The Olympia Design Board approved on Thursday, Jan. 9, the concept design for the Henderson Loft Apartments project, a new 35-unit multifamily development near the Henderson Boulevard roundabout.
The 0.8-acre project site is situated across from a recently constructed hotel in an area previously zoned for commercial uses, such as hotels, offices and other multifamily housing.
The five-story apartment building on Lot 4 at 2102 Henderson Park Lane SE will be adjacent to the five-story Hilton Hotel.
The project is within a binding site plan previously approved for commercial development.
Glenn Wells, the project architect, explained that the building will be five stories tall with 35 units total, which he described as a "pretty small number" that will blend well with the existing five-story Marriott hotel nearby.
The building will have a contemporary craftsman style, using materials like hardy board, metal siding and masonry.
The Henderson Loft Apartments will offer several amenities for residents, including a picnic area, a barbecue area, and a lounge and game room within the building.
The building's design includes retaining walls due to the site's elevation, approximately 10 feet above the sidewalk along Henderson Boulevard. The roof height will mirror the adjacent Hilton hotel.
The project site features a 25-foot setback from a steep slope, preserving a Soils and Vegetative Protection Area (SVPA) containing the only mature trees on the property. This setback ensures that no building or parking encroaches into the protected area.
The main entry points include a west side entrance to the building, visible from the corner of Henderson Boulevard and Henderson Park Lane. An 8-foot wide ADA-compliant walkway across the parking lot connects a second entry.
A staff report submitted to the board stated that nearby hotel development has struggled to keep vegetation alive due to voracious deer.
During the board's review, city planner Jackson Ewing noted that the project met many design criteria, with a few areas needing improvement. That included the building's modulation and the need for deer-resistant landscaping.
To better ensure the survival of the landscaping, the landscape architect should plan for deer-resistant plantings in the final landscape plan.
To address the deer concerns, the board approved the application on the condition that the applicant collaborates with the city's Parks Department to select deer-resistant landscaping.
Ewing mentioned having the city's Parks Department review the landscaping plan and provide input on appropriate deer-resistant options before the detailed design review stage.
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Amandalosey
It’s sad that new construction is aimed at driving the deer out by preventing them from eating vegetation.
Tuesday, January 14 Report this
Buffie
According to my (Google) map, this address is inside the watershed park boundary. I'm assuming the map is in error, but...I'm curious how far up Henderson is the city planning to build?
Also, there really is little that deer won't eat, if they are young or hungry. We've had the little ones in our yard nibbling on Rhodies and tomatoes. Good luck with growing those cacti in ourclimate!
Wednesday, January 15 Report this
Snevets
@Amandalosey. Agreed.
Wednesday, January 15 Report this
MikePelly
Does the Olympia city council or manager know someone is building a large building on top of one of it's Parks? That's what it looks like when you search for (Lot 4 at 2102 Henderson Park Lane SE) in your phone's map.
Thursday, January 16 Report this