Bremerton Hosts National Waterfront Conference

Media Contact:
Marc Stiles or Leslie Boelter, Nyhus Communications LLC, for Bremerton Harborside District, (206) 323-3733, marc@nyhus.com or leslie@nyhus.com


Bremerton Hosts National Urban Waterfront Redevelopment Conference
Revitalized Waterfront Places Bremerton at Forefront for Redevelopment

BREMERTON, Wash. – July 28, 2008 – Community leaders and experts from across North America will convene in Bremerton for the city’s first Urban Waterfront Revitalization Conference to be held Sept. 10-12 at Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside.

“We are proud to be hosting this very timely conference,” said Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman, who has led the renaissance of his city’s waterfront area, the Harborside District. “More and more cities are realizing that their waterfronts present golden opportunities for economic redevelopment. To succeed, projects must harness the energy and ideas of a wide range of players, from politicians to private sector consultants.”

Attendees will meet and learn from community leaders, port officials, project planners, private developers, state officials and other community leaders from cities including Sausalito, Calif.; Sidney, B.C.; Annapolis, Md.; Olympia, Wash.; Wenatchee, Wash.; and North Vancouver, B.C.

These officials, along with executives from leading solution companies, will give presentations on topics such as financing, transportation planning, public engagement, waterfront promotion, smart growth and environmental sustainability.

“What sets this conference apart is its strong marriage of economics, innovation and sustainability, said P.S. Reilly, president and CEO of the Athena Institute, which is producing the conference. “The event features in-depth profiles of leading communities in the process of revitalizing their waterfronts, and the information and networking will be tremendous resources.” Athena, based in Kirkland, Wash., is a research consultancy that provides resources to help communities, businesses and utilities harness competitive advantage from sustainability and innovation.

The event begins with a Sustainable Shorelines Pre-Conference Workshop at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 10. Planners, engineers, architects, landscape architects and others will hear about trends in sustainable shoreline development, including emerging green redevelopment rating systems. The event will draw on the experiences of many different cities and their redevelopments, and will feature presentations on a range of topics – from financing to permitting and design.

The conference includes the launch of the Urban Waterfront Alliance. Athena is forming the group to foster networking among service providers and community leaders. The alliance will keep members abreast of shifting best practices for shoreline redevelopment.

“From start to finish, we’ll be showcasing some of the most innovative services and solutions that communities are leveraging to advance their projects,” said Bozeman, whose city has launched one of the nation’s most successful waterfront redevelopments.

Since 2000, public and private entities have invested more than $500 million in Bremerton’s Harborside District, which is on Puget Sound’s Sinclair Inlet. Projects include a $37 million multimodal transit hub and ferry terminal, Kitsap Conference Center, new hotels, commercial office buildings, retail space, condominiums, expanded marina and new Naval Maritime Museum.

The Urban Waterfront Revitalization Conference will be held at Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside. Early registration is $250 for representatives from government, academia and non-profits, and $350 for individuals in the private sector.

For more information about the conference and how to register, visit www.ci.bremerton.wa.us and click the Urban Waterfront Revitalization tab.

EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution images of the City of Bremerton are available on request.

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About the City of Bremerton, Wash.
Located on Puget Sound’s Sinclair Inlet, Bremerton, Wash., began a revitalization of the city in 1992 when it constructed its waterfront boardwalk and opened the USS Turner Joy historic ship. In 2000, Bremerton opened a $37 million ferry terminal, and in 2004 the Kitsap Conference Center and the nearby 110-room Hampton Inn & Suites opened. The Bremerton Harborside District has completed more than $500 million in new construction since the year 2000. The new urban village that has become Bremerton’s Harborside is home to new restaurants, shops and galleries, new office space, the new Naval Maritime Museum and new condominiums.

About the Athena Institute
The Athena Institute, based in Kirkland, Wash., provides research, consulting and events for those seeking strategic advantage from clean and sustainable innovations. Athena helps communities, business, and utilities find solutions that are more economically valuable, environmentally sound and secure.