KCU begins demolition work for new HQ

Pedestrians and drivers leaving the Bremerton ferry terminal have noticed a change in the landscape across from the Bremerton Harborside as construction of the new Kitsap Credit Union building has hit full swing.

“We did the demolition of Bernie’s on March 20 and we’re starting to peel off some of the parking lot and move the sewer and gas lines,” said Dave Willis, senior vice president of operations for the credit union.

As construction ramps up, the city will be closing Second Street east of the J.C. Penney Parking Garage to Washington Avenue beginning Monday. Second Street will become a two-way street from Pacific Avenue to the J.C. Penney Parking Garage.

The new temporary ferry pick up/drop off location will be in the parking lot on the northeast corner of Second Street and Washington Avenue.

The closure is expected to last no longer than the middle of June with periodic closures during the rest of the project.

Instead of having surface parking, the credit union will have two levels of parking, some of which will be used as a “kiss-and-ride” for ferry passengers, he said.

“We think by the end of 2005 you will see the building take shape and we should occupy the building by the end of July 2006,” he said.

The new building will feature 48,000 square feet of office space with a credit union branch at street level, he said. The credit union will lease 16,000 square feet of the office space to other businesses.

“We had a lot of choices but because our roots stem from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, we really felt it was in our best interest and the community’s to stay in Bremerton,” he said.

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