It is with great sadness that I must inform our community that the Bayside Housing & Service board of directors and staff have decided to mothball the Bayside Hotel project. Bayside intended to lease the 33-room hotel building at the former Inn at Port Hadlock for seniors and veterans in housing gaps, domestic violence victims and others in need of affordable lodging.

While Bayside is ready to operate an affordable hotel for Jefferson County community members, the repairs necessary for licensing have not yet been completed. These repairs are the responsibility of the property owner, and we cannot estimate a completion date. Bayside can no longer support fixed overhead costs waiting for compliance.

Bayside has incredible assets, such as talented staff, community relationships, skilled advisors, website and brand, reservation system, housekeeping and maintenance operational plans, emergency manuals, vendors, cleaning system and equipment. We plan to hold these assets with hope that our work can be utilized in the future.

We appreciate the support we have received in our effort to address our affordable housing crisis in Jefferson County by providing a temporary roof over the heads of vulnerable community members while we seek a more permanent solution. We hope to restart the project in the future.

JOHN CANTLON

president, Bayside Housing & Services