Old building in review for a mixed-use commercial space Capitol Way in Olympia

Olympia Site Plan Review Committee reviewed the possible adaptive reuse of a three-story office building at 521 Capitol Way S Wednesday, September 7. 

Project Architect Roussa Cassel said the proposal is to renovate the building on the corner of Capitol and Legion Way during the committee’s pre-submission conference Wednesday, September 7.

In a narrative submitted to the committee, the building would be a commercial space with restaurants on the main floor, a boutique hotel, a spa, and office space.

The upper floor will house the remaining boutique hotel rooms with a shared space for hotel guests. The main and upper floors will be centered on a new atrium housing an area with plants for visual and physical connection.

Cassel said the three-story building would be about 30,000 square feet. They are not currently proposing any parking.

Exemptions

Olympia associate planner Casey Schaufler said the project is exempted from State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review because it is already an established building.

It is also exempted from parking requirements, but Schaufler informed the developer that the change of use would require bicycle parking standards.

Later in the meeting, the committee waived the Land Use permit for the project. Community Planning and Development Deputy Director Tim Smith explained that the change of use of the building does not require environmental review, and there is no addition or significant structural alterations. 

However, Schaufler said the project is subject to design review.

Engineering review and building requirement

Zulaika Kim, Engineering Plans examiner, noted that the site is currently being served by an existing domestic water meter. She said the applicant has to verify that the current meter's size will be enough for all domestic water needs.

Kim said the site does not look like there is any need for replacement or adding a new hard surface, but they will require frontage improvement.

She added the frontage improvement include replacing all damaged sidewalk and broken sidewalk along the front edges of the project.

Olympia building official Erik Jensen said they require a grease interception and hood for suppression for the proposed restaurant.

Jensen also noted that the property is in a flood zone. "We will require a flood elevation certificate at the end of the project, which incorporates how you will keep the water out of the building."