Tag Archives: bremerton marina

Port will discuss sale of Bremerton waterfront property Tuesday

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.

Bremerton Marina now 85 percent full

Tad Sooter

harbor3_18647849_ver1.0_640_480 Bremerton Marina crept closer to full occupancy this summer.

Boats filled 187 of 221 permanent moorage slips in the downtown marina in July, up from 164 in July of 2015, and 88 back in 2012. July and August are peak months for the facility.

Create your own infographics

Marina marketing consultant Bob Wise told Port of Bremerton commissioners Tuesday that the port’s “two-for-one” moorage discount continues to reel in boaters.

The deal allows tenants to pay moorage every other month, if they agree to a two-year contract.

The port rolled out the discount in 2013, and offered it again at the Seattle Boat Show in January. That resulted in 31 new leases, Wise said.

Most tenants are sticking around to sign full-rate contracts after their two-year discounts expire. The retainment rate for boaters attracted by the two-for-one deal is about 70 percent, Wise said.

The discount “gives us an opportunity to showcase what we have to offer,” he said.

More downtown activity is also helping draw attention to the marina. A revamped Rock the Dock concert series drew large crowds this summer (the last concert of the season is Saturday). Brewfest and the Harbor Festival are popular with boaters.

The port continues to aggressively plug the marina on social media, in magazine ads, and at boat shows. Revenue has increased as slips filled up, but the facility is still far from breaking even.

Port launches free Wi-Fi at marinas

Tad Sooter

Boaters can now surf the web while snug in their slips at the Bremerton and Port Orchard public marinas.

The Port of Bremerton has launched a free Wi-Fi service at both Sinclair Inlet marinas, according to a Monday announcement.

“Studies have shown, and our customers have repeatedly told us that the number one utility they value bar none is connectivity,” port CEO Jim Rothlin said in the announcement. “It’s also the number one frustration they have with marinas as it can so often be weak, slow and unreliable.

The network provides a 125-megabyte-per-second access link shared by both facilities, which can be scaled up to 1 gigabyte-per-second as demand increases.

The system can accommodate up to 1,000 devices at a time. Service is provided by NW Commnet of Bremerton.

In an email, Rothlin said the agency spent about $150,000 installing a fiber optic backbone and Wi-Fi system at both marinas.

Hardware chosen for the network had to be especially rugged to survive in the corrosive marine environment.

“I would say the biggest challenges were getting coverage through all parts each marina, dealing with getting coverage within covered moorage, and keeping the connection across the two marinas as the tide goes in and out,” Rothlin said.

The full announcement, with more technical info, is posted below: Continue reading →

Port puts prime Bremerton waterfront parcel on market

Tad Sooter

A “for sale” sign went up last week at a coveted waterfront property overlooking Bremerton Marina.

The 1.6-acre parcel, owned by the Port of Bremerton, was listed by CBRE for $5 million. The land is also available for lease.

The port bought the property from Kitsap Consolidated Housing Authority in 2009 for $3.5 million.

The hillside parcel provides parking for marina tenants and the port turns a profit renting additional parking stalls. But with views of Sinclair Inlet and easy access to the ferry, the property has long been ogled by developers as a potential site for a hotel, apartments or condos.

Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent made her preference clear in an interview last fall.

“I’m hoping we can have a third hotel,” Lent said. “Because of our expanded conference center, and the vitality of our city, we could accommodate another hotel.”

The trick for the port will be finding a way to lease or sell the land while maintaining parking for the growing number of marina tenants. Boaters use about half of the 120 parking spaces in the busy summer months.

“Major” car maker shoots ad at Bremerton Marina

Tad Sooter

Bremerton Marina will soon be the backdrop for a “major” car manufacturer’s international ad campaign.

A photo crew shot images at the marina Monday evening. The ads will roll out in about five to seven months, according to Port of Bremerton staff.

You’re free to speculate on the identity of the car manufacturer. Port employees were asked not to divulge the name of the company, though they say its a well-known brand. There was no car on hand for the shoot – apparently it will be Photoshopped in later. Continue reading →

Marina fees, marijuana on port agenda

Tad Sooter

Moorage increases

Guest moorage fees at the Bremerton and Port Orchard marinas may be headed up for the first time in three years.

Port of Bremerton commissioners will vote Tuesday on 2014 marina tariff schedules that would increase guest moorage rates at both marinas.

The current rate for guest finger slips and side ties is $30 per night, plus 75 cents for every foot of boat length over 40 feet. The new rate would be $36 per night, plus 90 cents for every foot of boat length over 40 feet.

The staff proposal would also increase the monthly liveaboard fee at Port Orchard Marina to $75 and allow five more liveaboard tenants, bringing the total to 25. There is a waiting list for liveaboard slips.

No increases to permanent moorage rates are proposed. A detailed breakdown of all the proposed changes is included in the meeting agenda.

Taken together, the rate increases and new tenants would buoy the 2014 budget by an estimated $33,000. An update from the port’s marina marketing consultant is also on the Tuesday agenda.

Pot prohibition

Many cities and counties in Washington will allow legalized marijuana businesses to set up shop in industrial parks.

One Kitsap business park likely to be out of bounds for pot enterprises is the Olympic View Industrial Park, owned by the Port of Bremerton. Port commissioners will vote Tuesday on a resolution affirming its prohibition on marijuana on port properties. Continue reading →