The heavily-traveled corner at 11th Street and Warren Avenue has been home to tennis matches, radio-controlled cars, and even aspiring ninjas.
Now, it’s becoming a place for homes.
Earth movers have been busy busting up ramshackle tennis courts and an old RC track to make room for six homes that will be built on the site — which actually abuts 12th Street — in the coming months. Brad Young, a developer and house-flipper who moved here three years ago, believes the location will flourish.
“I’m really looking forward to building there,” he said, noting it’s within walking distance of the ferry. “I think the market is really good in Bremerton.”
Each residence, constructed by Young’s company Spectrum Homes, will be about 1,600 square-feet and will include garages and covered decks. The construction comes at a time when the city has serious demand for housing.
The area has seen its share of changes over the years. Before the Warren Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1958, 11th Street didn’t even reach Warren Avenue due to an embankment near Chester Avenue. The Pee Wees have long practiced at the playfield and tennis courts at 11th and Warren were once home to city league matches. There was also a Girl Scout’s hall on the site, according to former Kitsap Sun Editor Chuck Stark.
Bob Fredericks, a sports community legend and one of the founders of Kitsap Tennis and Athletic Club, had run tournaments on the public courts there since 1947.
More recently, one of the courts was converted into a miniature race track for radio-controlled cars. And the corner was the popular spinning spot of the Bremerton Ninja until he moved to Port Townsend.
The city, which purchased property closest to Warren Avenue, added a right turn lane there in 2013.
Poor ninja dude gets pushed out of town.
He moved on several weeks ago, for greener pastures in Pt. Townsend.
Can we have our lane back, then?
Started my tennis career learning on those courts in the mid 60’s, played many a night under the lights. Fond memories of tournament and league matches
I grew up on Broadway. And Spent most of my childhood on these tennis courts. From playing tennis, to riding bikes, skateboards, roller skates, you name it. I took my first lesson through the Bremerton Parks and Rec when I was 4 yrs old. With a tournament following the lessons. (I took second). Many many memories of playing tennis with my mom as I got older. And my two uncles as well. I played throughout my high school career. (They even had lights that JOE PUBLIC could turn on with a timer switch) And it all started on those now gone courts. Ya, they were run down. BUT THEY WERE WHERE MY STORY BEGAN.