The city of Poulsbo has purchased property on Viking Avenue that will be the new home for the Public Works Department.
Public works has been in search of a new office for years, as its location along 8th Street is often flooded.
The 7.41 acre property was on the market for $2.9 million; in December 2020 the city offered $2.7 million pending an inspection for the property and building that was once the Poulsbo Nazarene Church. The property is adjacent to the city’s public works decant facility, making it an ideal location for public works to expand.
“We would like to remodel the church and make it our new admin building,” Public Works Director Mike Lund told the City Council.
An inspection was completed Jan. 6. Even though there were no major issues the building will still need a lot of work to be functional. The building will need a new roof, gutters and heaters; it was also recommended to have the furnace and breaker boxes looked at.
The total estimated cost of the remodel on top of the purchase price is $640,000, with the bulk of that cost being the interior remodel.
“Interestingly enough, the building as it stands has around ten offices,” Lund said.” I was very glad to see there were offices already in here; it will make life so much easier.”
Apart from the roof repair some of the big ticket items include getting the property connected to city water and sewer rather than the well it is on currently, the costs of which will be $100,000 and $75,000, respectively.
Members of the church would like to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the city as soon as possible as they are looking at a property to build on as well.
“Depending on funding and if we are able to take possession of the property by the end of May, we can be operating out of it by the end of the year,” Lund said.
Noting that the public could be skeptical of the decision by the city, Councilwoman Britt Livdahl said this was an opportunity not to be missed.
“This certainly doesn’t feel like the perfect time to be buying property, but missing this opportunity on this perfectly positioned property would be devastating in the long run,” Livdahl said.
