PORT TOWNSEND — About a dozen people attended an open house hosted by the Port of Port Townsend to see preliminary plans for renovation of the Boat Haven bathroom and laundry facilities.
“Everyone really showed up at the same time” at the open house in the port administration building Tuesday, said port communications director Kimberly Matej.
“It was nice, so [Port Director] Sam [Gibboney] was able to walk everyone through the presentation.”
Gibboney explained the facilities’ layout, which was posted on the wall inside the administration building.
The project is scheduled for completion this year, with the design finalized by Aug. 1 and bids requested Aug. 29.
Construction is scheduled to begin Sept. 15 and end by Nov. 15.
A survey to gather public input is expected to be posted on the port website at www.portofpt.com by the end of the week, Matej said.
The proposed plan adds a unisex bathroom that would be open to the public during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Gibboney.
Port officials also plan to switch the bathrooms, so the women’s will now be on the left and the men’s on the right. Both bathrooms will get a “general refresh,” Gibboney said.
“So there will be new tile, new flooring, but most of the fixtures will be reused,” Gibboney said.
The largest part of the project, which is expected to be the most expensive, is the replacement and expansion of the heating and ventilation system for the building.
“It will likely be the largest expense, but the one we have now is undersized for what we need,” Gibboney said.
While the ventilation system is assumed to be the largest expense, Gibboney said the port is awaiting a cost estimate for the full project. Once that is in, it will be presented to port commissioners for their approval.
Port commissioners have budgeted $114,000 for the project from 2017 through 2020.
Aside from internal renovations, the exterior of the laundry and bathroom building also would be upgraded.
Port officials plan to replace the building’s old wood siding with partially corrugated metal, similar to the siding on the administration building. The rest would be painted to coordinate with the administration building, which sits just behind the bathroom facilities.
“The color is definitely something we want public input on,” Matej said.
The concrete poles that barricade the bathrooms’ walkway also would be replaced.
Matej said port officials are looking at using oversized boat cleats, which could be made by the Port Townsend Foundry, instead of concrete poles to showcase the designated walkway into the bathrooms.
“What’s nice about those is they double as benches,” Matej said. “We’re looking for something, not really an artsy feel, but something that matches the aesthetics of Port Townsend better than the current facility.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
