Fort Ward Community Hall project hits big milestone

Published 11:38 am Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Fort Ward Community Hall project reached a key milestone last week, as Friends of Fort Ward applied for permits to renovate and restore the fort’s historic bakery building for public use.

Application materials were completed by Wenzlau Architects, with supporting design work by Browne Wheeler Engineers and Fischer Bouma Partnership.

Ariel Jamison of Wenzlau Architects, and Douglas Crist, Friends of Fort Ward board member, represented the Fort Ward team in submitting application materials to the city.

“Another day, another milestone,” Crist said. “To date, we’ve been pitching a dream for a community hall at the island’s south end. City review marks a new and more tangible phase in our plan to restore this heritage building for all islanders to experience and enjoy.”

The Fort Ward Community Hall project is a partnership between the Friends of Fort Ward neighborhood organization, the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District, and Kitsap County (Fort Ward) Sewer District No. 7.

The renovated building will be managed by the Park District as a community meeting space, under an interlocal agreement with KCSD7, the building owner.

Friends of Fort Ward, a nonprofit organization, is undertaking private fundraising and grant writing to complete the project.

Prospective donors can email fortwardhall@gmail.com to arrange building tours and presentations.