1 Comments Received Following the Public Hearing
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Comments Received Following the Public Hearing January 10, 2018 – January 12, 2017 by 12PM Commenters supplying comments within this packet include: 1. Janet Jordan 44. Peter Reid 2. Alex Kistler 45. Peter Reid 3. Andrea Sehmel 46. Sue Hedrick 4. Anne Buck 47. Allen Miller 5. Barbara Smith 48. Barbara Ogle 6. Becky Thomas 49. Bob Van Schoorl 7. Brian Jensen 50. Bruce Botka 8. Carol and Jamie Rainwood 51. Carol Richmond 9. Cynthia Zujko 52. Chris Reitz 10. Davenport Moore 53. Dave Cundiff 11. Edward West 54. Deschutes Estuary Restoration Tean 12. Gretchen Williams 55. Dick Binns 13. Jim Kainber 56. Dorthy Gist 14. Jim Randall 57. Erica A. Cooper 15. Laura and Warren Westrup 58. Fred Macinnes 16. Lawrence Jacobson 59. Frederick Adair 17. Michelle Harriage 60. Gary Wiles 18. Oly Babs 61. Gay Gordon 19. Paul Knox 62. Gretchen Christopher 20. Rich Bakala 63. Stephen Pruka 21. Rick Panowicz 64. James Legenfelder & Emily Ray 22. Robert Ahlschwede 65. Janet Murr 23. Robert Sands 66. Janice Arnold 24. Stephen Segall 67. Jeff Wagnitz 25. Sue Lean 68. Jim Montecucco 26. Troy Bussey 69. John Bay 27. Allen Hettinger 70. John Montecucco 28. Bev Skinner 71. Kathleen Callison 29. Andrea Sehmel 72. Kelly Thompson 30. Anne Buck 73. Lee Montecucco 31. Edward West 74. Linda Gallagher 32. Maureen 75. Lorree Gardener 33. Paul Knox 76. Maggie Reardon 34. Bev Skinner 77. Margaret Clifford 35. Carol Horner 78. Mary Miller 36. Donn Lawrence 79. Michael G. Jackson 37. Ed Zabel 80. Paul Williams 38. Farrell Arnold 81. Rachel Newmann 39. Kim and Ken Adney 82. Ralph Munro 40. Linda Lentz 83. Robin Vaupel 41. Martin Redston 84. Roger Grieb 42. Mikki Lawrence 85. Ruth Shearer 43. Nicole Floyd & Jerry Reilly Correspondence 86. Sandy Montecucco 1 87. Stanley Crossman 88. Steve Whalen 89. Tom Culhane 90. Wanda Hedrick 2 Nicole Floyd From: Janet Jordan <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2018 6:07 PM To: Nicole Floyd; CityCouncil Subject: Comments opposing "Views on 5th" Olympia City Council and City Administration, I am Janet Jordan, 6702 Garrett Court NE, Olympia 98506. These are my views on the project being considered for the isthmus. Others have written about the dangers of creating another tall building on the isthmus – the loss of important views from the Capital down to the water, and from the arteries between East to West Olympia up to the Capital; the fact that sea levels will rise (every new scientific report gives us a new reason to believe the rise will be higher that previously thought); and the dangers of building with a foundation of unstable fill material. These are important reasons and should be enough to remove the Views on Fifth project from consideration. I would add that the majority of Olympia residents have shown their disapproval of the project, in the City Council votes of 2011: after a vigorous controversy about the removal of the existing 9-story building, all councilmembers favoring development on the isthmus were voted out. We, the citizens, expect that our preferences should be decisive in policy matters. For us, development on the isthmus impacts quality of life. It is important, and we have told City Council. We don’t want an anomalous building there, suddenly rising nine stories high out of a background of two-story buildings, no matter what its architectural features. The fact that it is there at all is an offense. Please pay attention to citizen wishes. Thank you for listening to my concerns. Janet Jordan 1 From: Alex Kistler <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 10:33 PM To: Nicole Floyd Subject: The Views Hi, I am a resident of Olympia and want to express my concerns about the potential development of the tower near Capitol Lake. I feel that downtown needs more housing and business development. However, I feel that it should be done in a place that does not impact our precious space and views at the north end of the lake. There are many other places for development that could have views and benefit our city without impacting the pleasure of so many people who would like to look up Budd Bay and see the Olympics. The current building is in a very unfortunate place and I am in favor of having it removed. The decision we make now will likely impact this area for the rest of our lifetimes and I think it degrades the potential to have a fantastic park in the center of our city. It is amenities like this that make a city attractive. In the case of this building it benefits the few at the expense of the many. I encourage you to deny this development and return this area to the people for use as a public space. I think it would have a positive impact on the property values and vitality of our downtown. Thanks for your consideration, Alex Kistler 360.754.1105 Kenneth Haner From: Andrea Sehmel <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 4:56 PM To: Nicole Floyd Subject: Views on 5th Dear Ms. Floyd & Team – Thank you very much for the opportunity to hear comments regarding the exciting prospect of the Views on 5th development. Like others, I want to thank you for your analysis of a complex situation. I listened carefully to all the comments and agree that in a perfect world, the isthmus could have been left alone ‐ to be just a busy, gray, cold roadway. However, it’s been developed for 50+ years and, judging from the mock‐ups, the proposed development actually blends into the view from the Law Enforcement Officer plaza quite seamlessly, and certainly more attractively than the current building. Further, the idea of bringing 200+ new jobs to the City is a breath of fresh air. My main point in writing is that I wanted to suggest that perhaps a couple of ground floor office areas could be devoted to an Olympia region museum. This would entice even more people into the downtown core and honor the city’s history. Perhaps if the project was seen as more serving of the community, it would be more readily accepted by the nay‐sayers. Such an opportunity would only draw more people to the complex. I applaud the Brogans and their development team, in particular Mr. Thomas, who compellingly presented a vision of hope and change for Olympia’s downtown last night. After living here since 2000, and with two teenage boys who need a reason to stay in what has felt like a dying city, it is sorely needed. Very truly yours, Mrs. Andrea Sehmel, R.N., M.N. 1 Kenneth Haner From: Anne Buck <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 1:51 PM To: Nicole Floyd Subject: mistake on the lake Please remove the building on Fifth that many call the Mistake On The Lake and all of the small empty buildings as well.that surround it. It was built just before we moved to Olmpia by just a few men that ran the town and I remember at that time they were telling us that Mr. Lynch their lawyer finagled the law in order to build The Lemon family (whose house we purchased) was one of the instigators. Please, lets respect the original plans for that property. Anne Buck 1 Kenneth Haner From: Oly Babs <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 7:29 PM To: Nicole Floyd Subject: Please say no to another Mistake by the Lake Dear Ms. Floyd, I am a resident of Olympia, and I want to express my concern about the development known as "Views on Fifth." The last thing we need in Olympia is more over-priced housing. We are dying for affordable housing, and instead, we plan to build "market rate" housing, in a vain attempt to lure the wealthy. Trust me - the wealthy don't want to live in downtown Olympia. I'd like to see the stats for the supposedly "market rate" apartments that have already gone up downtown. Are they fully occupied? And who is this market that can afford these apartments? I work for the State of Washington. I make a comfortable wage. But I can't afford $3,000 a month. Heck, I barely take home that much a month! But here you're planning to put in more high-end housing? When we are inundated with people like me who make $45,000 a year or less who can barely afford to live in Olympia? I managed to secure the apartment I live in ONLY because I got lucky and saw it for rent 4 hours after it was posted online and was the first person there with a check. Many people are not so lucky. And with the lack of housing, landlords (including mine) are being overt about not renting to people who smoke, not allowing pets, demanding exorbitant up front fees, pet rents, etc. I know one retired couple, who weren't employed, so the landlord thought they were shifty because they didn't have an employer or monthly income, who were required to pay a year's rent in advance, to secure a house last year. I'm not talking about housing for homeless street people. I'm talking about the huge number of state workers in this town who make less than $60,000 a year, who are doubling up with family members because they can't find a place of their own that they can afford. Used to be getting a State job meant some kind of financial security.