Before beginning my graduate school capstone project, my professors told me to look back at all the papers I’d written and identify themes. A pattern emerged almost immediately. In paper after paper, I was asking the same question: “Why is Olympia like this?”
Why did that restaurant close? What is that smell? Why hasn’t anything been built on that vacant lot? Why isn’t downtown more bikeable? Why do so many places close by 8pm? Why was the Artesian Well abandoned?
Paraphrasing David Scherer Water, Olympia may never make sense to me or to anyone else. But trying to understand it is itself a form of activism. That search for understanding became the foundation of my capstone project at The Evergreen.
I organized my research around four themes: Housing, Equity, Accessibility, and Livability, or H.E.A.L. My capstone, and its ongoing effort, is called the Heal Olympia Project. I combined traditional methods like writing a paper with visual media to get people engaged in these conversations. I produced a written report, created a short explainer video, and a set of policy recommendations to the city council. But much of the work happened outside classrooms and libraries. I spoke with local businesses, city and state officials, and locals on the street. Understanding Olympia isn’t just an academic exercise; it requires listening to the people who live and work here.
Graduation didn’t end the questions I was asking. If anything, it made them louder. To keep these conversations alive, I began sharing my findings and reflections on social media. After graduating in June 2024, I launched a TikTok account in September and an Instagram account two months later.
One year later, those accounts have grown to about 6,000 followers on Instagram and over 3,000 on TikTok. But I don’t measure my impact in likes and follows. What matters to me are the weekly conversations over coffee, in-person events like the walk audit during Week Without Driving that bring dozens of people downtown, and the small but meaningful connections made between locals, business owners, and policymakers.
Why now?
I chose to focus my project on Olympia because we’re not making progress on our stated goals. We’re committed to reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but they keep rising. We want to reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), but they keep going up. If we want progress, we need to change what we’re doing.
Olympia faces converging pressures that make inaction increasingly costly.
Climate change is already reshaping the landscape. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying areas, including downtown, where key infrastructure like the LOTT clean water facility would cost more than $1 billion to relocate. This doesn’t factor in the countless small businesses, city owned buildings, and people (like me) who live here. We can’t just abandon downtown, but we also can’t let it be swallowed by the sea.
Our population is growing. Projections estimate roughly 20,000 new residents over the next 20 years. But housing production is lagging. Current permitting and construction levels meet only about half of the projected demand. These forces compound one another. If Olympia falls short of its growth goals by 2045, it won’t be because people didn’t want to live here. It will be because we failed to prepare for rising seas, strained infrastructure, and a shortage of homes.
A different path forward is possible. It begins with denser, walkable neighborhoods and a diverse housing mix including townhomes, condos, and cottage courts. We need more multifamily options, and also smaller options for seniors downsizing. Climate resilience should be built into new development, allowing infrastructure to absorb, rather than collapse under, environmental pressures.
Reducing downtown’s excessive asphalt coverage would cool the urban heat island effect and make space for green infrastructure. Parking takes up 50% of downtown land use, flying in the face of any efforts we make to curb our environmental impact elsewhere. Adding more greenery would not only enhance aesthetics, but also make the city more resilient to the worsening climate catastrophe.
Public plazas and shared streets could create gathering places and strengthen community bonds. Basic needs should be within a 15-minute walk or bike ride for residents. Sidewalks should be smooth and accessible. Vacant lots should become opportunities for housing, parks, or public art.
Downtown can be vibrant year-round, with expanded event programming, seasonal block parties, and more flexible rules for businesses to create outdoor seating. Bring people downtown with summer-long First Friday markets, make it easier for businesses to build parklets and alley seating, and get people excited to go downtown instead of wary. The city should improve its communication with small businesses, including better notice of roadwork, a dedicated liaison position, and welcome packets for new owners.
Olympia is not a blank slate. It’s a living city, shaped daily by residents, business owners, and policymakers. But the decisions made today about climate adaptation, housing, and transportation will determine whether it thrives or struggles in the decades ahead. My vision is just one version of what Olympia could become. The real work will be done collectively, as more people join the conversation.
That’s my vision. What do you think it should look like?
Daniel Garcia is a downtown resident, analyst, and community advocate exploring how people and places shape Olympia’s future
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