Why does the Olympia Inn have a postcard mural now? Look inside the motel’s new purpose
A vibrant, post-card-like mural with a palm tree, flowers and even a flamingo now adorns the former Olympia Inn on Capitol Way. The mural spells out the building’s new identity: Sandy’s Flats, a new permanent supportive housing project run by Interfaith Works.
The local non-profit named the building in honor of Sandy Betz, an on-and-off shelter guest who left an impression on her hosts. Meg Martin, director of integrated services for Interfaith Works, called Betz a “fabulous woman” who lived with chronic mental health challenges.
“Despite all of those challenges, she would have a full face of makeup,” Martin said. “She never let her grays show. She would always be dyeing her hair this, like, signature Auburn color that would get all over the sinks at the shelter. Sometimes we would have to talk about it, but then we’d also be helping her do it.”
Betz frequented downtown businesses and always strove to put her best face forward, Martin said. She died in 2017 from a major medical event while staying at the former Olympia Inn. Martin said she came to the inn to be with Betz after she passed.
“She felt a strong sense of belonging to Olympia, but at the same time, like so many folks who are living on the streets or living in shelters, there’s this simultaneous like deep embedment in the community and intense isolation from the community.”
Betz’s fun and stylish personality informed how the non-profit wanted to approach the housing project. Ivy Ayers, director of administration for Interfaith Works, said they hired Keith Henderson, a Portland-based artist who often works in Olympia, to paint a joyful mural.
“So often, permanent supportive housing or low-income housing kind of blends in with the landscape,” Ayers said. “We knew that maybe that wasn’t the way we wanted to take this. Maybe we wanted to stand out a little bit.”
The Olympian toured Sandy’s Flats earlier this month to get an inside look at the changes to the building and get a sense of how it may still be improved in the years to come. Interfaith Works bought the building in March for about $2.7 million and has spent the past several months getting it ready for leasing.
Ayers said 18 of the 26 available housing units had been leased as of Thursday and four more leases are in the works. The lessees are being funneled through Washington state’s Encampment Resolution Program, an effort to move people camped on state-owned rights-of-way into safer housing.
If space remains, Ayers said people going through the county’s coordinated entry program, a system that prioritizes people based on need, may have a chance to live there. All residents are expected to pay 30% of their income to live there, she said.
The Sandy’s Flats mural decorates a wall above the entrance to the lobby. Part of the lobby is lined with stone dotted with impressions of marine shells, which Ayers said added to the appeal of the building for Interfaith Works.
Further back is a community room with space to play board games and a desktop computer in the corner.
Next to this room is a community kitchen space with several induction cooktops and cupboards intended for food donations. Adjacent to that is a shared laundry space with several machines.
The project’s case management offices are on the second level. That’s where a navigator and permanent supportive housing supervisor work, Ayers said.
“They provide really embedded support,” Ayers said. “So right now, as we’re kind of getting people all leased up and moved in, it looks like doing initial intakes with people, identifying what they might need to be best supported.”
What people need can be as simple as normal household goods, Ayers said. To fill that need, staff have created welcome packages for each new resident with laundry baskets, soap, sponges, sheets, towels and more.
One of those welcome packages was placed on a bed in a vacant room that The Olympian toured.
The room itself had a simple set up with a full refrigerator, microwave, pantry and a dresser from The Creative Office, a downtown furniture store. Each unit also has a bathroom with a tub and a shower.
From the second floor, residents can catch a glimpse of Capitol Lake. They also can look down onto the property parking lot, which includes a narrow area where pets can relieve themselves.
Some residents who have moved in have already taken to decorating their entrances and windows with plants and doormats. Ayers said they may even allow door painting in the future.
Interfaith Works has more plans to improve the property. For one, Ayers said they want to add more murals throughout the building like the one above the lobby, and they already have a stairwell in mind.
Additionally, Ayers said they are looking to install a gazebo in the parking lot, add garden beds and build a fenced off area to create a proper pet run for residents.
A golden gavel still stands outside the lobby area as a visual reminder of the building’s past as the Golden Gavel motel.
Ayers said they plan to keep the gavel there, but they do plan to update the lettering on the property’s tall Olympia Inn sign to reflect the new name.
How to help
Anyone who wishes to volunteer with Interfaith Works can fill out an interest form on their website at interfaith-works.org/get-involved.
Ayers said the non-profit hosts volunteer training once a month. Successful participants can volunteer at any of the nonprofit’s locations.
In addition to Sandy’s Flats, Interfaith Work’s operates the Unity Commons Shelter at 161 Pattison St. NE, Sergio’s Place at 3501 Mary Elder Road NE and their administrative offices at 110 11th Ave. SE.
The public may donate items such as single-package food and toiletries to Sandy’s Flats directly, Ayer said. Clothes and larger donations can be delivered at Sergio’s Place, their service center, she added.
This story was originally published September 15, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
