By Rachel Pritchett
rpritchett@kitsapsun.com
BREMERTON
A developer of The 400 condominium project that was part of the downtown waterfront redevelopment now is proposing a 103-condo project overlooking Evergreen-Rotary Park and Port Washington Narrows.
In this economy, it’s too soon to set a definite timeline for construction and occupancy, Mark Goldberg of Tiferet LLC of Seattle said.
However, recent project papers filed with the city of Bremerton allude to completion of the Evergreen-Rotary Park project some time between 2010 and 2014.
The building would be at the southeast corner of McKenzie Avenue and Sheldon Boulevard off the south end of the park. It would be near a proposed boardwalk that would link the downtown waterfront with the park. Goldman has been on an advisory panel for the boardwalk.
Four stories of high- and middle-income units overlooking the park and Smith Cove would sit atop two levels of parking with about 138 stalls. Main-floor retail space for uses like a coffee shop or an ice-cream store would line a public-plaza area off Sheldon.
The building would be 61 feet high off Sheldon. Exterior treatment would be brick, stucco, panel and plank.
As many as 200 people could live there, creating about 825 additional vehicle trips per day on adjacent streets, according to papers filed with the city. Vehicle entry to the lower story of parking would be off Sheldon. The entry for cars for the higher parking story would be off McKenzie.
Because a portion of the project is within 200 feet of the narrows, a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit is being sought. A public-comment period with the city’s Department of Community Development extends through April 7.
Several existing houses on the one-acre site, along with some garages, would have to be demolished.
Jeri Tucker lives just outside the city, but her 94-year-old mother lives at the foot of Pacific Avenue near the proposed project. Tucker fears construction will disturb century-old homes like her mother’s that have fragile lath-and-plaster foundations. Tucker also believes the proposed development is too intensive.
“A development of this size and type does not fit the character of the existing use,” she wrote to the city. Cars must edge by each other now on narrow streets; more congestion would only make things worse.
“Allowing the proposed development will hinder access to, and use of, the park by the community it serves,” she wrote.
Infrastructure like sewers would be overwhelmed, she said.
Correspondence from the city to the project’s architect states the current sewer system along Shelton couldn’t handle 103 more units, and the developer would have to replace and upgrade the sewer.
The building would have 150,305 square feet of space.
Goldberg has also developed other local residential projects like Waterside Lane off Wycoff Avenue and 25th Street and The Bridge off Campbell Way in Manette.
