ATT3C Comments 0417 060308

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-----Original Message----- From: patrick hub [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 10:43 AM To: citycouncil Subject: Fwd: Larida Passage

Begin forwarded message: From: patrick hub <[email protected]> Date: May 6, 2008 10:39:45 AM PDT To: [email protected] Subject: Larida Passage Greetings, I wanted to emphasize how strongly I support the proposed Larida Passage project that Triway Enterprises is proposing for the waterfront area downtown. As a local business owner, I think it's about time that Olympia decided to grow up and choose a course for itself, and this project seems to be a huge step in the right direction. In conversations with other business owners and with many of my clients, the consensus of opinion clearly reflects the belief that if a project such as Larida Passage doesn't work out, it's time to pick up and start again elsewhere. Voices from those who are antagonistic to such a proposal need to understand that this represents a great opportunity for Olympia to take a proactive stance toward sensible development, and that this needs to happen, now. Thanks for your time- Patrick Hub, Olympic Wine Merchant 101 N. Capitol Way, Suite 106 (Entrance on 4th Ave) Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 786-9463

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mailto:[email protected]

-----Original Message----- From: .Merz, Gary [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 2:22 PM To: Doug Mah Subject: Height Limits proposal

Dear Mayor Doug Mah, Re: Proposal to raise building height within 200 feet of shore from 35 to 65 feet and if greater than 200 feet from shoreline to 90 feet. As a local business person who has seen the landscape deteriorate in downtown Olympia and the business environment along with it, I wholeheartedly support the above mentioned proposal to raise the building height limits. The economic and esthetic benefits of the Larida Passage building proposal far outweigh the perceived ‘stealing of views’ that the opponents of the proposal have stated in the past. I run from the downtown YMCA around Heritage Park almost every day and the views from ground level will if anything be enhanced by this first class proposed project. Quality multifamily housing in the downtown core is vital to keeping the area a destination for shopping, active and leisure activities for visitors as well as locals. Thank you for being open to this idea/proposal.

Gary J. Merz, CPA Siminski & Associates, P.S. 1411 State Ave NE, Suite 200 Olympia WA 98506 phone: 360-956-1040 ext 109 cell: 360-292-9716 fax: 360-956-9896 mailto:[email protected] To comply with IRS regulations, we are required to inform you that this message, if it contains advice relating to federal taxes, cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under federal tax law. Any tax advice that is expressed in this message is limited to the tax issues addressed in this message. If advice is required that satisfies applicable IRS regulations, for a tax opinion appropriate for avoidance of federal tax law penalties, please contact a Siminski & Associates accountant to arrange a suitable engagement for that purpose. __________________________________________________________ NOTICE: This communication (including any attachments) may contain privileged or confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this communication and/or shred the materials and any attachments and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution of this communication, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Thank you.

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-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:34 PM To: citycouncil Subject: isthmus

Explain to me the difference - you didn't want to build city hall by the water because "global warming" would cause it to be inundated with "three feet of water" so why are you considering letting someone build on the isthmus between 4th and 5th? Wouldn't the same thing happen?? As you probably can tell, I don't think any buildings should go up in that area, and the one ugly building should be torn down. Carol M Caldwell Olympia, WA

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From: Linda Carroll [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 1:14 PM To: [email protected] Cc: Andrea McGhee Subject: Pearlwater project... I thoroughly and vehemently oppose the use of Olympia City Waterfront to build condos. This is a short-sighted and extremely limited use of a unique resource that has been guarded and carefully planned for decades. The waterfront is finally becoming a jewel of our community, an adornment that has been blossoming slowly, and is finally starting to really show the vast work, scope, and sweeping design that creates a definite and unique statement of our Capitol City. My further comments follow this quote from the Friends of the Waterfront website: “Developer Tri Vo has applied to rezone nine pieces of property on the strip of land between Capital Lake and Puget Sound to allow buildings 90 and 65 feet high (plus up to 16 more feet of sheds on the top for equipment.) This would let him build high-rises now (supposedly including 141 million dollar condos) on the land from the remodeled Kentucky Fried Chicken building over to the old state office high rise. It would let people build high-rises on the parking lots between Bayview Market and the Oyster House, and allow them to build a new high-rise where that forty-year old one is when it eventually comes down. These buildings would spoil a lot more of the view and make it less pleasant to be downtown. They would lead to more rezones, since after you spoil the best views, there's no reason not to spoil the rest.

And each of the 141 new condo owners would be excused from paying any property taxes over the next ten years, thanks to a city tax break for new downtown housing; everybody else would pay about $95,000 worth of taxes for each of them.”

Not only does this create an unfair situation, it destroys the motivation for qualified homebuyers to purchase in Olympia—unless they are absentee rental owners. Our market will join the downward spiral that we are seeing in the rest of the nation. Our neighborhoods will degenerate for lack of pride of ownership. Of course, Tri Vo would be able to buy up large amounts of property at bargain prices when this happens, and the spiral will grow.

Our community will suffer, because homeowners will not be willing to pay additional tax burdens for school levies, fire equipment levies, and will have less money to donate to community causes. As you

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probably know, the Fire District relies heavily on donated funds, equipment, and property, to keep up with serving the safety needs of the community.

This project also threatens our local tax base and economy. If there are shops or boutiques in these buildings, they will most likely be very expensive to lease or rent, which will bring in business from outside areas. Of course, any profit they make will leave the area.

Beautiful condos like these would be better situated in the West Bay area, where we need regeneration, and where there are areas that won’t impair the waterfront views on such a huge scale. Or, they could be put further out in the French Road or Cooper Point area. This would benefit the community, because infrastructure would need to be in place to service this large amount of “footprint.” Mr. Vo must be planning to profit from his project for many, many years, so his ambitions could include paying for sewers, setting up water systems, improving roads, etc.

Having condos out of the downtown will also stimulate the local economy, since it will create more area where services will be needed. More small business could locate near the condo project and serve the inhabitants and staff there.

Please feel free to contact me. If you wish to quote or print anything in this email, please contact me for my approval first, so I will be sure that I am not being quoted out of context.

I hope to attend the meeting on June 24th. If I cannot attend, I am counting on you to remember this viewpoint.

Thank you!

Linda Carroll, Realtor®

259.9080

“Realtors® Build Communities”

EXIT Northwest Realty

Lacey, WA

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-----Original Message----- From: Andrea McGhee [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 1:26 PM To: 'Linda Carroll'; citycouncil Subject: RE: Pearlwater project...

I believe this would ruin the view for not only the properties affected by the proposed construction but for the entire population of Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey who would never again drive through downtown and see our beautiful jewel. Who says we need additional commercial space anyway? There is an over abundance everywhere you look in our county. I have a feeling our commercial property owners are about to experience what the homeowners of Las Vegas and other parts of the country have felt and they will be left with the resounding question, “why didn’t anyone take a head count before they built these places when there is no one left to buy?” Andrea McGhee

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-----Original Message----- From: Mary Nolan Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 9:32 AM To: Councilmembers Cc: Steve Hall; Subir Mukerjee; Keith Stahley; Jan Weydemeyer Subject: Downtown Waterfront

Chris Labeau, 1204 Jasper Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98506-3341, lived here 30 years, 786-1465. Called to say she strongly supports Bob Jacob's statement in the paper. She would like a total green space between Capitol Lake and the fountain, and wants to take down that awful building and leave as open green space. She is not opposed to condos being built in Oly - but there is a lot of warehouse areas where they could be built and would make it an active living environment in this area. Why take this prime piece of land and use it for a few select people who can afford - She does not support taking it away from the people of Olympia for the privileged few. Mary M. Nolan Executive Secretary City of Olympia PO Box 1967 Olympia, WA 98507 (360) 753-8244 [email protected] This e-mail and any response may be subject to public disclosure.

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ATT3C Comments 0417 060308

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