A man with more than $100 million in commercial and residential development experience wants to help the city fix the Cherry Street Project mess and get affordable housing built.
“It is clear that what is occurring now is a financial disaster,” says Bert Loomis of Port Ludlow, where he built the Port Ludlow Town Center and a number of town homes. “I’ve got 50 years of experience and a team of architects and contractors that can solve most of their problems. My team can get it done with their eyes closed.”
Loomis’ offer to help so far has been rebuffed by the city. On September 28, 2020, Port Townsend City Council directed the City Manager to negotiate a handover of the failed project to Bayside Housing, a non-profit that provides transitional housing in rooms rented from the Old Alcohol Plant in Port Hadlock. As we reported yesterday, it is very uncertain whether Bayside Housing will formally commit to taking over the project and whether it can amass the more than $1`million needed to finish renovation of the 75 year old building on the Cherry Street property. That building, known as the Carmel House (shown above in its current condition), was barged to Port Townsend in May 2017 and has remained unoccupied and uninhabitable since then.
The building has to go, says Loomis, if anyone hopes to complete a “financially responsible and time sensitive” housing project. “It is a losing proposition to continue to throw good money after bad.”
Loomis believes that “stick built” construction on the site can provide a range of affordable housing. New construction offers the advantage of being adapted to the needs of older users and those with disability issues and will fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. He maintains he can build such housing at far less cost and faster than any local non-profit organizations.
“I am willing to work with the city and donate a lot of time and effort to get this done,” he says. He predicts that if the city continues on the course it has been following, banking its hopes on a local non-profit with no experience and inadequate financial and professional qualifications, “they’ll still be having this conversation five years from now.” He does not appear interested in working with any “NGO,” as he calls non-profit organizations. He did express interest in talking with Keith and Jean Marzan, whose $1 million offer for the project has been rejected by the city, but which may be resubmitted in another form.
Loomis-built townhomes, Port Ludlow
Loomis’ initial offer to talk with the City Manager was rebuffed on October 2. After reading our report about the uncertainty of Bayside accepting and being able to complete the project, Loomis reached out again to the City Manager. He has not yet received a response.
Loomis’ career in development and construction is indeed extensive and impressive. He is the developer of 13 properties in Port Ludlow. His resume of projects, which he provided to Port Townsend Free Press, backs up his claim to more than $100 million in construction, ranging from large commercial properties to sizable condominium projects, mostly in California. A rough calculation shows that the total square footage of his building projects approaches half a million square feet. Loomis has received numerous awards for his developments.
“Me and my team can get it done. We can help the city make this happen,” says Loomis. “But we can’t have politics dragging this out for twenty years. I would think that someone who is serious about getting affordable housing built would be eager to talk to someone with my kind of experience and knowledge.”
Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our “About” page for more information.
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