Hello! Welcome to Olympia!

I chose to study a block of Columbia Street, between Amanda Smith and Legion, mainly because I’m tired of being harassed by strangers on 4th and 5th avenues and I was intrigued by the train tunnel that intersects this block.

In the end I am left with more questions than answers, questions that I will continue to ponder, such as: What happens when we only experience places at face value and how does that limit our perspective and understanding of a place? How can the past, present and future inform each other and intersect to form a narrative that gives voice to the underrated, the untold, and the forgotten?

I was born and raised in Olympia Washington. Though twenty years is a relatively short time to “know” a place, I feel have lived and experienced Olympia to the fullest; learning all I can, and staying through the good, bad, and the ugly. It is a love/hate relationship. A godsend and a ball and chain. When I learned we would be studying sea level rise by examining a block of downtown, I was skeptical. I thought for sure I had spent enough time downtown to really know my city.  The ins and outs, the dark secrets, the history, where to avoid, and where to get cheap food and cigarettes. I was naive to think I knew most everything, because once you dedicate yourself to a block, you’re stuck with it. For better or for worse. I was very resistant to this project for the first few weeks. Then I realized that I could apply my interests and write about them. I was really interested in the train tunnel, the history of Little Hollywood, and polluted storm water runoff. All of these things have greater implications for our climate, social justice, and community health which are big areas of interest for me.

Sound intriguing? Watch the video.

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Here is what I think Columbia Street’s future will look like. I think there will be extensive roadwork that will be costly for the city, hence the mitigation funding depiction. Businesses will have to relocate, likely to higher elevations in the south capitol, east side and west side neighborhood. Besides economic-related changes, there will physical and social changes too. My prediction is that sidewalks will slowly deteriorate with saltwater inundation and become home to vegetation.

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Thinking about the future of my city makes me anxious. I feel a sense of dread that I can’t ignore. I am angry. I feel useless.

The future holds a grudge.

Maybe the worst part is that Olympians could start mitigating the effects now, but would rather sit back and “let ‘er burn”, because it’s easier that way. Reverting Capitol Lake back to an estuary is a prime example. Creating critical estuarine habitat and curbing lake overflow sound good me.

The time to address sea level rise is now. Not later. Not when it’s convenient.

                                                                       I don’t want to see my city underwater.

Study Sites