| Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman has been hard at work trying to keep his campaign promise to revitalize Bremerton’s city center. Currently, there are seven major revitalization projects in the works for downtown. They are as follows:
• A conference center for 550 people with 550 parking spaces, a 100-room hotel, and a retail and office tower adjacent to the ferry terminal. Drawings have been prepared for this anchor project by the City’s architectural firm. The City plans to break ground in March and complete construction during 2003. “Everything is on schedule”, Bozeman added.
• A 10,000 Sq. Ft. government center will house Bremerton City government offices, Kitsap County Health District staff, and other agencies. The developer is Kitsap Consolidated Housing Authority, with whom the City of Bremerton is partnering to purchase one entire floor. Negotiations have begun with the Washington Mutual Bank, regarding a site behind the bank. If concluded as planned, this project will break ground at the same time as the conference center.
• The U.S. Navy has plans to build a 1000-car parking garage at an undisclosed downtown location. The City of Bremerton is working with the Navy on this project. Movement is anticipated after the Navy budget is approved in October. This project will relieve parking pressure from shipyard workers and help downtown businesses and citizens to access new downtown facilities.
• A two-block maritime park is planned for the south side of the ferry terminal. Construction will begin next year with clearing of the block given to the City by the shipyard. Another block on Pacific will complete the park grounds.
• The City is currently working on a public safety bond issue planned for fall to purchase the U.S. Bank building and construct a police station, courthouse, and public safety building, and to replace the 70-year old Fire Station #1 with a downtown facility. The Mayor and City Council want downtown to be safe. Bozeman added, “This location is central to all of Bremerton” (for response logistics).
• In addition, the City plans a 4-acre east park site above the YMCA. Negotiations are underway with the developers who built Poulsbo Place on the possibility of a 300-350 home project. Poulsbo Place boasts a high-density, national award winning community design.
• Kitsap Consolidated Housing has purchased a 3-story brick building on the waterfront to be developed into 200 condominium units. This project is in the design stage. Construction of the first 70 units will begin next year.
These seven projects are in addition to the marina expansion currently undergoing a feasibility study. In summary, “Bremerton’s city center revitalization represents $250 million in new investment,” stated Bozeman. “We envision Bremerton once again becoming the urban core of Kitsap County. We are excited to be well on our way to turning the City around.”. | 
