Port Blakely Communities says the delay is due primarily to the national and regional economic slowdown that began early this year and has worsened since September 11.

The development will eventually provide about 2.2 million square feet of business park space for new businesses on two hundred acres, up to 1200 units of housing on one hundred acres, and dedicated open space on the remaining one hundred acres.

At the request of Port Blakely, Kitsap County and the City of Bremerton have agreed not to proceed with a study of alternative routes to the project at this point in time. The request means a delay of at least a year in the required multi-year study which includes the corridor study itself, an environmental impact review of the alternative routes, preparation of a master plan, and that plan’s subsequent environmental impact review.

The company stressed it is not abandoning the project, just delaying it until more favorable economic conditions prevail. The firm says it will remain supportive of Bremerton’s downtown revitalization efforts and will continue to be active in the community until then.