Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than five years after shelving a $250 million courthouse project and months after paring down Lakeridge Drive campus renovation plans, Thurston County is now moving forward with a $34.9 million agreement to buy a downtown Olympia property to house courts and county offices under one complex.
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase and sale agreement on Wednesday, July 30.
The agreement with Vine Street Associates LLC triggers a due diligence process before finalizing the sale, said the county in announcing the transaction on Thursday, July 30.
The real-estate property, located near Plum Street and Eighth Avenue SE in downtown Olympia, spans 7 acres and includes four buildings, staff and visitor parking, access to Interstate 5 and public transit connections.
According to county officials, the property will serve as the base for a modernized public service model and a regional justice system able to accommodate future growth.
Board Chair Tye Menser said the transaction will be followed by an open planning process that involves county offices and community voices.
“Today’s (July 30) announcement marks a major milestone, but it’s just the beginning of a new chapter,” said Menser in a statement.
“This property gives us the space and flexibility to grow with our community. As we move forward, we’re committed to a thoughtful, transparent planning process that includes our residents, employees, and partners every step of the way.”
The roperty acquisition comes after years of planning and stalled courthouse proposals.
In 2018, Thurston County and the City of Olympia put forward a $250 million proposal for a new courthouse and regional administration building. The plan rested on a property tax increase to $1.56 per $1,000 of assessed value for 25 years and added about $12 per month to the tax bill on a $300,000 home.
The proposal was set for an April 2020 ballot, but was withdrawn in March of that year as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted budgets and public engagement. Then, the board voted unanimously to rescind the proposal and directed the county manager to recommend other options to support space needs.
In 2022, the county adopted a seven-year lease for The Atrium on Pacific Avenue to house general government offices as a bridging solution. The lease cost $17.50 per square foot, below Olympia’s market rate of $24 to $27, and was expected to save $4 million compared to prevailing rates over the term.
Departments that moved into The Atrium included the Board of County Commissioners, including Commissioner’s Chambers/Board Room, Auditor’s Office, Community Planning and Economic Development, Public Works Development Review, Public Health and Social Services Environmental Health Permit Review and others.
Although the lease lessened demand on the Lakeridge Drive campus, the Thurston County District and Superior Court continued to report space and security deficiencies.
The aging courthouse was built in the 1970s for a county population half its current size. It has now surpassed its 30-year life expectancy. In July 2024, county officials cited roof replacement, HVAC failures and outdated technology as issues.
Board Vice Chair Wayne Fournier stressed growth and service expansion have pushed the courthouse past its original capacity.
“Our existing courthouse campus was originally designed for a county population half our current size, with fewer services and a far simpler mandate. Times have changed,” Fournier said.
“Our population has grown, and county government now provides more support and programming to a much larger, more diverse community. We’re working hard to invest in a new facility that’s affordable to acquire, cost-effective to maintain, and accessible to all residents.”
In January 2025, the board scaled back renovation plans at Lakeridge Drive to basic safety and systems maintenance. However, the action only targeted urgent fixes for courthouse deterioration and did not address long-term space or security needs.
Seeking permanent options, the county launched a process to identify properties that could accommodate courts and government services.
The downtown property emerged through that process. The county said real estate investment experts reviewed the offer and concluded buying now would avoid future price escalation and reduce the need for leased space.
Commissioner Carolina Mejia said the acquistion is a good move.
“Keeping old buildings that weren’t built for how we work today doesn’t make sense for taxpayers,” Mejia said. “This is a chance to bring services together under one roof, make things easier for the public, and save money in the long run. It’s not just about having a new space; it’s about doing our jobs better and making government work for the people.”
Under the agreement, the county has committed to moving Superior Court and District Court, Pretrial Services, Prosecuting Attorney and Public Defense offices, as well as administrative departments now based at The Atrium. The plan also improves Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and enhances service access for all visitors.
Commissioner Emily Clouse also approved of the agreement.
“This campus approach is a people-first investment: it streamlines how residents access services, strengthens safety and ADA services, and preserves flexibility as we secure a new courthouse space,” Clouse said.
She added, “I look forward to hearing input from the community as we shape each step with our stakeholders in an open, collaborative process.”
County Manager Leonard Hernandez said the county is prepared financially.
“With clear direction from the (board) and other elected officials, today’s (July 30) announcement is just the beginning of a shared vision for Thurston County,” Hernandez said.
“This property gives us the flexibility to responsibly grow with our community and honor the dedication of our justice partners and county staff.”
Superior Court Presiding Judge John Skinder said the new location is necessary to give jurors, litigants, community members and staff a courthouse that is safe and accessible to everyone.
District Court Executive Officer Frankie Peters echoed those remarks.
“Workloads and service levels have continued to increase, and the existing, deteriorating structure does not support what our community deserves – an accessible, safe, and functional space that provides trust and confidence in the services delivered,” said Peters in a statement.
Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim said the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will benefit from working in a secure and functional environment in order to handle growing caseloads and public demand.
10 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
bonaro
Looks like Thurston County dusted off the decade old plans that have for the Regional Justice Center, which voter already voted down. But this time they have made a $34M commitment.
Friday, August 1, 2025 Report this
notdeskandchairs
How can this campus, designed for a different use, serve the intended purpose? I would appreciate a follow-up story on how much renovation is necessary (and its cost). Also, is parking really adequate? This is s suburban setting (the County), for the most part, and the use of public transportation is unrealistic, except for those nearby in Olympia.
Friday, August 1, 2025 Report this
KentReister
notdeskandchairs, I think those are good questions. In regard to parking, There's a lot of parking there. https://wtsc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WTSC-Visitor-Parking-Map.pdf
Saturday, August 2, 2025 Report this
ClownPenis88
Well this is a start in the right direction. Im sure there is (a lot of back case load evidence) on cases involving assaults, robbery, fraud,and custodial interference. Would be a shame to have people like Travis Decker in our community.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 Report this
suecarr
Great! Let's get it done. The Lee Creighton Justice Center was already sold. Hopefully this puts the tribe in a good spot for a hotel and meeting space.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 Report this
Deanima
Are they agreeing to the purchase before doing the traffic and parking analysis? The County generates a large volume of daily traffic.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 Report this
katlady11
This location is downtown area of Olympia, not suburban at all. I'll be interested in seeing a better map as time goes by.
Sunday, August 3, 2025 Report this
Pkt3154
It comes down to...we don't care what you voted, we want new digs. We will not live within our means. We will figure out a way to make taxpayers foot the bill. End of story!
Monday, August 4, 2025 Report this
BobJacobs
I'm surprised by the 35M pricetag. There is no market for office buildings because the state has consolidated offices and continues to do so in response to increased remote work.
Bob Jacobs
Monday, August 4, 2025 Report this
jimlazar
This is a good location, along I-5, close to downtown but with parking available. Most of the County needs can be met with the current configuration of the buildings. Significant changes will be needed for courtrooms, but those won't be huge.
That said, these buildings are almost the same age as those up on the hill that the County things are not worth renovating. Did the County make a mistake buying buildings that were poorly constructed 45 years ago, while Vine Street Partnership built better ones just a few years later?
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Report this