Thursday, October 1, 2026
Port of Olympia staff highlighted the cost-saving benefits of using the former Dancing Goats building on Market Drive as the port’s headquarters during a presentation of its 2026 budget.
The 2026 budget, which was presented at a Port of Olympia Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, contains $15.7 million in capital expenditures, which includes $3.8 million for the renovation of the building. The port expects to continue the project through 2027, when it should spend another $1.3 million.
Executive Director Alex Smith said part of staff goals for the budget is to invest in projects that reduce long-term expenses, which the renovation project could accomplish.
Smith said assuming the port’s rent for its current office grows by 3 percent every year, the port could break even in its investment for the new headquarters in 10 years. In 2027 alone, the port would save $225,000.
Still, a few members of the public opposed the idea. The commission held a public hearing on the same day of the 2026 budget presentation.
Tumwater resident Carla Wulfsberg, who was one of two individuals who spoke at the public hearing, addressed the renovation project.
According to Wulfsberg, the commission had asked the citizen advisory committee several years ago if the port should invest in a new administrative office.
Wulfsberg said at the time, the committee advised against the idea due to long-term staffing uncertainties. She then asked if the port has considered staffing needs in the future.
“It seems like you're just assuming that you're going to have the same number of … administrative folks working for the port in the future, but what if you don't?” Wulfsberg said.
Smith mentioned other options the port could take if it does not move forward with the renovation. The port could continue renting its current space and lease out the Dancing Goat building for a potential annual revenue of around $273,000.
The port could also buy a cheaper building elsewhere, but staff noted the Dancing Goats building is advantageous because of its proximity to other port properties.
The port may also choose to phase the renovation by deferring the construction of the commission’s meeting room, which would save around $470,000 in the short term. Smith noted there would be additional costs to building the room later.
During the same meeting, the commission approved additional spending for the design of the new headquarters.
The commission did so by authorizing an amendment to the contract of its on-call architectural firm, Thomas Architecture Studios, which is designing the headquarters.
The amendment adds $100,000 to the firm’s contract, most of which would be used for the design, while $20,000 would be used for other on-call work.
The firm has been the port’s on-call architectural firm since 2023. With the amendment, the total value of their contract is now $600,00 with an end date of Dec. 31, 2027.
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LaceyQueen
Great money-saving move in the long-term.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Wesley
Let's do it.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Jamama
The "potential" was in the group of longtime B & B employees--after the original owners sold out to corporate profiteers--who wanted to keep the roasting facility alive after it was sold out from under them & their jobs were all eliminated overnight. They wanted to form a co-op in which they could co-own and run the facility as it was built and intended. That would have kept the Port's heavily emphasized 'economic development' alive and thriving. Instead, the Port swooped in and quickly bought it out from under this effort, thinking it would somehow be better to spend $5M making it 'theirs', a completely inappropriate space for Port staff. It's one more crazy scheme dreamt up on the scramble by an entity which uses our taxes for one losing enterprise after another! They cook their books reporting accounting which hides their losses, and can't seem to listen AT ALL to what the public wants, for their waterfront, for their skies overhead, for true economic development, for a reasonable use of their forked over taxes....
This is another boondoggle in the making.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
This Port should rent for 273k, and be Happy they are MAKING some positive revenue for the People.
Saturday, November 15, 2025 Report this