Norm Dicks Government Center set for grand opening

With its grand opening in about a week, workers are rapidly putting the finishing touches on the Norm Dicks Government Center, 345 Sixth Street.

The building’s grand opening is set for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 23 and city offices will begin moving into their new spaces on Oct. 25.

“One of the reasons this building is here is because it is the high point of Bremerton,” said Gary Tusberg, director of urban development for the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority. “It provides a view of the heart and soul of Bremerton.”

The Sixth Street side of the building is a reminder of Bremerton’s glory days, while the Fifth Street side of the building is a reflection of the city’s rebirth, Tusberg said.

“The design of the main entrance on Fifth is to make a connection with the revitalization of Bremerton,” he said.

The new government center and Harborside Convention center represent more than $70 million in publicly funded investments in the city, he said.

“The idea is to let this spark the spark the area and move on to other phases,” Tusberg said.

The Kitsap Health District is one of the biggest winners in the move to the center, he said.

“This space is designed specifically for their needs,” he said. “Their current space is outdated and not designed to address their needs.”

The district will occupy the third and fourth floors of the center.

The sixth floor will house most of the city offices currently located in City Hall, and the fifth floor will house the Washington State University extension offices, the Community Development Block Grant administration, some of the Bremerton Housing Authority offices, as well as Congressman Norm Dicks (D-Belfair) office.

Congressman Dicks said he is looking forward to the opening of the new building.

The Bremerton Housing Authority will have most of its offices on the second floor of the building along with the development offices of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority.

The City Council meeting room will be on the first floor and has a large projection screen for presentations as well as the Bremerton Kitsap Access Television studio for televising public meetings.

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