- There are proposals to put up additional high rise buildings in this location.
Building in this location would defeat views of the Olympic Mountains from Capitol Lake as they currently exist.
Capitol Lake with Olympic Mountains
Downtown Olympia
Capitol Lake with Olympic Mountains and High Rise Building
I like the idea of developing the isthmus between Capitol Lake and Budd Bay into a natural area. Current business that are located in the area could be encouraged to leave gradually. No pressure would be applied, but incentives could be made available. The city and state, which both have a stake in the development of a true natural preserve in this area, could team up to assist local businesses in relocation.
I envision a dividing line between the urban core of downtown Olympia and, to the West, a natural area. The juxtaposition of an urban area with a natural/ semi-wilderness area would be an awesome addition to an already awesome city. It would be fitting for the 21st century. Olympia can provide an example for true sustainability as humanity and America progress into the 21st century.
Building multi-use residential/business high rises in this location (the isthmus) would obstruct views of the Olympic Mountains. Buildings would also obstruct a corridor which runs from Capitol Lake and the Deschutes river to the Puget Sound. There are many reasons both for and against putting buildings in this area, but I think it basically comes down to the fact that there are better places in Downtown Olympia to put up high rise buildings.
Urban density sounds good. Urban density definitely fits in with the scheme for sustainability. It's just that some locations are more and less fitting than others for developing high rises. More is not necessarily better, especially when more comes with catastrophic costs like the blocking of a scenic view that is a public asset.
There is also the issue of growth. Is growth sustainable? Certainly it is not sustainable indefinitely without losses. We live in a finite world and a finite universe. God maybe infinite. But this reality is governed by existential realities. We can only consume so much before it causes disease and disorder.
Responsible development is sustainable development, the kind that can continue for generations upon generations. The problem is that this society is not operating in a manner that will be indefinitely sustainable for generations upon generations into the future. This society is polluting the earth, the air and the water. This society is consuming petroleum at a massive rate. It's all out of whack.
The very least that we can do is to think twice about, and reconsider, building more high rises in a location that would hinder, disrupt and defeat a truly magnificent view of a truly magnificent mountain range.
Does putting condos on the isthmus do respect to the mission of sustainability? Do condominiums constitute the best use for the isthmus? My answer is no. The best use would a novel natural area park feature. Let's pay respect and homage to the natural world. We depend on it for the quality of our life. Let's make the isthmus into a monument to nature.
Comments and faves
anonymous redheads (61 months ago | reply)
Wow, Rob. This photo really demonstrates how devastating development on the isthmus would be to the views of the Olympics. Thanks for posting this.
ˇBerd (61 months ago | reply)
I think development of high rise luxury condos on the isthmus would also be devastating to the city's vision of sustainability.
It is wrong to promote the development of luxury condos in the face of ecological and social ills.
I heard an idea recently that we should not allow people to own more than one home until everyone who wants to own a home reasonably has the ability to do so. I don't know if that is the right thing to do. But it certainly seems to have good intentions. Sort of like a salary cap - that might be good too!
Anyway, I would like to see something other than condos go in downtown. I would like to see an open area, something that would attract people to downtown and encourage awareness of the importance of ecology.
I also think that we ought to direct more resources, as a society, toward dealing with the problem of chronic poverty. I don't buy the argument that there will always be poor people no matter what. I think that poverty is a symptom of a society that is built on the exploitation of labor and resources. We need to see each other as human beings, rather than as means to an end.
The joy is in the journey. I look forward to working, in good faith, toward the goal of a truly sustainable and life-serving society. Industrial growth "plantation capitalism" ("plantation capitalism" termed by Reverend James Lawson) is bringing society and the planet down and we are right to speak out against it!
gnomesister (58 months ago | reply)
Thank you for your commentary and your photographs! Your voice and your vision are shared by many...keep posting and archiving these amazing and currently "endangered" views.
Imagine a Capitol Commons...a place for every citizen of the
City, County and State to enjoy our unique and beautiful location. It is difficult to imagine how can people even consider selling this natural asset for private gain.
Appropriate development can co-exist with appropriate preservation, and be a mutually beneficial asset to all economic levels.