Thursday, October 1, 2026
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A proposed seven-story apartment building along Martin Way could be eligible for significant incentives if the developer chooses to commit all units as affordable housing.
According to a project proposal, Revival Architects wants to construct an apartment building at 2640 Martin Way E, where a trailer park currently sits. The building would feature up to 131 apartment units with 60 parking spaces.
While the developer is still exploring the feasibility of the project and has not committed to an affordability model, Olympia's Affordable Housing Program Manager Jacinda Steltjes discussed all housing incentives available for the project known as Martin Way Heights.
To qualify for Olympia's multiple incentives, Steltjes said the city required that 100% of the units need to be affordable to the low-income population.
Those incentives include:
For all affordable housing incentives, a restrictive covenant is placed on the property through a lien to ensure the property is used for affordable housing for at least 25 years.
Steltjes added that some incentives, like impact fee exemptions, require the units to remain affordable in perpetuity.
"But if they do not operate as affordable, then it would be a repayment at the current times fee schedule," Steltjes said.
City planner Casey Mauck said the development would require a State Environmental Policy Act checklist and a critical report. The site contains Indian Creek, hydric soils, and potentially wetlands, particularly in the eastern portion proposed for surface parking.
"We will be looking for a critical area report with the land use application," Mauck said.
Any streams or wetlands within 300 feet of the site must be documented and buffered appropriately.
Additional site design requirements include landscaping for the parking lot, with one island per nine stalls. Each island must be 144 square feet and include a tree planted at least 6 feet from any pavement.
Olympia's Engineering Plan Examiner Zulaika Kim said the project would trigger substantial transportation infrastructure improvements, despite receiving credit for the site's current use as a mobile home park.
Because Martin Way is a designed arterial road, the project must include full frontage improvements along its border. That includes the following:
In addition to sidewalks and bike lanes, the city's Transportation Master Plan identifies the site as a priority location for a new pedestrian crosswalk to connect residents to the Intercity Transit bus stop across Martin Way.
"We would be looking for an enhanced pedestrian crosswalk as part of those frontage improvements," Kim said. "It may be necessary to widen the street to accommodate an 8-foot-wide crossing island, especially given traffic volumes."
The project would also be required to build a north-south commercial collector half-street along its eastern boundary and a public east-west collector half-street along the existing State Avenue easement. The roads are intended to support long-term network connectivity through future development in the surrounding area.
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The_Armed_Gardener
Meanwhile, the entire road infrastructure within the city of Olympia continues to crumble. But, hey, let's make sure the sidewalks on which the junkies defecate and puke on are 8ft wide. You can't make this stuff up.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 Report this
JW
Enough already. Olympia is the welfare collection city for the entire county. All the affordable, section 8, and transient housing is built in Olympia. Lacey and Tumwater get commercial, tax-revenue generating buildings and Olympia is the dumping ground.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
I know that trailer park. Replacing it with subsidized housing would be a marginal upgrade. That area is still a dump because of the vagrancy coming from the jungle.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
All 3 of these commenters should experien e Homelessness, their Minds are already vagrant of rational thinking and their Hearts are trash heaps. Oh your tax dollars are suffering! So lame... LMAFO
Saturday, July 12, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Boatyard the lolcow.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
Sidewalks for Safe Transition up and down Martin Way makes perfect sense, in Mind is the Woman in a Wheelchair run over and Killed just some months ago. Was she an addict, no, was SHE a transient. NO!, THE LACK OF ANY infrastructure for ALL peoples safety is a huge mistake. Those that want to spread Misinformation show their Callous Nature and Heartlessness for others. Just look at Southsound Guys posting its ALL misinformation and non empathic B.S. These people are Jaded, Haters! To be dismissed.
Sunday, July 13, 2025 Report this
Vestibul
I can’t believe the inhumane comments from what is likely a demographic of people who grew up in a time where you could be a manager at a local store and afford a home, car and raise kids while the mom stayed home. This entire country needs affordable housing, and the current housing needs to be bought by Young families. I was lucky enough to buy a house at 35 years old and I will be 40 this year. Every single one of my neighbors is retired, and their kids of all moved out, and are my age. I have a daughter, who doesn’t have neighborhood kids to play with. And yet the neighbors you were very nice. And I very much like say things like I wish there were more kids around. Well, it’s time to downsize and give families a chance. The housing boom here in the 70s and 80s grew with the population increase. There is not enough land anymore. And our social upbringings have changed how we deal with the elderly. For thousands of years, the parents of children When they grew up, lived with their children Once they became adults. Only in the last hundred years has that changed for western societies. And look at what it’s done. Breed hatefulness and content amongst those we live near. The comments here are just a joke, and give nothing to solve any problem. Go get angry at somebody else. What I want in Thurston County is Friends and neighbors Who want to help with another.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@Vestibul, unfortunately these Hateful commenters have invested much of their time breeding and cultivating those Hateful ideologicial responses.... kinda like small breed dogs that go after every big dog because it puffs them up in their own minds. They Think they are better because their situation right now seems superior to low income folks. Trumps going to level the field when the BIG Recession follows his BIG B.S. Beautiful Bill. INFLATION is rising again due to the Orange Babboon and APE like thinking. Lack of Compassuon comes from A LOW IQ.
Friday, July 18, 2025 Report this