Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com

Check this out from Bremerton’s Mayor Bozeman’s October Newsletter….

Bremerton Housing Authority Receives 20 Million Dollar Grant
Congratulations to Executive Director Kurt Wiest and the Board of the Bremerton Housing Authority for being awarded a Hope 6 grant of 20 million dollars to be used in the redevelopment of the Westpark Housing Community. Only five grants were given out by HUD throughout the country. These funds will allow the Housing Authority to move ahead with the redevelopment of the 60-year-old low-income housing community. New housing and support services will be built in the next five years. This has been a goal of mine since I was elected seven years ago.

If you are not aware of the WestPark Sub-Area Plan, you can read all about “Re-Envisioning Westpark” at the City’s website.  (Westpark Sub-Area Plan)  This project is so exciting and fascinating to me.  Located just off Highway 3 on Kitsap Way, you know the exit where Denny’s and DQ are.  Right across from the newer Fire Station #2 located at 5005 Kitsap Way. 

Westpark was originally constructed in 1941 as temporary housing for shipyard workers during the time that was World War II and Bremerton played an important roll in keeping the Navy prepared.  Westpark today is owned and operated by the Bremerton Housing Authority.  The “re-design” of Westpark was envisioned in 2006 with the Westpark Sub-Area Plan and was adopted per Ordinance 4998 in February 2006.  The Sub-Area Plan is the development standards for the transformation.  Click on the below links to read about all the exciting projects!

• I. Introduction
• II. Public Process & Comp. Plan Consistency
• III. Westpark Sub-Area Plan
• IV. Zoning & Development Regulations
• V. Design Guidelines

Westpark – from what some would call “slums” to high quality design!

From the City of Bremerton’s Website: 

Westpark is envisioned as an urban mixed-use, mixed-income, pedestrian oriented community. In the new Westpark, a variety of types and styles of housing will meet the needs of a range of income groups, and retail and commercial opportunities will satisfy everyday shopping needs.

The Bremerton Housing Authority's website has posted the following information about community meetings that are now in progress.

Community meetings are scheduled to discuss the changes.  They will be on Thursdays, September 25, 2008 running through October 30, 2008 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the WP Community Center at 76 Russell Rd, Bremerton.

The 82-acre Westpark site is located in West Bremerton, bounded by Kitsap Way on the north, Oyster Bay Way on the east, and State Route 3 on the west.