PORT ORCHARD — The plan to convert the former Olympic Fitness Club into space for temporary emergency housing for homeless residents moved forward April 14 when Kitsap County closed on the purchase of the site.
Located at 4459 Mile Hill Drive in Port Orchard, the building was purchased for $1.5 million with a combination of state grants designated to create new emergency housing and provide local funding for homeless and affordable housing projects.
The site was selected after a countywide search by officials to find a suitable building. It was chosen for a number of reasons, officials said, most notably for the building’s large square footage, its South Kitsap location, access to public transportation and its proximity to government and private social services.
According to officials, Kitsap Public Health District and Kitsap County were considering using the site for a community COVID-19 vaccine clinic but ultimately decided to locate it elsewhere in South Kitsap.
“Many in our community struggle to find housing they can afford as the costs surge throughout the Puget Sound region,” Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido said in a news release.
“As prices rise, creative shared housing solutions have appeared. Although limited available housing is still a barrier to finding a place to live, the recent Kitsap Pavilion shelter provides a valuable example for what is possible in South Kitsap.”
Kirsten Jewell, manager of Kitsap County’s Department of Human Services Housing and Homelessness Division, said South Kitsap has a sizeable number of residents who need access to emergency housing and support services.
“We know the best way to help people get off the streets and out of the woods is to offer them a safe, clean, decent place to live, and connection with supportive services while they are rebuilding their lives and transitioning back to stable permanent housing. That’s the goal for this facility.”
Diving into the details
County officials have begun to assess what is needed to bring the building up to code and what permits will be required, a process they say will take longer than expected. Because of the delay, a neighborhood meeting scheduled for April 24 has been postponed. It is to be rescheduled once county officials have formalized the timeline for occupancy and learn what permits will require community notifications and opportunities for public input.
Neighbors who live near the facility will be directly contacted when the meeting is rescheduled, officials said.
Jewell said a website providing information about the project is under construction and will soon be available at kcowa.us/skhousing.
