Dereliction demolished

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Work demolishing nine homes near the Manette Bridge has restored the view of the bridge from Highland Avenue — at least before the Spyglass Hill apartments are built.

As planned, the homes long owned by John Hoffman were bulldozed this week. Once turn-of-the-century family homes Hoffman says his grandfather, City Attorney Thomas Stevenson, used as a kind of informal city hall, the structures have been in disrepair for many years.

After a fire in one of them, city officials took Hoffman to court over code violations. Hoffman vowed to fight the city and had hoped to restore the homes to their “former grandeur.” But  he ultimately sold the properties at 649 and 653 Washington Avenue to the developers of the Spyglass Hill apartment project for $20,000.

In late-September, work began demolishing nine homes, including the two Hoffman owned. A landscape of nine aging homes will, in a year’s time, be replaced with a $15 million apartment high-rise and complex.

The developers plan to honor Hoffman’s family with a memorial at the site but details are still in the works, I’m told.

Here’s a little photographic journey of the demolitions.

The view inside Hoffman's home, overlooking the Manette Bridge. The home was full of heirlooms and property, much of which was moved to a storage unit.
The view inside Hoffman’s home, overlooking the Manette Bridge. The home was full of heirlooms and property, much of which was moved to a storage unit.
Homes to the south of the ones formerly owned by Hoffman came down first.
Homes to the south of the ones formerly owned by Hoffman were demolished beforehand.
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Demolition of the home at 653 Washington started first this week. Some pianos and other belongings were removed as well. 
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All that was left of the upstairs Wednesday at 649 Washington.
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And by Thursday, they were gone. But crews still have to tear out the basements, within the retaining wall, and fill them in to secure the bank. I’ll post more photos as that work happens.

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One thought on “Dereliction demolished”

  1. Wesley Larson and The Sound West Group(The developers) Thank you for investing in the future return of downtown Bremerton!!

    Reply

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