Celebrate Completion of Skansie Brothers House Project on Friday

The City of Gig Harbor will celebrate the completion of the “Skansie Brothers House Improvement Project” with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Friday, June 7, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Constructed in 1910, the family home was purchased by the City of Gig Harbor in 2002. The house, netshed and grounds were added to the prestigious National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Washington State and Local Register in 2012.  

The site helps preserve the community’s rich maritime heritage associated with commercial fishing and boatbuilding. Work on this project began in January 2013 and construction was completed this month.  

City staff, along with Byron Nelson of Bask Enterprises, managed the project. Improvements consisted of converting to gas, electrical upgrades, plumbing, interior painting, refinishing the hardwood floors and other cosmetic improvements.  

In the short term, the house will be used by University of Washington students to gather public input for a Storefront Studio Project (SSP).  

The SSP is a study sponsored by the Downtown Waterfront Alliance (DWA - formerly Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association).   

The UW accredited course challenges architectural students to develop practical preservation and design strategies that stimulate economic growth while complimenting a community’s physical and cultural assets.

The resulting publication will include demonstration projects/opportunities that will be presented to the community in August of this year.

Later this year a Request for Proposals will be initiated to solicit uses that are compatible with the historic structure and the park and have clear public benefits that promote heritage tourism and education, as well as provide park event information for the walking public.

For questions, please contact Lita Dawn Stanton, Historic Preservation Coordinator at 253-853-7609 or stantonl@cityofgigharbor.net.