Situation Normal...

One more gigantic heave to the right: Building Height Decision Delayed

I just love this quote from the article linked above: "Neighbors in single-family homes along Highland have argued the new limit would allow buildings out of character with the existing neighborhood."

Would that be the character of square brick multi-tenant boxes on the waterfront, boarded up rat nests on the Washington Ave and Manette bridge intersection, the shoe-box hovels on Pleasant avenue, or the dime-a-dozen craftsman houses on Highland avenue?

I honestly think that the time for discussion is done and that the time for legal action should begin. Opposers of development tried these delay and control tactics to the investors on Bainbridge Island and when those developers fought, the city lost every time. Not only has the city of Bremerton invested large sums of money in a plan of revitalization that they developed and promoted, so too has the State government and the Federal government, in addition to individuals, invested large quantities of money into this plan.

This City has a contractual obligation to make every attempt to fulfill their plan and to proceed with all due haste toward a resolution that pays the maximum returns on all the money invested in this area. Whether that means population density in the downtown area, if that means economic assistance to individual remodelers, or if that means swift resolution on topics that should have been resolved in the multi-year formulation of this revitalization plan, the city must take action. Anything less than the city's every effort to affect a smooth transition of "the plan" in the Highland district is a breach of contract and should be treated as such.

If there truly are historic residences in this Highland District, let's see them listed on the National Historic Register and let's see Bremerton provide financial aid in their restoration and preservation. If not, however, then let developers and individual homeowners alike benefit from the very economic windfall that everyone south of 6th street has been enjoying, un-impeded.