Bainbridge Island’s Gateway Deserves Better
Petition to Save the Corner at 625 Winslow Way
We, the undersigned, urge the Bainbridge Island City Council to protect the former police station site, hereby known as “The Corner”, from irreversible development decisions and to preserve this irreplaceable gateway property for the benefit of the entire community.
Why This Site Matters
The Corner sits at the entrance to Bainbridge Island, directly across from the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and just steps from the Seattle ferry. It is the first impression for visitors arriving on foot, bike, or by car, and it’s one of the last images they take with them when they leave.
This property is publicly owned, highly visible, and among the most valuable parcels in Kitsap County. Its location makes it a defining feature of Bainbridge Island’s identity. Once a decision is made to develop it, there is no undoing it…the opportunity to thoughtfully steward this space into something meaningful for the whole community will be gone forever.
A Once-in-a-Generation Decision
The future of The Corner is not just about what will be built, it’s about what kind of community we want to be. This is a rare, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime chance to ensure that one of our most prominent public sites reflects the values, pride, and long-term vision of Bainbridge Island.
We must not rush into a decision that will shape the front door to our island for generations. The Corner at 625 Winslow Way belongs to the public, and its fate should be determined with care, transparency, and the broadest possible community input.
Our Request:
We, the undersigned, call on the Bainbridge Island City Council to:
Halt current development plans for The Corner
Preserve the site until a thorough, inclusive public process determines its future
Reconsider alternate sites/initiatives for affordable housing
Protect this unique and irreplaceable property for the good of the entire community, not a relative few.
SIGN THIS PETITION to send a clear message: Save the Corner. Protect Bainbridge Island’s gateway for current and future generations.
Public Land Needs Public Vision.
Only One chance to get it right.
What’s at Stake
This site is our front porch. The first and last impression of Bainbridge for residents and visitors is shaped here. Once this land is used, it is gone forever.
Density without balance. Packing over a hundred units into one of the last central, city-owned parcels sets a precedent for poor planning, congestion, and a lack of community amenities.
We can do better. Affordable housing is essential. But it can be met through distributed, thoughtful solutions: ADUs, smaller-scale mixed-use projects, and redevelopment across the city, rather than concentrating it all in one place.
A wasted opportunity. This corner could be a community-defining civic asset: a visitor center, small-scale museum, cultural space, public plaza, or mixed-use hub that benefits everyone.
We Support Affordable Housing – Just Not on the Corner
Bainbridge needs more affordable housing. We agree. But placing it on the island’s most valuable, iconic site is short‑sighted.
There are better locations….near services, schools, and transit, that won’t sacrifice our gateway.
Affordable housing is essential. But this is the wrong corner.
This corner is unique – no other site defines our first impression.
We can meet housing goals elsewhere – city‑owned sites exist outside this one-of-a-kind location. Public-Private partnerships exist but have not been explored by the city.
This is a permanent decision – a building here locks in a missed opportunity forever.
What Should Happen Instead?
Let’s build something that serves the whole community.
Visitor Center ?
A more appropriate arrival and gathering space that tells the Bainbridge story.
Public Plaza & Park?
A true civic front porch, open to everyone.
Mixed-Use Civic Space?
A community amenity, gathering area, public restrooms, chamber, art, history…an asset for all.
How this Happened
A rushed decision, without a plan.
This project is being fast‑tracked by the City Manager
No long‑term vision study.
No real development alternatives were studied
(only breifly looked at: develop this site or sell this site)Once the building goes up, this corner is lost forever.
