Port of Olympia’s Citizen Advisory Committee reviewed the Destination Waterfront plan with Thomas Architecture Studios, the firm overseeing the project’s development plans, during a meeting on Tuesday, June 20.
Destination Waterfront plan aims to transform the Port peninsula into a revenue-generating premier destination. The project was identified as one of the Port’s Vision 2050 action plan goals.
Ron Thomas, president of Thomas Architecture Studios, and Project Manager Amos Callender briefed the committee on Destination Waterfront before joining them on a walking tour along the waterfront.
One of the main topics discussed during the briefing was sea level rise measures that would be put in place along the waterfront.
The Port plans to implement various sea level rise measures along the waterfront. Strategies include raising streets and buildings, elevated walking paths, elevated landscaping, floodwalls, as well as naturally sloped and vegetated shorelines, also called green or living shorelines. Temporary solutions such as sandbags and rapidly deployed barriers are also being considered.
The peninsula’s northern end is designated as Site A and B, which currently has an office building and parking spaces. Living shorelines and raised landscaping would be developed on this portion where the Port is hoping for the potential development of a boutique hotel, mixed-use building, or cultural center.
For Site C and D, where the Swantown Marina is located, flood walls would be constructed to allow access to the boat slips. Site D, which is currently a parking lot, would also be the site of the Marine Waterfront Center, which would house the new marina, Port administration offices, and exhibit space for the non-profit Puget Sound Estuarium.
A combination of a living shoreline and raised landscaping would also be implemented on Sites E and F, which is currently the location of the Swantown Boatworks.
A living shoreline would also be developed on Site H, a narrow strip of land parallel to Marine Drive.
Lastly, flood walls would be constructed on the waterfront side of the marine terminal.
Callender mentioned that they adopted these solutions based on a 2019 sea level rise planning study jointly developed by the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, the city of Olympia, and the Port.
Thomas added that they would need to plan for 16 feet of sea level rise when developing the waterfront.
The Destination Waterfront plan underwent a public engagement process to integrate public input. Surveys were conducted to determine what people wanted for the project, followed by four public outreach meetings from November 2020 to March 2021.
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BobJacobs
"Thomas added that they would need to plan for 16 feet of sea level rise when developing the waterfront."
That's an eye-catcher. Sixteen feet would be where, Sylvester Park?
I think this is probably a misquote, but appropriate for long-range planning. Things will clearly get a lot worse, as we learn with every year's new and worse measurements.
But the Port District and the City of Olympia steadfastly refuse to even consider retreat from the current waterfront as an option. Instead, they are doubling down on added structures that will only make our eventual, necessary retreat more expensive.
Bob Jacobs
Friday, June 23, 2023 Report this
olyhiker
We already have sandbags protecting the area around the lake during rain and high tide. Why in the world are 'they' contemplating more buildings in the path of the water? It makes no sense.
Friday, June 23, 2023 Report this
Aquila
Looking at the proposed map of barriers for the anticipated 16 foot sea level rise; it would appear that the Port will be an island while the City and West and East Bay areas are under water. The Port will be loosing a huge amount of tax base which they don't seem to be able to stay in business without. Barriers are not the answer.
Saturday, June 24, 2023 Report this