The City of Tumwater, Washington, filed a lawsuit against the owner of the abandoned Olympia Brewery property, demanding cleanup after years of deterioration that has generated more than 300 police calls since 2018 and left the city owed $550,000 in unpaid civil penalties.
Years of Neglect and Safety Concerns
Tumwater Development LLC purchased the vacant brewery site in 2016, eight years after Olympia Brewery left the property in 2004. According to the lawsuit filed Friday, the structures have remained unsecured and deteriorated significantly under the company’s ownership. City enforcement officers documented numerous code violations including graffiti, broken windows, loose fencing, visible garbage, and overgrown vegetation. In October 2018, trespassers started a fire that damaged the buildings, highlighting the safety risks posed by the unsecured property.
The city began receiving complaints about blight and nuisance conditions in 2018. Since then, police have responded to the property more than 300 times for various incidents. The repeated emergency calls and mounting code violations prompted city officials to take legal action after years of what they describe as insufficient progress from the property owner.
Owner Cites Environmental and Financial Setbacks
Property owner Patel told The Olympian he has faced significant challenges in managing the site. In 2019, his company paid a $2.3 million settlement to the Washington State Department of Ecology after oil leaked from a transformer and spilled into the Deschutes River and Capitol Lake. Patel also referenced the 2018 fire as another setback beyond his control. He expressed disappointment with the lawsuit, stating he would prefer working collaboratively with the city rather than facing legal action.
City Demands Tangible Progress
Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff addressed the situation in her column, noting that children have grown from infancy to adulthood while watching the brewery properties decay. The mayor emphasized that the city needs a different approach and will use its legal authority to achieve better outcomes for residents. Communications Director Jason Wettstein said the city remains open to cooperation but will not accept continued delays without meaningful progress. The lawsuit represents the city’s escalation after years of attempted engagement, signaling that local officials are prioritizing public safety and community standards over patience with property owners who fail to maintain their sites.
