Details emerge for Greyhound site proposal, and Lacey shopping center owner pitches housing
A recent city of Olympia site plan review meeting featured a proposal to bring a business, tap room and food trucks to the former Greyhound Bus site off Capitol Way in downtown Olympia.
The site across from Sylvester Park at Seventh Avenue was last used as a COVID-19 testing facility. It has been vacant ever since, according to city officials.
The site plan review committee provides feedback to developers about what the city will require of their projects. It’s considered an early-stage meeting before developers take more official steps with the city.
Dominic Lapraim of Homestreet Electric, who was joined by his wife Jacqueline Johnston, an architectural designer, want to move Homestreet into the rear of the building, but also have a tap room up front and use a covered area for food trucks.
“We think it could be a neat little place,” Lapraim told the committee.
Lapraim was asked whether the food trucks would be there permanently or temporarily.
He thinks it will be temporary with a rotation of trucks because most food truck owners like to remain mobile. Lapraim said he is open to the idea of one-year leases, but expects he will offer month-to-month lease terms.
But Lapraim said they might pause their proposal because the Olympia City Council is set to consider a change to city code next month that could benefit their pitch. If the council approves the code change, it would mean that if the value of their project is less than 25% of the assessed value of the property, they won’t be responsible for making frontage improvements.
As it stands now, due to a low pavement rating on Seventh Avenue, they would be responsible for repaving half of the street, according to information shared during the review meeting.
The project will require an underground fire line that would deliver water for fire suppression from a 12-inch water main underneath Capitol Way. That means cutting into Capitol Way and through the curb and across a parking lot to get to the building.
Other business happenings
Capital Development Company, the owner of South Sound Center in Lacey, has proposed an apartment project in Olympia, according to city information shared with The Olympian.
The site is a few blocks west of the shopping center, west of the Chehalis Western Trail and north of Pacific Avenue. The business is proposing to build the 60-unit, garden-style apartments at 3714 Royal St. SE.
The comment period on the proposal ends at 5 p.m. Nov. 22. Send your comments to Associate Planner Paula Smith at psmith@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Some other key dates:
▪ Project information meeting: 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15. The meeting is online.
▪ Design review board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8. This meeting is also online.
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that builds housing for qualifying low-income residents, used a $32,000 grant from Lowe’s to replace the roofs of three homes in Lacey, Rochester and Rainier, the nonprofit announced.
The funding is part of a two-year initiative between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity International that involves a $6 million donation.
“The objective is to bolster home repair and preservation efforts in owner-occupied homes. In collaboration with more than 75 local Habitat affiliates, this initiative aims to complete over 480 projects this year, addressing critical health and safety issues in homes across the U.S,” a news release reads.
Bakery and more coming to Steamboat Island, plus a new pitch for downtown Greyhound site
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
