Former Yelm Telephone/FairPoint Communications building
Photo credit: Yelm Community Blog


– Editor’s note:
In summer 2012, the Yelm Community Blogger was the first person to propose the City of Yelm purchase the Fairpoint Company building for the location of the new library. A first floor entry, plenty of parking and floor space, plus potential for expansion, this former phone company building was ideal, instead of the second floor condo. in Prairie Park that had limited parking, no future expansion capability, and a huge annual maintenance contract the city must pay for 20 years. Mayor Harding responded the building was not suitable and neither were three others, yet was always focused on Prairie Park, even paying a price he said the city could not afford. Click here to read an excerpt of the September 28, 2012 Blog entry about purchasing the telephone building as a library.

Mayor Harding said in 2012 the phone company building was too costly for the city with the renovations/improvements required and I suggest such is still the case today. The city council should keep the public’s interest forefront by staying focused on investing in Public Works infrastructure improvements instead of buying a yet another “Taj Majal” requiring major expenses in bringing up to city desires, or one day soon the Public Works infrastructure will break down and there may be no water or sewer services, needing costly emergency repairs.


– Yelm requests public input on Fairpoint Company building purchase
“The Mayor and City Council are excited to consider the purchase of a building and vacant land located behind the Police Department and Municipal Court on Second Avenue SE.”

“City Council will consider the potential acquisition during their next two public meetings on May 8 and May 22. The community is encouraged to participate.

“Please contact City Administrator Michael Grayum at 360.458.8405 or by email at michaelg@yelmwa.gov for additional information,” quoting the city of Yelm Media Release.
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– Excerpt from the Sept. 28, 2012 blog entry about the telephone building as a library:
Let’s compare:
The price for the Prairie Park facility was $1.2 million for 8,962 square feet = $134 for a square foot ($112 per square foot, after subtracting Margaret Clapp’s $200,000 price reduction). Plus a 20 year monthly maintenance contract at nearly $37,000 must be paid by the city (do the math = another approx. $750,000).

The Fairpoint Communications Building has a list price of $875,000 for 7,400 square feet = $118 for a square foot for all first-floor preferred accessibility. (this is the list price, which means the purchase price could be less.). No condo maintenance contract.

The Fairpoint Building has no unused square footage as in Prairie Park’s two floors with an elevator foyer, has a beautiful courtyard outside that would have been a wonderful reading retreat for the public plus an open and airy accessible first-floor.
[The Fairpoint Building has a large interior where additional floors could be added.]
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