Title
Special Recognition - Walker John and Ron Thomas, recipients of Futurewise’s Annual Livable Communities Award on March 16, 2016
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Recognize Walker John and Ron Thomas, who received Futurewise’s Annual Livable Communities Award on March 16, 2016.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recognize Walker John and Ron Thomas for their 2016 Futurewise Award for “Excellence in Creating Livable Communities - Smart Growth and Transportation.”
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227.
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahely, Director Community Planning and Development Director
Walker John, Urban Olympia, LLC
Ron Thomas, Thomas Architecture Studio
Background and Analysis:
Futurewise is a Seattle-based environmental organization dedicated to helping to create or protect great communities, transportation for all, farms and forests and water, fish and wildlife habitat.
Mr. John and Mr. Thomas were nominated for and received the award for their redevelopment work in downtown Olympia. They have teamed on a number of projects that, “have demonstrated a phenomenal vision for a revitalized downtown Olympia in there adaptive reuse of former office buildings into walkable, beautiful, mixed-use living destinations.” Representative projects include the Franklin Lofts and Thurston First Bank Building, 321 Lofts, the Cunningham Building and Campus Lofts. Each of these projects has taken an underused building or space and turned it into a contributing part of Olympia’s dynamic downtown fabric.
Financial Impact:
None.
Attachments:
None.