The Olympia Site Plan Committee reviewed the renovation proposal to transform the former Providence Community Care Center at 225 State Avenue NE into a food hall, commissary kitchen, and second-floor apartment.
State Street Food Hall is what the project is currently called, according to the plans submitted by Carve Architects.
At the committee meeting on Wednesday, June 21, Josh Gobel of Carve Architects shared several plans for the building, including providing a commissary kitchen for food vendors. One of the changes is to change the office space on the second floor into a one-bedroom apartment.
In the narrative, it stated that the existing building would remain. The ground floor of the building currently measures 7,080 square feet. The plan is to add 155 square feet to the building to enclose a vestibule, bringing the total ground floor area to 7,235 square feet. A covered area of approximately 1,800 square feet will be added to the west side of the building, with access through new openings along the west facade. The existing chain link privacy fence on the NW corner of the site, enclosing the patio, will remain in place, with the southern fence line moving south to expand the patio area. Additionally, new fencing will be installed to enclose the parking lot, matching the existing fence.
Olympia associate planning Jackson Ewing said the proposal for restaurants using the food hall would fall under a permitted use in the downtown business district. Likewise, the apartment is also permitted.
Ewing discussed the potential challenges related to the design review code and planning and zoning requirements for the project.
He said the project appeared that no significant architectural changes, which may exempt it from the design review requirement. However, he advised the developers to continue working with him for planning to verify whether or not the project would trigger a design review. "What is unfortunate downtown is that all projects that require design review must go to the board."
To avoid the need for design review, Ewing said, the project must demonstrate that the proposed changes do not significantly alter the architectural character of the existing building.
Olympia engineering examiner Tiffani King discussed the considerations and calculations related to changes in water usage and associated fees for the project.
She explained that different types of uses have different water consumption rates, affecting connection charges. The water consumption of a particular service is measured in equivalent residential units (ERUs).
She said the food service has high water consumption compared to office or retail and told the developer to expect higher fees for sewer connections.
With the inclusion of the residential unit and the new food service units, there will be approximately six to seven additional equivalent residential units (ERUs). King added two fees associated with ERUs: Olympia's general facility charge with a downtown rate and the LOTT treatment rate. The estimated fee for each ERU is approximately $8,500.
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