Not only is it ugly, but it scars an otherwise aesthetically pleasing skyline. (Looking from the capitol, you've got the solitary crane, the snow-capped Olympics, the verdant hills, and this beast.)
On top of that, it happens to be unoccupied at a cost of $118,000 per month.
There's gotta be something we can do.
Update: An anonymous Olympian commenter has the solution:
Washington needs a militia to roam the eastside at night and clean this town-up. The militia could over-take that super-ugly super-tall hunk of junk state building that's blocking my view of the capitol and they could jail their captures there until the police find enough time to arrest all the criminals. Forget the borders, there's plenty of crime to go around right here in Oly. LETS UNITE WITH THE OLYMPIA MILITIA!!! OVER-TAKE THAT UGLY BROWN BUILDING AND SET-UP HEADQUARTERS THERE. FROM THERE THE MILITIA COULD KEEP WATCH AND THERE THEY COULD LOCK-UP CRIMINALS UNTIL THE POLICE FIND ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE AN ARREST.I won't join up until they call it a "posse."
I've always dreamed of an Olympia where the big green monster isn't there. Originally, that spot was supposed to be a passenger train station. Could you imagine a train line heading north out of the tunnel along the lake?
ReplyDeleteNow, I imagine a nice, tidy library. But that is just me.
Oh yeah, I disagree though that its the ugliest in Olympia. The GA building up the hill is worse, only because it is closer to the greek buildings.
ReplyDeleteTo me its ugliness quotient is upped by the fact that it dominates the landscape.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the library suggestion. The Olympia Timberland is serviceable but stale.
I'm in, I have my cowgirl hat all ready.
ReplyDeleteNew public library there too, yes yes! Community space, welcoming, endless books and resources, wi-fi too. Laptops that can be checked out.
Take that building down.
Why not leave it and turn it into low income housing that people making 50% of the median income or less could afford to live in? It may be ugly, but it could serve a purpose.
ReplyDeleteRob, not a bad interim suggestion. Is it politically feasible, though?
ReplyDeletewhy not just paint it pink, and splash a few dozen other colors on it?
ReplyDeleteIt would make a great 10 story tall piece of abstract art... well maybe not. crap no matter how you piant it will still be crap.
However could you imagine that building done in dazzle camouflage then aliens or subs wouldnt be able to hit that building with torps!
Wait we want that building to come down... I guess leave it green and tear it down is the best way to go!
I am so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. Tear it down! Put ANYTHING (two stories or under) there in its place. A parking lot would look better than that ugly view-wrecker.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteAs far as political feasibility goes, probably not. Most people don't want that kind of housing in their neighborhoods. Plus it would cost loads of money to buy, not to mention convert.
Yeah, the library in the ground floor and then some condos in the upper floors. We need something other than subsidized old folks and student housing in downtown. Folks who owned a piece of downtown would help keep an eye on it and make it nice.
ReplyDeleteYeah, let's move more rich people in. That has always made things better. We can be just like every other cookie cutter bedroom community.
ReplyDeleteYeah Rob, all those folks squatting in doorways asking for quarters sure add charm to downtown don't they?
ReplyDeleteIn a way i think they do. The problem is that if there isn't a balance of housing you end up with a gentrified city. I'm all for some condos, but let's build affordable housing as well. As it is right now, most people can't afford to live downtown. With no industry and not many places hiring permanent employees it's pointless to tell the folks in the doorways to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I think people should be responsible and work for what they have also, but we should at least provide everyone with the bootstraps to pull on.
ReplyDelete