PROJECT PARTNER(S)

City of Bremerton, Opus Developmment, Kitsap Federal Credit Union, Federal and State funding partners. Other private developers have been project partners on various condo projects.

LOCATION
Harborside District, Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

Public Art, Play Area, Sidewalk, Urban Plaza, Residential Landscape

DESCRIPTION

Bremerton is located across the Puget Sound from Seattle, and is connected via a 55 minute ferry. The first waterfront project in 1992 included the Waterfront Boardwalk and Marina, and the opening of the USS Turner Joy to public tours.

Since 2000, Bremerton has focused on revitalization for the waterfront with the following goals:

1. Optimize Bremerton’s existing infrastructure investments by increasing the downtown population without sacrificing livability.

2. Create user-friendly development and street standards that will foster active street life, support the public realm, and add appropriate development intensity with an aim towards building a superior identity for downtown Bremerton.

3. Promote fine grained and pedestrian-oriented development by enabling desired intensification to be achieved through a public bonus amenity system in downtown core and downtown waterfront areas.

4. Create a functional and accessible downtown by designing streets that act as links between neighborhoods.

5. Recommend a centralized and strategic management plan for both long- and short term parking in downtown Bremerton to reduce existing spill over impacts.

A number of projects are part of the revitalization.

The Kitsap Conference Center was completed in 2004 and includes retail space, business offices, a restaurant and hotel accommodations in addition to the conference facilities.

The Harborside Fountain Park is a community-oriented space, located near the convention center. The main feature are hull-shaped fountains that double as wading pools for children. The Harborside Heritage Naval Museum is also located here.

http://bremertonmsa.org/Downtown_Renovation.php

A new marina was opened in 2008 that caters to recreational boaters. The marina incorporated public art, public access to over 2000 feet of waterfront, and is expected to contribute to the local economy.

http://www.portofbremerton.org/bremerton_marina_grand_opening.aspx

In 2009, a tunnel for car access from the ferry terminal to major thoroughfares to the east and north opened. The tunnel was designed to reduce congestion, make pedestrians safer, and divert ferry traffic away from the waterfront area.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR304/BremertonTunnel

The newest project is Bremerton's Lions Park. The park is not ecologically sound in large part because of the four-acre parking lot along the shoreline. This will be taken out and the park will be updated with new pathways, a new playground, and a restored beach area. A silt fence was installed to control erosion during construction. Rain gardens, permeable parking surfaces, and a green roof on the restroom building will also be incorporated. Native plants will replace diseased poplars, scotch broom, blackberries, and other non-natives.

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/pat/news/87166957.html

A number of other projects are in the planning phases. These include proposals to expand Evergreen Park and construct a Boardwalk in the Port Washington Narrows as part of a sewer project. A grant from the WA state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board was approved in July 2009.

http://www.ci.bremerton.wa.us/display.php?id=1056
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/pat/community/51515337.html


PHOTOS AND DRAWINGS

Harborside Fountain Park :


(City of Bremerton)

Proposed Bremerton Boardwalk:



(City of Bremerton)

LESSONS LEARNED

Many of the improvements have helped Bremerton's reputation, and further developments including building a downtown grocery store will help further. Some citizens are concerned that the new condominiums near the waterfront will block views from elsewhere in the city. Other citizens are concerned that the money being used to improve the downtown (specifically building parks) could be better used elsewhere. Additionally, the housing market downturn has affected the ability of the housing authority to sell some of the newly built condos and has stalled the redevelopment of an abandoned J.C. Penney building.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

http://www.ci.bremerton.wa.us/display.php?id=972
http://www.northwestconstructionmag.com/features/archive/0701_Cover.asp