chickens-and-eggs News Sports Opinion Kitsap Life Obituaries Best of 2022 eNewspaper Legals Chickens and Eggs Andrew Binion Kitsap View Comments View Comments You build the stores and sure as heck people will be begging to move into Westpark. For some time, the Bremerton Housing Authority has appeared intent on getting the retail designed first for the 82-acre Westpark site. But, ah, maybe not anymore. See Saturday's story for the news story. Even as late as Thursday afternoon Marathon Development President Ted Johnson was saying retail was driving the development. Then a consultant comes in and tells the commissioners that it might be tough to get businesses in if there aren't customers first. They need to make money the day they open their doors, he said. Oh. Now if Westpark were just one piece of a bigger, well-connected community that was already supporting nearby businesses with major bucks, then a smaller retailer might give the place a look. That's not really Westpark's history, though. Put a Central Market, a Starbucks and a bakery in there now and it's a stretch to suggest they'd do well. After all, have you ever seen the Kitsap Way QFC busy? Me neither. Another possibility is letting a bigger box store, such as discount grocery company WinCo, go in. A store like that would draw shoppers from elsewhere. But housing authority folks are not too excited about a big box going in. The population mix is going to change dramatically in Westpark. Assuming everything sells, you're going to see folks with real money living there. Meanwhile, some of the current residents are going to move to other public housing, which these days means in the midst of another community of mixed incomes. Until all those new people move in, however, businesses are not going to plant a retail store in anticipation of customers years down the road, said the Seattle consultant. So now it looks as if it will be residents first, retail later. And even the retail that goes in could be drastically reduced from what the housing authority originally planned, because some of the commercial focus might shift to revitalizing Kitsap Way. Who knows? Maybe QFC will become a hot spot. View Comments View Comments About Us Staff Directory Careers Accessibility Support Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy Contact Us Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Buy and Sell Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback Subscribe Today Newsletters Mobile Apps Facebook Twitter eNewspaper Storytellers Archives RSS Feeds Jobs Cars Homes Classifieds Education Reviewed USA TODAY Sports+ 10Best Reach Local © 2022 www.kitsapsun.com. 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