles that didn’t belong — and they did, she said.
“We’re all for helping people, and for them to get the help that they need, but this just doesn’t seem like a good fit,” Longnecker said.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
