Tumwater city staff is considering four locations for a proposed community center, Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Denney told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday, April 17.
The community center was key to the residents' vote to establish the city’s Metropolitan Park District. Potential locations for this facility include the lower portion of the old brewery site, the former Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) office on Capitol Boulevard, a site near Tumwater Boulevard and I-5, and a property on 93rd Avenue, where the YMCA is proposing to build a similar facility.
For the brewery property, Denney said that the city is currently working to conduct an environmental assessment of the site before looking to purchase the old property. The city received a $500,000 grant last month from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support the environmental work needed for the project.
The grant also supports environmental assessment work needed before the city purchases the old WSDOT property. Another $200,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will also fund the assessment of the former office.
The Tumwater Boulevard site will be specifically located between 75th and 76th Avenues, near the OYO and Comfort Inn hotels. It is the same location where the city considered building a community center back in 2005.
The fourth option for the city is to help fund the YMCA in building a community center for a new housing development on 93rd Avenue. According to Denney, in exchange for the city’s support, the YMCA will program the facility with Tumwater’s needs in mind.
“The Y would like to build a YMCA facility as part of [this] housing development, and they would like the city to give them our community center money so that they can build that Y. Then they'll provide activities and YMCA programs for our recreational needs,” Denney said.
Denney added that they have already developed a matrix to help them pick the best option. He admitted that the YMCA location will not score high regarding accessibility, but city staff will keep it as part of their options.
“Something that far away from the center of town, not on the bus line, not close to a school, not close to anything shopping… it's not going to score well. But that's the process that we got to work through,” the director said.
“Maybe in the end, we can partner with [YMCA] in some aspect of the facility,” he added.
City staff has chosen to contract Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture to design the community center out of four firms that sent their proposals to the city.
Denney said that the city attorney was reviewing the firm’s contract and that it would be forwarded to the city council for approval in May. If the contract is approved next month, the firm could start working on the project in June and complete the work by September.
The plans to be produced by the firm will be returned to the council for approval. Denney said the city has $13-14 million to bond against and fund the construction if approved.
The city plans to conduct public outreach activities so that city staff knows what the public wants from the facility. There will also be a steering committee composed of the commission members, a few city council members, and representatives of possible partners such as the Tumwater School District.
Denney said the city also contracted Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture in 2005 to design the proposed community center on the Tumwater Boulevard site.
Initial plans for the facility were produced, so Denney presented those plans to the commission members to give them an idea of the community center's features.
According to the presentation, the old community center could have had a gym, multi-activity courts, two aquatic facilities, meeting spaces, classrooms, party spaces, childcare, and senior spaces.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
RondaLarsonKramer
The public should know that the proposed YMCA site is currently forestland that’s adjacent to hundreds of acres of more forestland, its zoned rural, not urban, and it is being proposed for a community center solely because the site owner is the richest developer in town who bought the parcel for a mere $400,000 in 2018 and is trying to convince the county to rezone it to urban so he can turn it into a mini-city and make a killing. There is no good reason to sacrifice the public good so that developers can make a lot of money. Put the YMCA in Lacey or the west side of Olympia where it’s needed, and put the community “center” in the center of the community so that residents of Tumwater will actually use it. Low-income people, in particular, shouldn’t be required to spend precious money on gas to drive out to the boonies to get to these places. It’s alarming that this site has been included on this list in the first place.
Thursday, April 25 Report this
52237123abc
100% agree with RondalLarsonKramer. Protect our land…..not this developer.
Thursday, April 25 Report this
Marianne
Community centers are meant to serve the community, hence the name, community center. They should be within the existing downtown core. They should be accessible by transit, walking and biking. Let’s look at the four options proposed. One of these sites is not like the others. One of these sites doesn't belong.
Can you tell which site is not like the others? It’s the property located outside the urban core on 93rd Ave. It’s not accessible. It should not even be considered.
Thursday, April 25 Report this
KarenM
Ronda's comments are spot on. The Community Center should be accessible to the current community members. The proposal for the YMCA at 93rd is simply aiming to build the future of Tumwater as a sprawling place that only people who drive can access.
This proposal for designating the land at 93rd as 'urban' is off track from all of the affordability, sustainability and climate goals the region has been working towards.
I realize Tumwater has had a tough time establishing a 'center' ever since the freeway went right through the middle of it. The new community center location should build on existing activity areas such as the city hall/library area or along Capitol Way.
Thursday, April 25 Report this