Our vision

The Port Townsend Rebuild Group (PTRB) is a collaboration of historic preservation advocates, builders, and community leaders seeking to protect and restore Port Townsend’s at-risk historic properties and places as a tool for spurring economic growth and vitality. We recognize that many of our iconic historic buildings and properties across the city are increasingly dilapidated, underutilized, and exposed to weather conditions that are becoming increasingly harsh as climate change unfolds. 

Crashing waves, flooded basements, peeling paint, rotting wood and increasingly unsafe conditions plague many of these properties. If Port Townsend is going to continue to serve as a premier center for arts and culture and prosper economically, major new investments in our historic properties and places are needed along with a long-term strategic plan to make maximum use of these assets for tourism, arts, cultural and educational events, protected natural areas, regenerative agriculture, and affordable living.

To jumpstart our work the PTRG has created a “short list” of the most at risk places. These include the Customs House, Hastings Landing, Hastings Building, James and Hastings Building, Mount Baker Block Building, McCurdy Building, Uptown Theater, and the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Profiles of these properties and associated risks are included in a PTRG Fact Sheet and an Image Gallery that highlights some of the restoration needs and opportunities for these places.

Our strategy

PTRG’s early work will be focused on four key tasks to help leverage the funding necessary to start the restoration work in earnest. We are seeking funds for a planning grant to implement these tasks through the end of 2027. Grant activities will include:

Task 1: Architectural and engineering evaluations

Based on the priorities established by our Steering Committee, we will complete detailed architectural and engineering evaluations for at-risk properties and structures to identify specific remedies to halt further degradation and renovations needed to preserve and restore historic features while making the properties more suitable for community uses such as history tours, non-profit events, and art installations. Fortunately, Port Townsend is a magnet for building contractors with extensive experience in historic building renovation.

The PTRG has partnered with Rain Shadow Woodworks to provide general oversight (i.e. general contracting) for the renovation work, including the initial evaluations. Rain Shadow specializes in architectural millwork including cabinetry, mantels, staircases, entryways, countertops, and moldings. They have renovated many older and historic buildings, including the belfry tower of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Built in 1865, this is the oldest church in Port Townsend and the oldest Episcopal church in Washington State. The team at Rain Shadow will be supplemented with other contractors who have direct experience with the structures we prioritize. During our initial planning phase, we will assemble a list of qualified contractors, their specialties, and examples of their past work in order to streamline the process of selecting contractors for the renovation work once capital grants and investments are secured.

Task 2: Detailed cost estimates for these repairs and renovations

Based on the results of our architectural and engineering evaluations, the PTRG team will prepare detailed cost estimates for materials, labor, insurance, financing and permitting for each property we prioritize. Costs will be estimated for at least two alternative configurations. As an economics non-profit, CSE has extensive experience in estimating infrastructure costs for public agencies while Rain Shadow and other historic contractors we will rely on have extensive records of costs for past projects, all which will need to be updated to account for inflation and other changed market conditions. The overall goal will be to present cost estimates at the level of detail needed to secure capital investment grants from public agencies or private foundations. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.