Friday, October 14, 2011 • Bainbridge Island Review
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prioritize how we can become a recreation destination community where people come from all over to walk, bike and experience the outdoors and the beauty of the island.” Grinter’s goal is for the trails group to continue raising funds to create a system of separated pathway and low-traffic roads that connect the Manzanita area in the northwest part of the island to Winslow, and Winslow to all of the island’s most popular public parks. Grinter envisions a system of paths that would allow parents to be comfortable letting children traverse the island without worrying that they will have to share the road in dangerous proximity to vehicles. Another trail connection is in the works through an easement on the Bethany Lutheran Church property, which is a triangle of property straddled by the busy High School, Sportsman Club and Finch roads.
Funding woes A county-wide trail vision is also on the horizon. On Nov. 7, the North Kitsap Trails Association will hold a meeting at the Senior Center’s Commons to receive input on a master plan that outlines trails throughout the North Kitsap region with connections to other western counties. Despite community enthusiasm, including a Comprehensive Plan that remains dedicated to neighborhoods that are pedestrian
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the original she smiled and said, “ I am too old for that kind of work.” Since the property has been in the hands of the Bartel’s they have added a “wart”, the affectionate name of a new addition to a historical building, in the back of the home. The kitchen has been upgraded, and other amenities were added including improved heating and cooling systems. Though the Bartel’s both passionately love their fire house home, quirks and challenges are a staple in any restoration project. When the Bartel’s decided to make the fire house doors a permanent part of the home,
safe Roads For all:
connie mears/staff Photo
Commuters driving on Madison Avenue North share the road with a bicyclist in the bike lane installed last spring. and bicycle oriented, especially Winslow, whose urban core is planned as a mixeduse, pedestrian-oriented village, it hasn’t always been easy to secure the necessary funds from the city. Many of the projects that were part of the $8 million bond passed in 2008 ended up going over budget, which took away from the funds that were targeted for easements and acquisitions, according to City Councilor Debbi Lester. In 2010, $79,000 targeted for trails in the 2008 bond remained in the city’s coffers, but overages whittled it down to just $26,000 this year. In May the council voted to reserve that $26,000 for easements at the request of the non-motorized committee. With several possibilities for trail expansion on the horizon, the goal was to keep the money viable. “We are starting to get instead of movable garage doors, they had to wait to begin construction until the summer. For about six weeks Arthur had just a plastic sheet for a living room wall and the house was a dusty mess. Neither Arthur nor his dogs were too happy about the experience, he said. Suzane was visiting family in California. “She snuck out of that one,” said Arthur. In some ways, the fire house is more manageable in the realm of historical restoration. In places such as the east coast it can require more specific tradesman to replace original castings, and moldings. Rehabilitation on a working structure, such as the fire house, can be less technical. The slate roof, both a beauty,
everyone at the same table,” said Lester. “We want complete streets where you are designing with everyone in mind whether its wheelchairs, bikes, walkers, runners — people who need the infrastructure for all modes of transportation.”
complete streets The concept of “complete streets” has grown in popularity from small communities like Bainbridge to a major metropolis such as New York City. Transportation networks with built-in amenities for all modes of travel are helping to reinvent the way cities tackle the development and restoration of their streets and roads. Lester hopes Bainbridge will keep that in mind as the state adopts legislation and possible grant opportunities that give incentives to design with everyone in mind.
and a curse, is the Bartel’s biggest challenge. Slate once adorned all of the permanent buildings at the fort, as with the fire station at Fort Casey, and remains in its original form. It did need some work when the Bartel’s moved in, and requires the expertise of a slate expert who is just about the only guy around who can mend a roof that is too fragile to walk-on. The fire house isn’t the Bartel’s first project as they once inhabited an old barn in California. Made from mined adobe in the 1930s, rooms and bedrooms were fashioned from stalls and tack rooms made for closet space. “It was one of Suzane’s dreams to live in a barn,” said Arthur. “It was an interesting place to call home.” The Bartel’s purchased
“We are getting there, and Winslow Way falls somewhat in this category with wider sidewalks and a better bike lane, but we’ve got room to grow.” The city’s financial challenge has made it difficult to perform even basic infrastructure maintenance on its road system for the last several years, but with the adoption of a new system to track road health and prioritize projects the council hopes to get back on track. “As roads begin to need maintenance or complete reconstruction I think the council will find dollars to add in amenities for cyclists and pedestrians whenever possible,” said Lester. The council voted in July, for example, to apply for a new federal TIB Sidewalk Program grant, which provides funding for projects that address safety, access to generators and system
“I’ve always been attracted to fixeruppers. Restoration work calls you.” suzane Bartel, Bainbridge Island resident
the house from a doctor and his wife, who had begun the work. Surrounded by an orchard and koi pond the property became an artistic landmark, landing itself on local home tours at least twice. With backgrounds as educators, the couple moved to the Northwest in pursuit of a post-professional dream of attending culinary school. In scoping out programs the couple decided on Bainbridge Island as their best option, sold everything and moved to the island to
“we are starting to get everyone at the same table. we want complete streets where you are designing with everyone in mind whether its wheelchairs, bikes, walkers, runners — people who need the infrastructure for all modes of transportation.”” debbi Lester, councilmember, city of Bainbridge Island
connectivity for Wing Point Way. Funding for the muchneeded Wing Point project has been elusive, but a resolution was passed on July 14 to finish the street by the end of 2012. Next week: Future alternatives
begin commuting to Seattle every day for two and a half years to attend the Art Institute of Seattle in 2002. Their passion for food and entertaining once included a stint owning a bar and restaurant in Hanford, Calif. “Typically people go to culinary school and then open a restaurant,” said Arthur. “I guess we like to take the unconventional route about life.” Now with a culinary degree in hand as certified chef ’s the Bartel’s plan to use their new skills solely as part of their entertaining repertoire. Dinner in a historic fire house is bound to attract more than a few family and friends, and those who stop by always make sure to check-out the backyard where Suzane’s chickens call home. Her fire house replica
A presentation, “Safe Roads For All: Imagine Them, Build Them” about island transportation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Bainbridge Commons. The presentation will show what has been done to improve road safety and what needs to be done in the near future, along with long range plans. Participants can see a map showing the prioritized Core 40 projects and explore other ideas such as lowered speed limits, education and enforcement. The second half of the evening will be a Q&A session. City council members and candidates have been invited along with local law enforcement and Kitsap County Traffic Safety chair Marsha Masters. For more information, visit www.squeakywheels.org.
coop will grace the pages of a NW chicken coop book in December, and was featured on the island’s Tour de Coop this last year. Work in the Bartel’s backyard is slightly complicated as the site once served as a WWI power station so electrical vaults dot the backyard. “We are never short of things to point out on any tour we give,” said Arthur. Though there are perks to owning a historical building, such as a discount card and a special ten-year property tax freeze if substantial improvements are made, the Bartel’s say it’s a love of this kind of work that drives any project. Next up is fixing the delapitated fence that has begun to lean. “It’s always a work in progress around here,” said Suzane.