Port of Silverdale looks to revamp Old Town

MAKERS architecture & urban design, of Seattle, have spent the past year developing a comprehensive plan for the Port of Silverdale.

Lead planner Jessica Clarke and MAKERS partner Gerald Hansmire presented their project to the port commissioners, Old Town Silverdale business owners and other interested individuals Thursday night at the Port of Silverdale’s office in Old Town.

Clarke said the comprehensive plan she helped create achieves several goals including enhancing recreational opportunities and waterfront access, generating revenue and improving the overall activity in Old Town Silverdale. The comprehensive plan also would “support and reinforce the ‘character’ of Old Town,” according to Clarke.

The Port of Silverdale comprehensive plan focuses on three areas: permanent moorage, Byron Street and Lowell Street. Clarke and the MAKERS staff decided that adding permanent moorage to the port was not a viable option, but said renovations to Byron and Lowell streets could enhance the port.

“People coming in would see this new project. It would make a big visual impact,” Clarke said.

Phase 1 of implementing the Port of Silverdale comprehensive plan includes developing a mixed-use building at the corner of Byron and Washington streets, adding benches, street lamps and other pedestrian amenities and suggested the port considers dedicating 1 percent of expenditures to bringing public art to Old Town Silverdale.

“It’s a great opportunity and a great place to start,” Clarke said.

Old Town business owners voiced concerns about decreasing the amount of parking throughout the area by constructing new buildings, but Clarke said it should not be a problem.

“Most of the development we’re talking about will have some parking with them,” she said.

Phase 2 of the plan involves developing “cottage” style mixed-use buildings along Lowell Street, adding benches, street lamps and other pedestrian amenities and possibly extending the Clear Creek Trail in the area.

“It wouldn’t make quite the visual impact but it would have a lot going on,” Clarke said.

Long-term projects include developing more mixed-use buildings throughout Old Town Silverdale along with possibly developing the boardwalk and viewpoint at the wetland area.

Clarke said the pedestrian amenities would create increased foot traffic through Old Town Silverdale and support local economic activities.

“It’s a good way to get people moving around in an area,” she said. “As much as you can, you should make the port as accessible and walkable for pedestrians as you can.”

Clarke also recommended preserving the heritage trees throughout Old Town Silverdale because they enhance the “character” of Old Town.

“They (trees) are a unique feature of this part of the land, it adds to the feel of the community,” she said. “It’s something the community could work on with the port.”

Old Town Silverdale business owners were impressed by the comprehensive plan, but recommended building a restaurant on the corner of Byron and Washington streets instead of a mixed-use building and said they would like to begin enhancing the streets in Old Town by adding benches, lights, flowers and other eye-catching things.

“We’re all interested in marketing Old Town as a destination,” said Monica Downen, owner of Monica’s Waterfront Bakery.

Clarke recommended that the Port of Silverdale partner with other “government agencies, community groups and non-profits to achieve the plan goals.”

Those in attendance at Thursday night’s meeting were “very impressed” with the Port of Silverdale comprehensive plan because it closely follows the Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan Update and the Old Town Association’s vision statement.

The Port of Silverdale comprehensive plan would cost millions of dollars and take years to complete. Port commissioners have yet to make a decision about the plan and intend to post the comprehensive plan on their Web site, www.portofsilverdale.com, for people to access.

“It’s not cheap, but it’s a really high impact project,” Clarke said. “This would happen over time.”

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