Capital Mall Triangle

What is the Capital Mall Triangle?

The Capital Mall Triangle is one of three urban centers envisioned in Olympia’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan. We anticipate this area will remain a regional destination for shopping and services - while also realizing significantly more housing development than exists there today.

The vision is that over the next 20 years this area will grow into a more people-oriented urban neighborhood. A place where residents can commute to work, shop, recreate, and meet basic needs without a car.

What's happening?

The Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Preliminary Final Draft Subarea Plan are now available for download. Since their initial drafts were released in September of 2023, both documents have been updated based on community input and guidance. A Planned Action Ordinance is being drafted that will implement the mitigation measures specified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement and recommended in the subarea plan.

• View the Final Environmental Impact Statement
• View appendices for the Final EIS
• View the updated Preliminary Final Draft Subarea Plan (Figure 9-2 has been updated)

Upcoming public meetings

• April 1 - Planning Commission Hearing (Zoom)
• April 15 - 2024, Planning Commission Deliberations
• May 9 - Land Use and Environment Committee
• TBD - City Council

Get details for all public meetings here.

Capital Mall Triangle Subarea Plan and Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

A subarea plan will provide a long-range strategic and implementation framework to help us realize our Comprehensive Plan vision for this area.

The City received a $250,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to help with this work. We will engage with community members in the preparation of the subarea plan and non-project environmental impact statement (EIS) to facilitate transit-oriented development within the Triangle.

Any changes as a result of this process will take time. Progress will depend on the implementation of further work by City staff and private investments. Yet, with patience, you can anticipate the chance to see future generations able to live, walk, play, shop, dine, and be entertained all within the Capital Mall triangle portion of our community.

Present conditions

The current land use pattern reflects the 1970’s-80’s development era. The primary uses are traditional automobile-oriented big box retail and a suburban mall. These are surrounded by vast parking lots accessed by a sparse network of 5-lane arterials. Street connectivity is limited and existing intersections are strained.

Future state

Over time, the plan will help us transition this area to a mixed-use, grid-based street network. This will:

• require shorter trips while driving.
• make it easier to use transit.
• give residents the chance to walk or bike to jobs, schools, services, and recreation opportunities.

This area will also play a significant role in realizing more mixed-use housing. Housing types will be appropriate for families and individuals at all income levels, including some homes for those who require access to low-income affordable housing.

Changes in land use and a gridded street network will generate more walk and transit trips as workforce housing expands throughout the subarea. This plan will guide policy and investment decisions needed to stimulate that transit-oriented redevelopment and infill.