The Port of Olympia is planning to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to solicit developers interested in the Waterfront Center project.
The decision to go with the RFQ came after a 90-minute discussion by the Port of Olympia Commission on Monday, June 16, regarding its plan for the future of the property located at Marine Drive.
The Waterfront Center, initially proposed as a two- to three-story building near Swantown Marina and Boatyards, was intended to house the marina offices, the port's administration office and other tenants. The port has since downscaled plans for the building, as the marina office is the only confirmed occupant at this point.
To identify options for the property, Mike Reid, the Port of Olympia's Economic Development Director, said a market test via an RFQ could be conducted to gauge interest from developers for the property.
“We don't know what the market is out there. And this is our attempt to understand market interest, market demand and potential viability, and we just collect that first,” Reid explained.
Reid clarified too that the test would be different from an earlier market study, which was purely academic in nature, explaining that with a market test, there is actual intent to solicit developers and make the project happen.
A key point of contention during the discussion was the scope of the development proposal.
Reid had to clarify whether the commission was considering a proposal for the Waterfront Center itself or the wider 6-acre property where the building would be located.
Destination Master Plan, a plan which envisions turning the port peninsula into a premier destination, identifies the site as “Site D,” which covers the Swantown Marina and Boatworks, as well as its surrounding properties. Reid said the Waterfront Center was just one of the three or four buildings originally envisioned for the location.
Most of the port commissioners said they have just been considering a single building, consistent with previous discussions, while Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada noted she may had been the only commissioner who assumed Reid would seek a more holistic development proposal for the entire site.
Commissioner Amy Evans Harding said she thought they had already agreed to look for someone who could develop a smaller Waterfront Center, as a market study has already established that there is no justification to make a bigger building without the port’s administration arm being the anchor tenant.
Commissioner Bob Iyall said he had even thought about developing the Waterfront Center without the marina office, as he had difficulty understanding the financial implications of the port being both landlord and a paying tenant, viewing it as potentially "recycling" funds. He also expressed concerns about the timeline for the center's development, given the marina's long-standing need for a new office.
Developing the property amid economic uncertainties was also touched upon, something which Reid himself acknowledged.
“I am concerned right now that the pool is probably a little shallower than it was a few years ago, with market uncertainties (and) with sort of just tightening up of disposable income,” Reid said.
Vasavada also mentioned several downtown Olympia properties are vacant, so they would need to consider that whatever development occurs adds value to the downtown instead of taking away from it.
Port Executive Director Alex Smith eventually proposed pursuing a hybrid approach, which the commission formed a consensus on. The approach would see them opening the proposals to developers who either want to develop just a single building or even the entire site.
The discussion also revolved around refining the principles for the project to guide them in evaluating the proposals. Reid developed five principles based on what he perceived as areas of agreement from a previous discussion. These principles were to:
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HappyOlympian
Are rising sea levels a bunk idea or are we just going to ignore them?
Tuesday, June 17 Report this
mhjwilson
They should put an amusement park on that land. I am not joking. I am serious about this.
Tuesday, June 17 Report this
Virge13
Ever since Patty Belmonte muscled through the hands on children’s museum with Olympia’s portion of the funds that gave Lacey the RAC, this community needs a public INDOOR pool! More people could use it than can use HOCM and it would add to year round recreation opportunities.
Wednesday, June 18 Report this
Porter
Let the property sit.
Wednesday, June 18 Report this
Boatyarddog
Exactly @HappyOlympian, and WHEN it does flood, The Commission will Cry about not enough income.... Anything to explain away a Loss And needed Income gains... CLOSE THE MARINE Terminal and Those Problems will go away.
Thursday, June 19 Report this
Boatyarddog
As well Mike Reid should undergo an IQ test if he claims they do not know where the Market is or will be.
Anything to keep the Longshore in Work ...Productive or Not!
Thursday, June 19 Report this
S2345S23456
Let's concentrate on cultivating beauty and pleasure down there. Right now it's just a concrete slab. How about some more trees (native), greenery, art. Another 3-story building would just go further to block someone's nice view of the beauty. Get the logging grossness outa there. Think ahead about rising sea levels - let's not waste our money on something that'll just get flooded and destroyed.
Saturday, June 21 Report this
Yeti1981
It’s encouraging to see the Port of Olympia taking a deliberate, market-informed step forward with the Waterfront Center RFQ. But let’s unpack some of the feedback, because many of these concerns deserve thoughtful attention:
Climate change is real — but policy should follow current science, not outdated fear. Early sea level projections were based on worst-case assumptions. Since then, peer-reviewed data and updated IPCC modeling have scaled back many of those extreme forecasts. That doesn’t mean the risks are gone — it means we have time and tools to build smarter. Elevation strategies, stormwater design, and flexible infrastructure can allow for safe, responsible waterfront use without writing off six acres of urban potential.
Ideas like indoor pools, green space, native landscaping, or even an amusement zone show how much imagination the public still brings to this property — and that’s a good thing. That’s precisely why the RFQ is valuable: it invites serious proposals that weigh financial reality, market demand, and community value. A derelict concrete pad benefits no one. A transparent, competitive process ensures we’re not just guessing — we’re testing ideas worth pursuing.
Of course, the economy is tight. But waiting for “perfect conditions” can mean wasting public land during a generational housing crisis, tourism slump, and tax base erosion. This RFQ isn’t a commitment to build tomorrow — it’s a call for ideas that make sense today, and hold up tomorrow.
Some have suggested closing the Marine Terminal, but that would be a mistake — especially when viewed through the lens of emergency management. While Olympia is not a deep-water port, its terminal is one of the few working maritime facilities in South Puget Sound capable of receiving and distributing supplies in a disaster scenario. In the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake, for example, major highways and rail lines could be severed — and Olympia’s port could serve as a vital logistics hub for fuel, medical aid, and recovery operations. Closing it would be short-sighted and risk weakening our regional resilience when it matters most.
Let’s plan for the future — not freeze it. That means addressing risks like climate change, acknowledging economic realities, and protecting essential infrastructure like the Marine Terminal. The goal isn’t just development — it’s responsible development that balances vision, value, and public safety.
Yesterday at 11:34 AM Report this