Title
BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW: Demolition of a Structure Located at 403 Capitol Way, the Goldberg/Schoenfeld Building (CPD File 18-3948).
Report
Issue:
The Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) has received an application to demolish a three-story structure located at 403 Capitol Way S in downtown Olympia. The building is a contributing property within the Olympia Downtown Historic District and as such, the Heritage Review Committee is expected to review the permit proposal and present findings and a recommendation to the Building Official prior to permit issuance (OMC 18.12.100, Demolition of a Historic Building or a Contributing Historic District Property).
Owned by the Olympia Federal Savings & Loan Association, the building was constructed in 1950 and designed by architects Gordon Stacey Bennett and Steve Johnson while working for architect Joseph Wohleb. The building housed Goldberg’s Furniture Store until the 1980s, when Ken Schoenfeld ran their furniture business from the location until they closed in 2010. The building that occupied the site prior to the Goldberg building was the historic McKenny Block, built in 1889 by General T. I. McKenny, a prominent businessman. It housed several state offices and the upscale Kneeland Hotel until the earthquake of 1949 damaged the building beyond repair (Schreck, 2015).
The Olympia Federal Savings and Loan Building, under same ownership as the building proposed for demolition, is located next door at 421 Capitol Way S. This building is expected to remain with the option of an adaptive reuse of the building, and possible expansion onto the footprint of the existing 403 Capitol Way building.
Staff Contact:
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development Department, 360.570.3776
Attachments:
Application Form
Thurston County Data
Historic District Summary
DAHP Comments
Historic Property Report
TAS Demolition Letter
TAS Demolition Set