Photo by sean dean
UP FOR SALE. Korean Women’s Association is interested in buying the Olympus Hotel.
A non-profit organization interested in purchasing the Olympus Hotel would keep it as affordable housing, but would improve tenant screening and management practices, according to its leader. Korean Women's Association (KWA), which operates housing and offers an array of social services, is looking into buying the low-income apartment building near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and South 9th Street. KWA Executive Director Lua Pritchard addressed Tacoma City Council's Neighborhoods and Housing Committee regarding her agency's plans Oct. 1.
Pritchard said KWA was approached about a possible sale of the building, which is owned by M&M Properties, Inc. The two parties are in negotiations, which she expects to be finished in December.
She said KWA wants the building in order to continue operating it as low-income housing. She hopes that at some point some units could be set aside as transitional housing for domestic violence victims served by KWA.
They also are interested in the commercial space on the ground floor. Revenue from this could fund social services offered by KWA, Pritchard said.
Councilmember Jake Fey asked her if Paddy Coyne's, an Irish pub on the ground floor, would remain as a tenant if KWA purchased the building. Pritchard said she didn't have an answer at this point.
Mayor Bill Baarsma said the establishment's owner invested considerable money in renovating the space. Baarsma said the owner now questions whether that was a wise investment because of undesirable street activity around the building.
Both Fey and Baarsma mentioned ongoing complaints from merchants in the area directed toward the Olympus and its tenants.
Baarsma told Pritchard he sensed KWA would have work to do in this regard.
"We know that we can do a better job," she replied. "It has to do with the owner and the management."
Pritchard said if KWA buys the Olympus, it would operate it the same way it does other residential properties it owns, all of which are managed by Quantum Management. It would have management on site 24 hours a day, she said.
"That block is the subject of more complaints than any in my district," Fey said.
"We will play a big role in cleaning up the block," Pritchard replied. If KWA buys the building, it will conduct assessments on all the current tenants, she remarked.
Tacoma Police Lieutenant Corey Darlington is commander for sector one, which includes downtown. He said problems in the past at the Olympus stemmed from an absentee landlord. The owner has since become much more involved, and has met 80 percent of the requests police have made, Darlington said.
In related news, owners of two businesses adjacent to the Olympus have filed a lawsuit against M&M Properties and its owner, Stephen Morrison. Laura Hanan, owner of the Rowland Building, and her tenant Kris Blondin claim Morrison has allowed dangerous, illegal and unhygienic activity to occur in the Olympus.
The Rowland houses Hanan's Brick and Mortar Gallery, Vin Grotto, a café operated by Blondin and several condominiums.
A court date on the matter has been set for Jan. 30, 2008.
