Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council will consider an agreement to sell the Lee Creighton Justice Center campus to the Squaxin Island Tribe for $8,200,000.
The potential deal is scheduled to be discussed at a Tuesday, April 8, meeting, the city stated in a news release on Thursday, April 3.
Based on the purchase agreement being considered, the City of Olympia will have 18 months of full use of the property until the tribe takes over the 10.7-acre piece of land in December 2026.
The news release stated that the Justice Center building is an “aging and failing facility,” posing concerns about its ability to serve the needs of the court, staff and people the court serves.
Similar concerns about the building’s delicate condition prompted the closure of the Olympia Municipal Jail in 2023.
If the council approves the purchase agreement, the sale is set to be finalized on or before June 4, 2025.
“This agreement will also allow us the space and grace to focus on determining the best option for our municipal court and its employees,” said City Manager Jay Burney in a statement.
The city will use the time and proceeds from the property sale to transition affected services and employees located on the property.
The historical building on 900 Plum St. SE was designed by local architect Robert Wohleb and was completed in 1966, according to the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum.
The campus housed the Olympia City Hall until 2011 and was renamed the Lee Creighton Justice Center, after Olympia’s first municipal court judge.
The property was repurposed to house the Municipal Court, Municipal Jail, the Yashiro Japanese Garden, the Plum Street Tiny Home Village and the Saturday Waste Drop Off Site.
“We’re tremendously proud of our history on the property, as our former City Hall and as the place where we served so many in need through our Municipal Court. And I’m excited about the future, our deepening relationship with the Squaxin Island Tribe, and the economic development possibilities their presence downtown will bring,” Burney said.
The city stated in its article that the tribe’s “outreach to explore buying the property” is at an “opportune moment,” as the city is facing budget issues and a hefty price tag of tens of millions of dollars to renovate, relocate or rebuild a new justice center.
"We have enjoyed a good relationship with Olympia City Council collaborating on many projects,” said Tribal Chairman Kris Peters in a statement.
“This will be monumental as we look to imagine something big that will be mutually beneficial for the City and Tribe."
The city is exploring available options for the Municipal Court, including the possibility of relocating the court to another city-owned property or contracting with Thurston County for regional municipal criminal justice or jail alternative programs.
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Annierae
Great! This would give the Squaxin Island Tribe a more visible presence on their ancestral grounds in Olympia.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
Eastsider
Why does the tribe want this land? Are they going to build a casino in Olympia?
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
JoeOly
Is this the best use for the land? Having a casino downtown will help getting state workers back to the office? The Nisqually Tribe is in the process of building a resort (casino) in Lacey. If this is the best use for the land, Olympia should negotiate for piece of the action! Also remember land under Tribe ownership does not add to the taxes but get government service.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
The Squaxin Tribe has NO plans for a Casino As Rumored.
That would be Very Out Of Character for them.
I'd Support an Expansion of the Tiny Village Or A Garden Area.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
JoeOly
Squaxin Tribe does own Little Creek; so gambling operations is in their experience. This land is next to I5 with on and off ramps. I do not think it is a stretch to see a casino here. In the sale contract there could be a clause that there would be NO slots or gambling on the ten acres.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
OlyBlues
This is quite an interesting development. The city's ongoing reckless overspending to the point they are over a million dollars in debt, giving their communications staff hefty raises they could not afford, and dumping tons of money into their pet projects and the homeless industrial complex that includes the Jungle and Percival Creek which are probably so polluted by now they cold qualify as a Superfund site through the EPA.
Now it appears the city needs a cash infusion and bail out. As another commenter reminds us, land sales to tribes result in tax generating parcels becoming "tribal trust land" and the city, county, and state will get nothing in return except MORE expenses! The city (taxpayers) will absorb increased costs for surrounding infrastructure, road maintenance, police, and fire/EMS services. This is exactly what happened with the Great Wolf Lodge. Sounds like a typical poorly thought out Olympia deal. Why doesn't the tribe want to say what their plans are for this parcel other than it will be "something big?" If the city wants to unload this valuable piece of real estate the least they should do is look to sell it to a developer who will pay their fair share of taxes to the city.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Report this
DaniWaters
I find it insulting that many people here wonder what the tribe’s reasons for wanting this land. First and foremost it is land that is originally the tribes and was stolen from tribal members many years ago! So for them to have to purchase the land back is absurd!
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this
DaniWaters
And secondly, the most insulting comments were, “maybe they will build a casino”. Is that the first thing that you people think about is a casino!? Many Tribes are actually building Wellness Clinics (Nisqually is building on Pacific Ave. & Chehalis has one in Tumwater) and they are focusing on helping the drug epidemic! Just my personal opinion as an Indigenous woman with a point of view.
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this
KateMullany
How much is the city going to pay the county to take on their entire municipal court caseload? TC District Court is already understaffed and underfunded and out of space. How is this going to affect Thurston County DC, Prosecutors office, public defense, pretrial services, etc?
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Gas station/tobacco shop/casino.
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this
JW
The city should practice what they preach and give their stolen land back that they've already acknowledged they stole. Or maybe all along those were just words to make themselves feel self-righteous and pious?
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this
ejpoleii
The parcel is valued at over $20M for 2024-2025. The parcel number is 78202500100. Why is the city selling it for less than half its value? Shouldn't there be an auction? Competitive bids? If I were in Olympia, I might consider filing suit against the city to prevent this. Although this parcel is not presently paying property taxes, I wonder if the tribe will be taxed. It is not clear. Reciting "land acknowledgements" and flying tribal flags is one thing. This is real money.
Who's getting paid off?
https://tcproperty.co.thurston.wa.us/propsql/value.asp?fe=PR&pn=78202500100
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Report this