The addition to the Christian Life Center is just one of many commercial projects under construction in South Kitsap

South Kitsap is a sleeping giant, where commercial real estate development is concerned. There is tremendous growth happening in this area — some currently underway and some in the pipeline.

With projects ranging the entire spectrum from small to large-scale this bedroom community will provide a myriad of services to its residents and businesses.

One project currently in the construction stage is located on Pottery Ave. just south of Tremont. This development encompasses 7.5 acres and being completed now is a 7,500 square foot building known as Pottery Professional Building. Built by FPH Construction, there is a 70 percent pre-commitment from potential tenants already. Being promoted as an “access center,” it will have a fiber optic connection networking every business in the park. Accessibility also comes from its proximity to Hwy. 16, I-5, and the ferries.

Currently in Phase One of three, there is no completion date as of yet. Recently finished was the “dental palace” of Dr. Bruce Yoder as well as space for a number of other businesses, including Kitsap Physical Therapy. Contact Jim Freeman at www.jimfreeman.com for further information.

Just across the freeway, the Port Orchard Industrial Park is also expanding. A distributor of materials for snowboards and skis (representing three Australian companies) has moved here from Seattle. Leader Corporation has started construction on its building, and Mutual Materials recently purchased a lot and will be relocating from Gorst. All the infrastructure is in place in the Park, it has easy freeway accessibility, and lots are still available.

Further down Old Clifton Road in Port Orchard is a project known as Northwest Corporate Campus. This encompasses approximately 260 acres, with 60 acres being zoned for industrial use and the remaining 200 being zoned residential. It is a collaborative effort between Pope Resources and Olympic Resources. This project is being touted as mutually beneficial for both the employer and employee. By having close proximity between work and residence (people can literally walk out their front door to work), commuting time will decrease. Hence, the quality of life will be enhanced. Real estate trends show this concept to be the wave of the future.

The Port of Bremerton also has a very unique real estate endeavor underway. Ports in the state of Washington were created with the sole purpose of creating economic development. The Port of Bremerton is a wonderful example of this purpose being fulfilled. The area surrounding the Bremerton Airport is prime for tremendous economic development. However, everything development-wise in this area is controlled by the Endangered Species Act to protect the chum in the Hood Canal.

Part of the Port’s development plan includes the SKIA (South Kitsap Industrial Area) whose goal it is to provide land to result in approximately 9000 jobs in 20 years. Currently in the entitlement process (process before the permitting stage) it is attempting to convert lands from industrial reserve to industrial. This is a joint effort between various local municipalities (Port Orchard, Port of Bremerton, City of Bremerton, and Kitsap County). This effort pertains to other projects in this area — making them unique.

Near the airport, the Olympic View Industrial Park consists of approximately 560 acres zoned for industry with development occurring at various stages. Already housing 30 businesses, the Park is expanding in size by either having tenants expand their current facilities (Romark, for instance), vacant multi-acre parcels logged and plotted awaiting development followed by infrastructures, or having new businesses move into the area.

Plans are for this area to provide intermodal transportation. The already existing railroad will be utilized as a transfer station more efficiently by allowing trains to drop off goods at a certain point where trucks will pick up the goods for distribution.

In addition, a new grounds maintenance facility for the entire complex is being completed. There also is a plan for 36 airplane hangars to be built, plus a new corporate jet hangar.

To provide even greater services, the Port is planning on developing a 30-acre business park known as Olympic View Business Park. The Park will contain two fiber optic telecommunication lines to provide state of the art convenience.

The tremendously unique development of the South Kitsap area by the Port of Bremerton encompasses far more than these few words can do justice to. For further information, contact Dick Bradenberg, executive director of the Port of Bremerton at (360) 674-2381.

Although not part of South Kitsap, downtown Bremerton, where there is a multitude of happenings along the waterfront and surrounding area, rates a mention as well.

The redevelopment of this area will be designed by Peter Calthrope, a world-renown urban planner involved with the smart growth movement. Plans call for, among other things, a government center encompassing various city, county, state and federal offices, a cinema, retail shops, waterfront plaza, restaurants, new parks, waterfront apartments and condos and a hotel/conference center. It is hoped that in addition to the recently completed transportation center and waterfront promenade, the governmental center will be the shot in the arm needed to spur private investment in downtown Bremerton.

(Editor’s Note: Marie E. Buckner is a freelance writer. Contact her at 360-613-1085.).