If not KGY radio, how about a brew pub at the north end of the Port of Olympia peninsula?
The owner of KGY, a radio station that has been perched on Port of Olympia land overlooking Budd Inlet since 1960, has said he intends to move the station once its lease expires at the end of the year.
With that in mind, what if the radio station space became a brew pub?
That idea was suggested by former Port Commissioner Joe Downing during public comment at Monday’s commission meeting.
Downing spoke in reaction to a recent story about the radio station and its eventual move.
Station general manager Nick Kerry told The Olympian in August that he intends to move and has found a suitable location downtown.
The ground lease with the port states that when the business leaves the property, it is responsible for “removing the improvements” to the land, which, according to Kerry, would mean tearing down the building east of Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill on the north tip of the Port peninsula.
Kerry said they have “respectfully pushed back” on that notion — not only because he doesn’t want to do that to the building, but also because he can’t afford to and that effort would affect his timeline to move, Kerry said.
He believes the building is in good enough shape to be of future use. The port is currently studying if that’s the case, according to Warren Hendrickson, the port’s operations director.
Downing on Monday pointed out the language in a port ground lease that states that the land should be restored to its previous state is largely beneficial to the port, but not in every case, he said.
“I think that, given this particular situation and the public interest in it, you know, I’d love to see some middle ground accomplished with the present owner, KGY,” Downing said.
“I’d be happy to see the port take over that building, assuming the structural analysis pays off, and I hope that this commission can come up with some ideas on how to use that building,” Downing said.
Downing said he is not in favor of a hotel or motel in the area.
“I think something that benefits the community more, and it’s been mentioned to me, perhaps a brew pub, another type of restaurant, which you could say complements Anthony’s,” he said.
He encouraged the commission to come up with their own ideas for the property.
“I’d be so pleased for this commission, for somebody to spearhead an idea, push it forward and accomplish something in regard to KGY,” Downing said.
The port commission typically does not respond to public comment and they didn’t on Monday. Downing served eight years on the port commission, retiring at the end of 2023.
This story was originally published September 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
