City News Bytes: Wyatt & Madison Project Unfolding, Grow Community Nearing Completion, Comp Plan Update Meetings
Wyatt & Madison Apartment Development Taking Shape
The City of Bainbridge Island is taking another stab at creating more affordable housing on the island with the approval of the Wyatt & Madison Apartments. Perhaps you’ve noticed bulldozers moving dirt as you drive south on Madison Avenue, or east on Wyatt Way, across from the Wyatt House Retirement Center and kitty corner from the Blue Canary auto repair and car wash shop.
Bainbridge’s own Madison Avenue Development company is behind the construction of the multi-million dollar 80-unit residential community, being built on 2.5 acres by High Country Contractors of Renton. The majority of apartment units will range from 500-900 square feet, to go along with three larger town homes and a shared clubhouse.
The development includes 13 brand new affordable units (400-500 square foot) that will replace their aging equivalent that were formerly located on the site at 550 Madison Ave N.
Prior to the sale, Housing Kitsap owned the building, which has since been demolished. At that time, the units were income-restricted by Kitsap County’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which is federal block grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Once construction is complete, the affordable units will be formally purchased and operated by Housing Resources Bainbridge to be permanently available for qualifying local tenants. For more information, visit: Planning Dept Project Overview
Grow Community’s New Housing Nearing Completion
Meantime, just a few blocks to the southwest, the final phase of the Grow Community is nearing completion.
The urban “Net Zero” neighborhood in Downtown Winslow is bordered by Wyatt Way, Grow Avenue and Shepard Way NE. The ongoing construction of Phase 3 of the years-long development includes 14 single family homes, that are located alongside Shepard Way, facing south.
“It’s the last piece (of the project) that never got built,” said Jonathan Davis, the principal architect on Grow Phases 1 and 3, in a previous interview. The new section includes “bookends that are more in character with Phase 1, with similar materials,” Davis noted, such as corrugated metal, hardie board, cedar wood and batten siding, similar paint colors and so on. Like Phase 1, the new phase will consist of two-story stand-alone units.
The second phase of the project is a more standard condominium development with several floors built over an underground parking garage, and is comprised of 135 units. Phase 1 includes approximately 23 townhouses that mostly front Wyatt Way.
Davis said the final phase, being developed by Seattle’s Green Canopy NODE will include eight two-story homes of approximately 1,150 square feet, all of which will face Shepard Way, and six larger homes of approximately 1,700 square feet that will be accessed from a nearby walkway. Each of the larger homes will be wheelchair accessible and will include a master bedroom on the main floor designed for “aging in place.” The project is slated to be completed this fall when prices for the new homes will be established.
A New Pool for Bainbridge?
A local family is considering building a new centrally-located sports complex for the community and have offered to make land for a new competition-sized pool available at very low or no cost.
A new community organization “Friends of the New Bainbridge Pool” is currently raising $45,000 for a feasibility study to:
- Examine what kind of pool people on the island would like
- Gauge the impact of being able to host regional sporting events
- Identify potential sources of funding and determine the most sustainable business model for a new local aquatics center.
112 islanders have donated $20k towards that feasibility study so far – click below to consider joining them: https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-the-new-bainbridge-pool
You’re invited to the Comprehensive Plan Workshop – Sept 27th
Sources: City of Bainbridge Island, Chamber of Commerce, The Island Wanderer’s own reporting
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