Community Government

City considers future of two rental properties

At the Gig Harbor City Council’s study session on April 16, not one, but two former mayors weighed in on the fates of two city-owned rental properties.

The city is considering whether to convert one of its two rental properties into a gathering space for elders. It may tear down the other entirely.

The first property is located at 7601 Soundview Drive, while the other is a farmhouse at Wilkinson Farm Park.

A majority of the council appeared to support converting the Soundview property into a place for community elders and demolishing the old farmhouse. So did former mayors Kit Kuhn and Jill Geurnsey, who spoke during the public comment period.

If the city decides to demolish the farmhouse, it would retain the barn and the community garden at the park.

The house at Wilkinson Farm Park on April 21, 2026. Photo by Vince Dice

The houses

Both houses need significant repair. The city can choose to pursue renovations if it wants to rent them out again — but it doesn’t have to. Instead, it can opt to tear down the Wilkinson Farmhouse and not rent the Soundview property for the next two years.

The contract under which Gig Harbor acquired the Soundview property in 2018 requires the city to turn it over to public use by 2028.

Renovating the Soundview house would cost an estimated $104,319. Making the Wilkinson Farmhouse rentable would cost a minimum of $95,620, while a full refurbishment would cost $329,000.

City Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm estimated in his memos to the council that, post-renovations, the city could rent out the Soundview property for between $3,500 and $4,000 per month. The Wilkinson Farmhouse could rent for $1,600 per month if the city performed the minimum amount of renovations.

Wilkinson Farmhouse

While the barn on the Wilkinson Farm property is listed in the historic register, the house is not. To bring it up to historic register snuff, the city would have to spend towards the upper limit of the repair range. Simply making it livable would mean spending towards the bottom end.

Langhelm wrote in his memo that the city conducted an historic structures report on the buildings in 2007. The report recommended remodeling both the house and barn and constructing a community center on the property.

The barn at Wilkinson Farm Park, as seen from Cushman Trail. The barn is listed in the historic register, but the nearby house is not. Photo by Vince Dice

Langhelm noted the significant amount of work to the house that the report recommended. While the report didn’t cite a specific cost at the time, the improvements now “would far exceed the estimates below.”

Wilkinson Farmhouse historical structures report by vince.dice

“The most cost-effective option is demolition. The house could be removed to free up space around the Wilkinson Barn for parking, a future permanent restroom, or other future use that compliments [sic] the barn,” he wrote. “That could cost approximately $25,000 plus any hazardous materials abatement. We would expect some public opposition for this option.”

He cited a long list of estimated costs from his December 2025 walkthrough. He noted that they were the “minimum recommended repairs necessary to provide a manageable residence.”

“The renters have frequently mentioned invasion of their yard space by park visitors as well, especially those that are doing photo shoots at the Wilkinson Barn,” Langhelm added in his memo. 

He also said previous renters complained of a chronic rodent problem. In her presentation to council, Parks Manager Jennifer Haro said that the house’s floors were also uneven due to settling. Some walls are “mushy,” rendering it nearly impossible to hang things on them.

Langhelm recommended demolishing the farmhouse.

Soundview house

The Soundview house needs fewer repairs.

If the city rented out the house, it would also need to decide whether to turn the property into a space for public use, as the purchase contract requires, or turn it back to the seller for no cost. In her presentation, Haro said that the house would also need ADA upgrades for it to become a public space.

The city has begun exploring turning the Soundview property into a stormwater park, which would count as a public property. It plans to engage the public on the idea this year and has begun the first steps of a feasibility study, using grant money from the state Department of Ecology and $10,000 in city funds.

The city of Gig Harbor owns this home at 7601 Soundview Street. It is considering building a stormwater park there. Photo by Vince Dice

Conducting the study does not require the city to turn the property into a stormwater park.

In his memo to council, Langhelm recommended against revamping the property. He said that the city should focus on letting the public decide its fate, starting with the stormwater park feasibility study.

“At an internal meeting in March 2025, there was consensus that the building should not be rented out again, due to the 2028 deadline and need for a new roof,” he explained in the memo. “This house is much nicer than the Wilkinson House, and could be a nice rental for the right people. The city could make a profit from renting it, even for the short two years we are allowed to while we explore long-term plans for the property.”

Affordable housing

Councilmember Ben Coronado pointed out that, at just $1,600 per month, the Wilkinson Farmhouse could be an affordable housing option for the city.

“I don’t know if that’s going to require some sort of caretaker or if … we’re going to dump some money in this and realistically look at that and be like, ‘Hey, you’re [going to pay] $2,000 to $3,000 for renting this building,” he said. “And if not, can we afford to lose that? It was an affordable housing option that we have in our community. … I like having an affordable option in the city inventory. We don’t have a lot.”

Councilmember Julie Martin said she didn’t want to see the house prematurely torn down without the opportunity to see whether it qualifies as an historic structure. But both she and Rodenberg acknowledged that it may not be financially feasible to keep the house standing, regardless of whether the city tries to make it part of its affordable housing inventory.

“I did ask our health and human services manager, Shea [Smiley] if she knew of organizations that were putting money into it and fixed up for affordable housing,” Haro told Martin. “She was not aware of somebody that would do that for us.”

Center for community elders

The council has discussed turning the Soundview property into a gathering place for elders. A couple councilmembers funds in the city’s budget could cover the costs, because they are earmarked for “senior services.”

Turning the building into a gathering space for elders may require an elevator to get into the basement, if the public is meant to utilize that space. That, of course, means extra cost. But Langhelm said that the city doesn’t have to put in an elevator, if it’s just used for storage.

“Since we have this future plan for a community center that would include a senior area, I think it’s unfortunate we can’t do just enough to one of these places, and the seniors could meet somewhere for a couple of years, and it’s a benefit to the public,” Rodenberg said. “As far as renting it, I think that when we rent it, then that benefits that family that’s living there. If it’s something else, it benefits the entire community. So I’m in favor of a beautiful parcel like that benefiting the entire community.”

Ex-mayors’ opinions

“I really think you should tear down Wilkinson. It is a money thing. I was in it when I was mayor in 2018 and it was in terrible shape,” Kuhn told councilmembers during the public comment period. “And if someone wanted to rent it for $1,800, they’re going to want to leave. I mean, it’s in really, really bad shape.”

He also does not think the city should “be in the landlord business and we’re doing that quite a lot. It’s OK to have a couple of rentals, but that shouldn’t be our main thing. It’s expensive.”

Guernsey told the council the Soundview property could best be utilized as a center for elders.

“I see this as a special opportunity for you. … Many seniors have been talking to you over many months, many years — do something for them. You have an opportunity here to do something for them quickly,” she said. 

She acknowledged that the house needs a new roof and that this kind of use would mean a major ADA-compliant overhaul.

“But my suggestion to you is, look at it as how can we make something work quickly for seniors and perhaps for others? You don’t need to do both stories and an elevator. The seniors that I know would be thrilled to be able to get into the top floor only,” she continued. “The ADA requirements … they’re not massive. It’s not like an elevator. I know some groups that will help you with the cost and to do some, or to do some of those. We can have a community work party and get some things like the two steps outside the front door into a ramp. I just put a ramp at my house. It’s easy. Costs a little, but it’s easy.”