The situation has only worsened since our editorial 12 months ago calling for the City of Bremerton, the Suquamish Tribe and the owners of the federally-held Indian trust land at 1321 N. Callow Ave. to work together to determine the best economic development course for the site.

Since then, a county court sided with the city in the city’s lawsuit to regulate the sale of fireworks on the property, an authority that belongs to the Suquamish Tribe because the land is considered Indian land under the U.S. Code and the site is within the Suquamish Tribe’s historical territory. The family that owns the property is limited in its ability to develop their property. On its present course, the situation can only become more adversarial. The court’s decision will ultimately force a response from the Tribe or the U.S. government.

Someone has to reach out and do the right thing. We again urge the City of Bremerton and the Suquamish Tribe to work with the property owners to determine the best economic development course for 1321 N. Callow Ave.

Much of the area was undeveloped when Roberta Law Ross, a woman of Quinault and Samish parentage living in Bremerton, was allotted the land — a little over three-quarters of an acre — in exchange for waterfront property for naval shipyard expansion in the 1920s. Because she was Native American, the U.S. government placed the land in trust, meaning the U.S. holds the title to protect Native American ownership.

When Ross’ house was built in 1928, it was one of four on Callow between 13th and 15th streets, according to the Kitsap County Assessor’s online database. Within the next 12 years, 23 homes would be built on that block, and lots on neighboring Wycoff and Montgomery avenues would be developed as well. Ross’s property was now in the center of a rapidly urbanizing area. And the disconnect grew — a parcel of Native American trust land that falls under U.S. and Tribal government jurisdiction, surrounded by a growing urban city.

It’s important to understand just what 1321 N. Callow Ave. is. The U.S. Code defines Indian Country as all land within the limits of a reservation, all dependent Native American communities, and “all Indian allotments.” As a piece of “Indian Country,” 1321 N. Callow Ave. falls under the jurisdiction of Tribal government and the federal government, the latter because of the relationship between Native Americans and the United States.

Ross’s descendants, who are enrolled with the Samish Nation, have long explored various ways of commercially developing their property; the most ambitious was a now-dead casino project that was formally opposed by the City of Bremerton.

Clearly, Ross’s descendants have a right to develop their property. The Suquamish Tribe has the right and authority to regulate land use on Indian trust land in its historical territory. And the City of Bremerton, while it has no jurisdiction over the site, is understandably concerned about how the property may be developed, because it will likely impact neighbors for whom the city is responsible.

Economic development would be beneficial for Ross’s descendants and the community. From revenue that is generated, Ross’s descendants and the city could negotiate payments in lieu of taxes, to make city police and fire services available to the site (land held in trust by the federal government is exempt from property taxes, as is all government-owned land).

Ross’s descendants should be able to develop their property. If all three parties can work together, something economically vibrant and beneficial to all can emerge from this anomaly.