Another major milestone for the Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) in the redevelopment of Westpark will be reached on April 19 when the last original Westpark structure was demolished. The removal of old buildings is part of the master-planned transformation of Westpark into Bay Vista, an 82-acre mixed income, mixed use community replacing the 70-year old former public housing site. Demolition has been conducted in phases over the past two years.

Originally constructed by BHA over a 9-month period between November 1940 and July 1941, Westpark provided desperately needed housing for workers and their families associated with the Puget Sound Navy Yard. Following World War II, Westpark became a public housing community that provided rental assistance to low-income households, including seniors and the disabled.

In 2008 the Bremerton Housing Authority was awarded a $20 million HOPE VI public housing revitalization grant to assist in the transformation of Westpark into Bay Vista. Residents were successfully relocated throughout the region over an 18-month period of time, with the last family moving out in October 2009. Site preparation work and new residential construction phases were initiated following the departure of the last Westpark tenants.

A grand opening for the first new project in Bay Vista, “The Summit,” an 83-unit affordable rental property owned and developed by BHA, will be held on May 17. Construction of “Bay Vista West,” 68 low-density affordable rental townhomes along Oyster Bay Avenue, is now underway and will be completed in phases beginning in late summer.

Hos Brothers Construction and FS & GS took the lead in abatement, deconstruction, and demolition activities at Westpark. Abatement included the removal of hazardous materials such as lead based paint and asbestos. To the greatest extent possible, BHA targeted recycling and reuse of materials during the deconstruction process. Over 10,000 tons of concrete, glass, wood, vinyl siding, and various metals have been recycled. Usable materials and equipment were donated to local community groups and 2 outdoor public events were held where mature plants, shrubs, and trees were made available to those who wished to replant them elsewhere.