Category Archives: Construction & Development

Moctezuma’s plans soft opening this week at Kitsap Mall

Diners can get their first taste of Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar in Silverdale this week.

The Kitsap Mall Moctezuma’s will hold a soft opening Wednesday afternoon, with a full opening tentatively scheduled for Friday or the weekend. Soft opening hours are 4-8 p.m.

“We’re definitely excited about opening and our staff is super excited,” Director of Operations Michael Goronkin said.

Moctezuma’s moved into an 8,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Hale’s Alehouse. Goronkin said Moctezuma’s hired about 130 employees to staff the Kitsap Mall restaurant.

Silverdale is the fourth location for the family-owned chain, which has restaurants in Gig Harbor, Southcenter and Tacoma.

ARCO station and ampm store proposed in Poulsbo

Tad Sooter

An ARCO fuel station and ampm convenience store could join the Sonic Drive-In at the corner of Viking Avenue and Highway 305.

A site plan review application has been filed for a 3,180-square-foot store, a nine-pump service station and 1,152-square-foot car wash on the 2-acre site, according to a notice distributed by the city Friday.

The station would be served by two underground storage tanks courtesy of Connex (you can rent Connex boxes here). Plans include parking for 11 vehicles.

BP West Coast Products submitted the permit application for the 22003 Viking Ave. property.

The city will accept comments on the application through Dec. 23. See the full notice below for details.

State approves St. Anthony Hospital expansion

Tad Sooter

20090626-204356-pic-934221171_5654090_ver1.0_640_480 State regulators have signed off on CHI Franciscan Health’s plan to add 32 beds to St. Anthony hospital in Gig Harbor.

The Department of Health conditionally approved a certificate of need for the expansion on Nov. 29, according to documents posted online.

The $15.6 million project will build out the unfinished fifth floor of the hospital, bringing St. Anthony’s licensed bed count to 112.

CHI Franciscan proposed the additional beds to meet growing demand for services. The facility is frequently at full capacity, resulting in longer wait times and patient transfers to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

“Building out St. Anthony will allow us to afford better care for our patients in the greater Gig Harbor community, with room to accommodate more patients with increased access to local services,” Dr. Lance Bear, MD, chief of surgery at St. Anthony, said in a news release.

The new beds are expected to open in early 2018.

This post was updated to include information from a Wednesday news release.

Commercial real estate roundup: Church sells development land in Silverdale

Tad Sooter

Prime Silverdale development land in changed hands in August when Newlife church sold its 8-acre property on Clear Creek Road to The JWJ Group of Silverdale for $3.75 million.

Newlife bought the parcels in 2008 with plans for a Central Kitsap campus. The church is now building a worship and training center in the former Silverdale Regal Cinemas building.

The Clear Creek sale was among a number of high profile commercial real estate transactions completed in August and September. Some we’ve already written about, like the sale of undeveloped land in College Marketplace and the former American Marine Bank headquarters on Bainbridge.

But there were still plenty of deals to catch up on. Here’s a look at other major commercial sales from August and September with details from the county assessor’s office and additional sources:

College Marketplace, Poulsbo — $8.22 million

Sale date: Aug. 31

Sold by: MUFG Union Bank to Olhava Investment Group LLC

Description: More than 60 acres of development land in Poulsbo’s College Marketplace master plan area, zoned for a mix of business park, commercial and residential uses.

Notes: The buyer was Hotel Concepts of Seattle, which plans a 110-room hotel on five acres near Home Depot. Land not needed for the hotel is back on the market. Union Bank took over the land in a foreclosure sale last year.

Clear Creek land, Silverdale — $3.75 million

Sale date: Aug. 16

Sold by: Newlife Church on the Peninsula to The JWJ Group LLC

Description: Two parcels totaling 8.6 acres west of Clear Creek Road, just north of Greaves Way and The Trails at Silverdale shopping center.

Notes: Newlife bought this property in 2008 with plans to build a campus there. The church is now building a center near the Silverdale YMCA.

Former American Marine Bank, Bainbridge — $3.65 million

Sale date: Aug. 22

Sold by: Columbia State Bank to Old Mill Place Propertiess LLC

Description: Original American Marine Bank headquarters at 249 Winslow Way. Constructed in the 1940s. Now home to Columbia Bank.

Notes: The property was purchased by islander George Lobisser as an investment. The Columbia Bank branch will remain in place.

Peninsula Glen Apartments, Poulsbo — $2.84 million

Sale date: Aug. 3

Sold by: Ronald and Linea Montplaisir to Pen Glen LLC 1

Description: An apartment complex on five acres on Hostmark Street, east of North Kitsap High School.

Notes: The same buyer purchased the neighboring Woodcreek apartments, and has plans to add 24 units to the combined properties.

Sonic Drive-in, Poulsbo — $2.6 million

Sale date: Sept. 8

Sold by: Columbia Property Managers LLC to SB Poulsbo LLC

Description: A newly-constructed fast food restaurant on 1 acre at the intersection of Viking Avenue and Highway 305.

Winslow Way building, Bainbridge — $2.5 million

Sale date: Sept. 29

Sold by: DLG Leasing LLC to Michael and Darden Burns LLC

Description: An 11,660-square-foot commercial building on 1 acre at 253 Winslow Way West.

Notes: Home to Seattle Children’s Bainbridge Bargains Boutique.

Olympic Place II, Poulsbo — $1.87 million

Sale date: Sept. 26

Sold by: Roben Family Limited Partnership to James Lane C LLC

Description: A 34,000-square-foot commercial building and parking lot on 3 acres at 1050 NE Hostmark Street, east of Highway 305.

Notes: Built in 1984, according to a listing.

Hardware building, Kingston — $1.8 million

Sale date: Aug. 25

Sold by: Kingston Center LLC to HH & Sons LLC

Description: A 14,400-square-foot building on 1 acre on Highway 104, next to the Food Market.

Notes: Home to Henery Hardware. It appears the Henery family just bought the building from owners of the shopping center.

Former Sound Publishing plant, Bainbridge — $1.45 million

Sale date: Sept. 13

Sold by: Sound Publishing Properties Inc. to Day Road Industrial Park LLC

Description: Two commercial buildings on 4.5 acres in the Day Road industrial area.

Notes: The main building once housed Sound Publishing printing presses and the Bainbridge Review newsroom. Now home to Salisbury Woodworking.

Former Frontier Bank, Silverdale — $1.4 million

Sale date: Aug. 9

Sold by: MUFG Union Bank to SKBA LLC

Description: A 14,000-square-foot bank building on 1 acre at the corner of Silverdale Way and Myhre Road.

Notes: One of several Frontier Bank branches acquired by Union Bank when Frontier failed.

Lighthouse restaurant, Port Orchard — $1.39 million

Sale date: Sept. 8

Sold by: 429 Bay Street LLC to Kashi 201 Williams LLC

Description: A 9,250-square-foot restaurant at 429 Bay Street on the Port Orchard waterfront.

Notes: New owner Ali Kashi plans to open a Cheers Bar & Grill in the landmark restaurant building in January.

Robinswood Apartments, Kingston — $1.34 million

Sale date: Sept. 14

Sold by: 17th On High LLC to Kim Pax LLC

Description: An apartment complex at 10434 Highway 104 next to Reliable Storage.

Sunnyslope land, South Kitsap — $600,000

Sale date: Aug. 31

Sold by: Davies Pearson PC (trustee) to Assemblies of God Loan Fund

Description: Four parcels totaling about 26 acres on Victory Drive, near the intersection of Sunnyslope Road and Highway 3, and a duplex on Jones Drive in Port Orchard.

Notes: This was a forced sale. The land was formerly owned by South Kitsap Family Worship Center.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP FOR APRIL THROUGH JULY.

Hotel planned in Poulsbo’s College Marketplace

Tad Sooter

Property bordering Poulsbo’s Home Depot offers some of the best views in the city, with Liberty Bay and Mount Rainier visible on clear days.

The hilltop site would provide a dramatic setting for a hotel, which, it turns out, is just what a Seattle hospitality company has planned there.

Hotel Concepts is moving ahead with plans for a 110-room hotel on 5 acres in College Marketplace, according to representatives of real estate firm Marcus & Millichap.

Agent Brian Mayer said Hotel Concepts is in the process of selecting an architect and franchise for the project, and plans to move ahead rapidly with permitting. The Poulsbo site offers easy access to Highways 3 and 305, and is situated near to major retailers and an Olympic College branch:

Hotel Concepts isn’t new to Kitsap. The company operates both the Hampton Inn & Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites in downtown Bremerton. Its full portfolio includes a dozen hotels in the Seattle area and a Holiday Inn Express in Kona, Hawaii.

Hotel Concepts recently purchased more than 60 acres in the College Marketplace master plan area. Land outside of the hotel site is being offered for sale by Marcus & Millichap. The available property includes a mix of parcels zoned for business park, commercial and residential use.

College Marketplace could once again be a hotbed for development in the near future. Housing Kitsap and Central Highland Homes have plans for a residential neighborhood on the hillside, while The YMCA is considering building a facility next to Olympic College.

Port Orchard preschool breaking ground on new building

Tad Sooter

South Kitsap’s Stepping Stones Learning Center and Preschool will soon step into a new building.

The Christian education center announced plans last week to construct a 5,000-square-foot facility at 1914 Pottery Ave. in Port Orchard.

The building will include three classrooms, recreation space and offices. Plans call for 25 parking spaces and a fenced outdoor play area.

The city recently issued site development permits for the project, according to the news release. Port Orchard-based Pristine Homes is the contractor.

A groundbreaking celebration is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. Monday. The facility is expected to be ready by the start of the 2017-18 school year.

Port will discuss sale of Bremerton waterfront property Tuesday

Tad Sooter

Parkignlot_7988144_ver1.0_640_480 Port of Bremerton commissioners will discuss the terms of an agreement Tuesday to sell a premier waterfront development property above Bremerton Marina.

According to port CEO Jim Rothlin, the commission is weighing a $4.5 million offer from development firm Sound West Group to purchase the Washington Avenue property. By law, the port can’t sell the land for less than fair market value.

Sound West partner Mike Brown told me the firm is interested in creating a mixed-use development on the 2-acre site.

The port bought the land from Kitsap Consolidated Housing Authority in 2009 for $3.5 million to provide parking for the marina. The district put the property on the market last year with an asking price of $5 million.

Port CEO Jim Rothlin said the goal of the sale would be to pay off the debt from the purchase while still maintaining parking for boaters.

“At the time of the purchase the port’s intent was always to see development occur there at some point that would help increase growth and economic development for the community,” Rothlin said prior to a Nov. 8 public hearing on the potential sale.

“But the priority was really to make sure we secured parking for the marina and were able to pay off debt on that property as well.”

South Kitsap resident Roger Gay was the only member of the public to offer comment. He urged commissioners to be upfront with the public about the process and the potential impact development of the property might have on the marina.

“You need to have those answers no ahead of time as much as possible,” Gay said.

Port commissioners vowed to only agree to a sale if parking for the marina was preserved.

The commission will review a purchase and sale agreement for the property at its regular meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bremerton National Airport. Approval of the port’s 2017 budget also is on the agenda.

ChocMo, High Spirits plan move to new Poulsbo building

Tad Sooter

Poulsbo’s ChocMo restaurant and High Spirits liquor store plan to move to a new building and expand next year.

The businesses will set up shop in a 28,000-square-foot commercial facility planned by the Crabtree and Ryan families on Eighth Avenue.

The building is expected to open in the fall of 2017, according to a news release.

ChocMo and High Spirits will be joined in the facility by a 180-seat restaurant called Crabtree kitchen + bar and a shared workspace center called Vibe Coworks.

The move will allow High Spirits to grow from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet.The store will add a growler-filling station, “beer cave,” and wine cellar, and plans to host classes and tastings.

A delivery service is being considered, according to the release.

ChocMo, which began as a chocolate shop in 2005, will offer breakfast, lunch, espresso and chocolate drinks. With added space to work in, ChocMo staff will start making chocolate from raw cocao beans.

Upstairs, Crabtree kitchen + bar will focus on connecting diners with locally-grown food, including fruits and vegetables cultivated onsite. Beef for the restaurant will be raised at the family’s Silver Creek Angus farm in Kingston, which currently supplies ChocMo.

More apartments planned near North Kitsap High School

Tad Sooter

Owners of two apartment complexes near North Kitsap High School plan to add an additional 24 units, according to a site plan review application filed with the city.

The units would be divided among three new buildings on the same property as the existing Peninsula Glen and Woodcreek apartments on Hostmark Street.

More parking and landscaping will be added, according to a notice of application published Nov. 11.

The apartment owners also are seeking to combine the two lots through a boundary line adjustment. The 10-acre property is zoned residential high.

Both Peninsula Glen and Woodcreek recently sold and are now managed by Pacific Living Properties.

The full notice is posted below:

NOA PeninsulaGlenWoodcreekSPR by Tad Sooter on Scribd

Poulsbo coworking office will open in 2017

Tad Sooter

A coworking space aimed at serving contractor umbrella companies, telecommuters, freelancers and entrepreneurs is slated to open next year in Poulsbo.

Vibe Coworks has leased a 5,300-square-foot space in the top floor of a new commercial building planned on Eighth Avenue, according to a news release.

The building, designed by Rice Fergus Miller, is expected to be completed by Tim Ryan Construction in the fall of 2017.

Poulsbo native Alanna Imbach and her husband, Marcel Imbach, are the creators of Vibe Coworks. They’ll be relocating from New York City to start the business.

“We’d had phenomenal experiences with coworking communities in NYC, and knew the timing was right to bring something like that to Kitsap,” Alanna said in the release.

Vibe Coworks will provide Kitsap residents a flexible alternative to commuting, working from home or working out of coffee shops. The Imbaches believe Seattle-area employers also may be interested purchasing memberships at Vibe for employees who want to live in Kitsap.

The space will feature conference rooms, offices, individual phone/video booths, event space, a balcony, lockers and a coffee shop-style community kitchen, according to the release.

See the Vibe Coworks website for more information.