The Sandpiper, a longtime landmark in Silverdale which has been vacant for several years, will be torn down to make way for a new 2-story office building and restaurant. Oxford Suites will soon begin construction of a 100+ bed hotel almost across the street.

   Downtown Bremerton isn’t the only place where buildings are going up and businesses are moving in. Here’s a rundown of some of the projects going on elsewhere in the county.
   Port Orchard
   Although Harrison Hospital has not yet announced any decisions for expansion as it finalizes its strategic plan, it does have approval to expand its Port Orchard complex. Peninsula Community Health Services will be moving into 12-13,000 square feet by Harrison’s existing Port Orchard facilities. When Harrison originally built its facilities, it had approval for 130,000 square feet. Its current facility is around 30,000 square feet, so even with Peninsula Community Health Services occupying another 13,000 square feet, Harrison would still have room to grow.
   Another medical clinic, the primary care Port Orchard Medical Clinic, will be part of the Franciscan Medical Pavilion that Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System will start building this summer in Port Orchard. The Franciscan Medical Pavilion will be approximately 17,000 square feet, and the Port Orchard Medical Clinic will occupy about 12,000 square feet of that space.
   A rezone application has been submitted to the City of Port Orchard for a 9,600 square foot, two-story condominium office building project slated for the intersection of Tremont Street and Pottery Avenue.
   The concept, which hasn’t been tried in Kitsap County, has been successful in many other places including neighboring Pierce County. The idea is that businesses own their own office space and contribute equal amounts for maintenance and upkeep of the common areas; the same way condominium apartments operate. Because of its proximity to both the county and city courthouses, nearby existing and planned medical facilities, as well as access to Highway 16, it is expected the project will sell out quickly, primarily to medical and legal practitioners.
   Silverdale
   With most of the available land in Silverdale tied up for future development, you don’t see the frenzy of activity here that you do in Bremerton. But there are still a few things going on. Across from the new Charles L. Salmon MD Medical Center the sale of 12.5 acres slated for retail space is pending. Another strip of land, from Tracyton Boulevard to Ridgetop, has also been slated for development.
   FPH Construction is putting in three buildings at the corner of Blaine and Ridgetop, with the pads and roads completed. Two of the buildings have already been sold and a third has been leased. Space for two medical buildings, totaling around 40,000 square feet, has been approved in the same vicinity, near the Apollo Spa store on Ridgetop.

Building seven of the Powder Hill Complex in Poulsbo, a 2,460 square foot commercial office building, is nearing completion with occupancy expected shortly. Powder Hill is home to deveral local high-tech companies including Bozlight Corporation and Paladin Data Systems

   Further down the road, the Oxford Suites hotel chain is almost ready to begin construction of a new, 100-plus-bed hotel on Silverdale Way, near the Reid Real Estate building.
   The Mentor Company is moving forward with its plans to tear down the Sandpiper restaurant and build a new, two-story building to house a restaurant and offices. The company is currently in the application process with the county and has selected Seattle architecture firm Miller/Hull Partnership as the project architects.
   Poulsbo
   Building seven of the Powder Hill complex is nearing completion. The 9,460 square foot building will be ready for move-in later this spring. The Central Plaza building, a new, 18,194 square foot office and retail building that will house Countrywide’s regional offices as well as other tenants, is wrapping up construction next door to Central Market, and another small office building is going up on Hostmark.
   The new Wal-Mart has broken ground at the Olhava development, now called College Marketplace. Home Depot will be following suit very quickly, and the next step for the development is to begin short-platting lots for other businesses.
   Bainbridge Island
   Two new mixed-use developments are in various stages of development on Bainbridge Island. Island Crossings, a hotel, condo, and retail development, is under construction on High School Road, and should be ready for occupancy in early 2006. The 51-bed hotel will be the Best Western Bainbridge Island Suites. There will be 60 condominium units available, as well as 1,500 square feet of commercial space. The hotel and condos will both have onsite, underground parking.
   Harbor Square, a 180-unit complex that will be located on 4.6 acres across from the ferry landing, with room for ground floor retail and underground parking, is in still in the design phase, but is already selling units.