Good Design: Urban Design, Streetscape, & Sustainable Development Best Practices
This document (PDF) presents a collection of downtown design "best practices" adopted in downtown areas throughout the U.S. and abroad. The best practices guide is intended to serve as a framework for future planning and development in downtown Olympia. In some cases, the city may have already adopted certain design principles. In other cases, the city may choose to incorporate additional guidelines suggested here, while others may be more difficult given physical, financial or policy constraints.

Martin Way District Survey Analysis
The City of Olympia and Thurston Regional Planning Council are collaborating to support the transformation of the Martin Way District in northeastern Olympia into an area with a richer mix of housing units, services and active transportation choices. The study (PDF), made possible by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant, will:

• Define infrastructure needs
• Define options for funding needed infrastructure
• Explore how public funds can leverage improvements consistent with the corridor vision
• Conduct a market analysis of properties in the district
• Identify opportunities for development and redevelopment

Housing & Urban Development Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant Summary
The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) in partnership with the Thurston Regional Planning Council was contracted to conduct outreach to businesses located within the 4 primary districts identified as part of the Capitol Corridor of Thurston County and outlined by the HUD Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant. Those districts are described in the enclosed district summary reports (PDF) as the Capitol Boulevard Corridor, Brewery District, Woodland District and Martin Way Districts.

Investment Strategy: City of Olympia Opportunity Areas
This report, prepared by Berk and EcoNorthwest for the City of Olympia, begins to reframe the city’s approach to redevelopment, and is an important first step to the more comprehensive, proactive strategy that the Ad Hoc Committee envisioned. The report outlines a methodology and initial set of actions the city’s Community Development Department can use to guide its economic development and redevelopment activities. It suggests which tools available to the public sector (including incentives, regulations, facilitation of planning exercises and community conversations, and interactions with property owners) are most appropriate to specific areas within the city to more actively guide development outcomes in a market-responsive way. This report is presented in the following documents:

• Consultant Report (PDF)
• Market Analysis Overview (PDF)
• Report Appendix A (PDF)

Analysis of Basic Needs Survey
This survey report (PDF) analyzes more than 1,000 survey responses from residents of Thurston County who do not traditionally participate in planning projects. This survey will help inform action in both the Creating Places - Preserving Spaces plan, and a more detailed urban corridor strategy.

Walkability
In August 2012, The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) conducted a Walkability Audit Workshop and a demonstration audit that looked at several areas along Thurston County’s urban corridors. The documents linked below contain information used during the training and audit, and a report illustrates the findings of the audit.