We have two important topics to share. First, as we reported last month Thurston County Superior Court Judge Murphy ruled that our foundation, and other appellants, lacked “standing” to oppose the city of Olympia’s approval of the Views on 5th project that aims to convert the “mistake on the lake” to an apartment building. We did not even get the chance to present our arguments and concerns to the Superior Court....

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Murphy recently ruled that our foundation, along with several former governors, and former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, do not have “standing” to challenge the city of Olympia’s approval of the Views on 5th project. This project would renovate the nine-story “Mistake on the Lake” as part of a one hundred and thirty-eight unit apartment complex and build two new buildings on the block. If built, we would...

The plan to redevelop the Mistake by the Lake is now at a critical stage. On June 14th an application was submitted by local developer Ken Brogan, and his California financial backers Alexander Gorban and Emil Khordorkovsky, to use the long derelict nine stories Capitol Center building as part of a commercial and residential project. Since the building became vacant over ten years ago, our foundation has worked to remove it and replace it with...

The Olympia Design Review Board will meet on Thursday, August 10th at 6:30pm at city hall to consider the design proposed for renovation of the “Mistake by the Lake.” The proposal of local developer Ken Brogan, and his California financial backers Alexander Gorban and Emil Khodorkovsky, will keep in place the nine story structure that will block the views to and from the state Capitol for the foreseeable future. PLEASE ATTEND THE...

The plan to redevelop the much despised “mistake by the lake” is now at a critical stage. On June 14th an application was submitted to use the long derelict nine stories Capitol Center building as part of a commercial and residential project. Since the building became vacant over ten years ago, the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation has worked to remove it and replace it with a civic space on the isthmus. Our goal is to protect and perfect the...

CONGRATULATIONS OLYMPIA YOU DID IT! This week over 7000 Olympia voters supported the creation of a Metropolitan Park District. Proposition I was approved by nearly 60% of those who voted. This is a wonderful statement that people are willing to pay for the expansion and maintenance of the park system. The new resource, of about $3 million per year, makes it much more likely that the city will be able to acquire and remove the long vacant...

In a few days ballots will be mailed for the November 3rd election. Those of you who vote in Olympia will have the opportunity to create a Metropolitan Park District through Proposition I. Please vote YES. Passing Proposition I is critical to our goal of PROTECTING AND PERFECTING THE VIEWS TO AND FROM AMERICA’S MOST MAGNIFICENT CAPITOL CAMPUS SETTING, and building the CAPITOL VISTA PARK on the Isthmus. Recent news accounts report that yet...

The city of Olympia, with support from our local legislators, has requested that the state assist in the removal of the nine story vacant Capitol Center building. Removal of this building is the key step in perfecting the views to and from America’s most magnificent capitol campus setting. The city is seeking a $5 million appropriation in the state’s capital budget for improvements to the waterfront. Some portion of this appropriation could be...

As 2014 comes to a close, we are pleased to report that a major milestone will occur in our campaign to protect and perfect the views to and from America’s most magnificent capitol campus setting. Next week, with the help from an engineering battalion from the US Army, work begins on the demolition of the former Housing Authority building on the site of the planned Olympic Capitol Vista Park on the Isthmus. The demolition of this first building...

Park Foundation kicks off its public campaign The Olympian – December 23, 2013 YAY: $100,000 FOR PARK Congratulations to the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation for raising the first $100,000 of its $400,000 goal to develop a public space on 2.3 acres of the currently blighted isthmus property. Jerry Reilly, chair of the group, says fundraising has so far been conducted on a person-to-person basis. But the group plans to use the publicity...