Korean Women's Assocation and the Olympus Hotel (18. September 2007, 08:54 by Derek Young) ~ Changes?
We have heard for a very long time that the recently discussed Olympus Hotel would be purchased by the Korean Women’s Association. Then, we’d hear nothing. So, this showed up in a few of our mailboxes recently from Jeannie Darneille (27th District Rep):
Investing in local needs:
Korean Women’s Association
A smart $1.5 million investment will fund the purchase of the Olympus Hotel to provide a community building to serve homeless and low-income person. This project, requested by the Korean Women’s Association , will create more than 100 jobs and provide 50 needed units of housing.
Anybody have a timeline?
Previously on the Tacoma Daily Index
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A smart $1.5 million investment will fund the purchase of the Olympus Hotel to provide a community building to serve homeless and low-income person.
Everyone knew that the Korean Women’s Association was considering buying the place in hopes that they could run it better. It is quite a surprise that they intend to turn it into a homeless shelter.
Paddy Coyne’s just spent several hundred thousand on their restraurant and the area continues to struggle with the street problems as it is on a daily basis. The area of 9th and Commerce continue to be a problem for police and the surrounding neighborhood. It continues to have a very high rate for police calls and arrests.
Now, there’s going to be an additional 50 units homeless shelter in an area which 90 percent of the area consists of low income housing in the Theater District?
I thought the City of Tacoma already spent huge amounts of money to move the homeless shelters out of the central downtown.
Was the City of Tacoma even consulted before this grant was awarded?
once again an example of Tacoma and the council/mayor’s failure………..downtown is doomed unless they get their heads out of their *ss and get moving….this is no place for that type of facility especially when your trying to redevelope downtown……..what a fricken waste….why would you turn that place into a homeless shelter…what sort of planning is this???? right next to an area that is attempting to be developed into a rest/bar area……oh man…what clueless leaders of Tacoma……it is amazing how clueless this town is on developing…..I would sware by their actions that the mayor and council would rather keep tacoma the way it is……
4 | Posted by rich | Sep 18, 05:06 PM
WHY……..WHY………WHY………WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTLY THE MOST STUPID IDEA (at least for the last month) that this town is doing……..talk about a POISON PILL!!!!!!!!! for that area of town……..just when there is some hope……
5 | Posted by rich | Sep 18, 05:26 PM
sorry, you know I can’t just respond once to these “GREAT” ideas…..
6 | Posted by rich | Sep 18, 05:27 PM
hey, maybe some of the homeless folks in this place will want to share the Exit133 suite………..hey, your all going to be neighbors…..sorry, I’m just a little bitter at the lack of thought process that takes place in tacoma….every city in the region seems to have somewhat of a clue….but not tacoma….the one place outside of Seattle that has the character to really be developed into a great City with a fantastic downtown and connecting neighborhoods……but we can’t seem to get a clue……yes, I know things take time, but decisions that are being made today effect the long term developement…..
7 | Posted by rich | Sep 18, 05:33 PM
I had heard that the KWA was going to use it for lower income senior housing. The homeless shelter piece is certainly news.
8 | Posted by Annie J | Sep 18, 06:13 PM
Rich, if you would just get a wooden apple box to stand on and a megaphone, and shout out your message to the people of South 9th Street….
9 | Posted by Mofo from the Hood | Sep 18, 07:19 PM
as loud as I B*tch on here you would think they would hear me screaming……lol
10 | Posted by rich | Sep 18, 08:07 PM
If the KWA is going to be involved with the Hotel Olympus you can pretty much bet they will run a tight ship. I’ve worked with the organization and a good many of their members. If the KWA runs the Olympus as low income housing you will not believe your eyes when it comes to your preconceived notions of low income housing. Now if this was the Housing Authority or the MLK housing people I’d worry, but the KWA is cool and they will be more than a credit to the neighborhood. Chances are the residents will be calling the police on the customers of Paddy Coyne’s for rowdy behavior.
11 | Posted by Crenshaw Sepulveda | Sep 18, 08:38 PM
Wow, reading these posts makes me long for a little political correctness. Anyway, I hope Crenshaw S is right — sounds like he knows more about KWA than the rest of us.
Re NSHDscott’s comment, What’s up with Prium and and the Winthrop anyway? Or are they keeping it a secret? Maybe today’s interest rate cuts will inspire them to get to work.
12 | Posted by michael g. | Sep 18, 09:22 PM
more low income housing in this vicinity? this must be some sort of joke… what a contradictory use for the goals of the downtown. I would hope the council/city leaders could prevent this.
13 | Posted by snoopy | Sep 18, 09:34 PM
rich,
I think your rants are a little misguided on this one. The City cannot control every single real estate transaction that transpires. Don’t blame a government agency for a private transaction. I am curious, though, if the existing development regulations (Downtown Commercial Core zoning) would even permit a homeless shelter…
I’d much rather see them bring the Olympus Spa into downtown, the ladies swear by it.
15 | Posted by johnschoppert | Sep 19, 12:57 PM
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