The Port of Olympia is moving forward with the Waterfront Center, a proposed three-story mixed-use building expected to be near Swantown Marina.
The Port of Olympia Commission authorized Executive Director Alex Smith on Monday, August 12, to execute a contract with EHDD Architecture for a not-to-exceed amount of $129,000 to begin the building's design process.
The contract will cover the project's first phase, which includes a market analysis for possible tenants, pre-design work, and programming. The Port Commissioners would need to approve additional funding before additional work would be authorized.
Subcontractors for the project include the following firms:
The port estimates a total budget of $17.5 million for the building's construction plus $2.5 million for other site and shoreline improvements.
Before the commission approved the contract, there was a discussion about whether to approve a higher contract amount that would cover the work of EHDD Architecture in the project's second and third phases.
Port staff recommended either a maximum contract value of $1,026,636 or $2,239,076 to cover the second and third phases.
James Sommer, the port’s capital assets program manager, told the board that authorizing the full amount secures the entire consultant team for the duration of the project, which would help with cost estimations and provide control of the project schedule.
Sommer said allocating a smaller contract amount, which the commission eventually decided to do, would limit the port’s upfront commitment to the project.
Port staff had given these options as there were concerns about why the port was moving ahead with the Waterfront Center when master planning for the port peninsula had not yet been completed. The port just awarded the master planning work to another firm, Dalton, Olmsted & Fuglevand Inc., last month.
“We’re doing this Waterfront Center first. I am a little worried about why. Originally, I believed it was because of a capital appropriation, but I'm sure we could get an extension to make sure this syncs up with our master planning,” Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada said.
This sentiment was also shared by residents who expressed caution about the project during the public comment portion of the commission meeting.
Some felt that master planning needed to be done first because of the environmental condition of the port peninsula and its surrounding waters.
During public comments, resident John Saison said, “A complete environmental assessment of the current conditions of the port peninsula should be initiated prior to any new building projects. This would include water quality, soil degradation, toxicity, and so on. This has not been done since the early 90s.”
Another resident, Carla Wulfsberg, said that the port peninsula's natural environment may be a more important public amenity than a set of buildings.
“I've heard staff members and members of this commission describe the Waterfront Center as a catalyst for creating Destination Waterfront, but what if our thinking shifts that the catalyst to the waterfront is the waterfront itself,” Wulfsberg said.
Sommer mentioned that no design documents have been produced so far, and plans for the Waterfront Center are fluid at this point. The port also intends to conduct community meetings to include the public in the building's development.
Smith also reassured they can stop the contract at any phase of the project.
Commissioner Sarah Tonge acknowledged the executive director’s statement but emphasized the importance of the commission stepping into the project anytime once it has more information about its direction.
“I understand that we can stop at any point, but I'd like to bring that back to the commission… so we can really take the public comment that we receive between now and then, as well as the real estate market analysis, what grants are available, and all the other details from phase one,” Tonge said.
Vasavada agreed with Tonge and added, “I'm uncomfortable with repeatedly having process move forward without being briefed in.”
CORRECTION: August 16, 2024 -- A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the contract was authorized for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,026,636. We regret our error.
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HappyOlympian
booooo, please quit spending money on fluff. City of Olympia, Thurston County and the Port forget we are a small place with very limited resources. 20 million dollars, yikes. Please fire all staff who had the time to come up with this, clearly they do not have enough to do ad are not needed.
Thursday, August 15, 2024 Report this
johnvaneenwyk
Why does the Port always go for the glitz of a deep water port (oh, right, we don't have deep water. and ships don't like going all the way around Anderson Island, with its reefs, to reach a port that has no advantages over Tacoma and Seattle--which is why the Poet always signs sweetheart deals that ravage their bottom line), the annihilation of the natural beauty of the peninsula, and the rejection of local not-for profits that provide education and opportunities to view and learn about the natural environment (remember the Port's demanding $2,000,000 from the Puget Sound Estuarium to secure a place in the new temple of glitz? Way to support local initiative!).
And the Master Plan? How about finishing that first? Or maybe it would reveal (as it should) that more development and construction on the peninsula doesn't make sense. The public certainly knows that and would oppose including the Temple of Glitz in the plan. So the Port just pushes it through heedless of the lack of value to Olympia.
Same old, same old...
Friday, August 16, 2024 Report this
BobJacobs
I've been watching Port of Olympia goings-on for 40 years. Goofy ideas are standard fare.
This latest goofy idea stands out for its price tag.
$20 million for an office building on the peninsula when Port offices don't need to be on the waterfront, existing office buildings are available cheap, and sea level rise has already begun. Wow!
Well, the new Port Commissioners promised that they'd change things. Maybe they'll be smart, spend the design grant to produce a design and then burn it.
Bob Jacobs
Friday, August 16, 2024 Report this
KellyOReilly
How do people get away with approving such large sums of money for projects like this? It's crazy! I think of all the improvements that could be made in and around downtown Olympia for $20 million bucks! Geez. Quite the gift for all those contractor firms though.
Friday, August 16, 2024 Report this
waltjorgensen
We elected you to take charge. When is that going to happen?
I want Commissioners to be more than "uncomfortable" if they don't understand or agree with what's happening. I want them to stop any action they have questions about.
(from the article) "Vasavada agreed with Tonge and added, 'I'm uncomfortable with repeatedly having process move forward without being briefed in.'”
And since when can you simply dismiss your contractual obligations with a "just kidding footnote" as suggested by the Director Smith?
(from the article) "Smith also reassured they can stop the contract at any phase of the project."
Let's see the contract language that guarantees that.
(from the article) "The Port of Olympia Commission authorized Executive Director Alex Smith on Monday, August 12, to execute a contract with EHDD Architecture for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,026,636 to begin the design process of the building.
The contract will cover the project's first two phases, which include a market analysis for possible tenants, pre-design work, programming, schematic design, and design development."
Which one of these subcontractors is OK with their part of the contract being unilaterally cancelled?
(from the article) "Subcontractors for the project include the following firms:
Cushman Wakefield for real estate market analysis;
Moffatt Nichol for civil engineering services;
Groundswell for landscape architecture services;
Haley & Aldrich for geotechnical engineering services;
DCW Cost Management for cost projections; and
PAE Engineering for services relating to technology design, building performance, and energy code compliance.
Smith also reassured they can stop the contract at any phase of the project.
Commissioner Sarah Tonge acknowledged the executive director’s statement but emphasized the importance of the commission stepping into the project anytime once it has more information about its direction. 'I understand that we can stop at any point, but I'd like to bring that back to the commission… so we can really take the public comment that we receive between now and then, as well as the real estate market analysis, what grants are available, and all the other details from phase one,' Tonge said."
We elected you to take charge. When is that going to happen?
Walter R. Jorgensen
823 North St SE
Tumwater, WA 98501-3526
waltjorgensen@comcast.net
360-819-0678 (cell)
Friday, August 16, 2024 Report this
JJmama
Yeah, WOW.
A million dollars.
To draw up plans which Port Commissioners are 'uncomfortable' with, plans which the RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION DID NOT ASK FOR.
We've had many 'visioning' processes now, yet the the real WILL of the community is ignored, over and over (other than the business community--which seems to be the only one the Port really listens closely to).
We asked for RECREATION!
We asked for waterfront ACCESS (take down the dominatrix Marine Terminal--she's a dinosaur).
We asked for solutions to sea level rise.
We asked the POO to STOP WASTING OUT MONEY.
But here we are, once again...milquetoast Commission yielding to commercial interests entirely.
A million dollars (and of course 20 Mil after that, could be used so much more wisely.
Where's the VISION?
Where's the listening to community in ACTION?
Friday, August 16, 2024 Report this
Boatyarddog
Seems all commenters agree here...thats a First. How about Finishing up Projects on the Bench for years now. Parthia has been in the Boatyard for years now after being refit for display.Hundreds of Thousands later, not On Display, because of potential Security issues in the placement of it. There's Joe Downings Pet project Uncompleated... like most of that past Commissions dealings finish what you start Commissioners! By the Way, Port of Olympia is Bound by its Enviromental Committment. Do Enviromentalists really need to get Involved in Informing the Public about the Barbaric idea of Dewatering Contaminated Dredgings and spreading That on the Pennsula, i assume to provide a base for Your Waterfront Center idea. Your busted Planners...We See what YOUR Agenda is.
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Saturday, August 17, 2024 Report this
Boatyarddog
Seems all commenters agree here...thats a First. How about Finishing up Projects on the Bench for years now. Parthia has been in the Boatyard for years now after being refit for display.Hundreds of Thousands later, not On Display, because of potential Security issues in the placement of it. There's Joe Downings Pet project Uncompleated... like most of that past Commissions dealings finish what you start Commissioners! By the Way, Port of Olympia is Bound by its Enviromental Committment. Do Enviromentalists really need to get Involved in Informing the Public about the Barbaric idea of Dewatering Contaminated Dredgings and spreading That on the Pennsula, i assume to provide a base for Your Waterfront Center idea. Your busted Planners...We See what YOUR Agenda is.
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Saturday, August 17, 2024 Report this