The shuttered Inn at Port Hadlock is set to debut April 30 with an old name, a new mission and a welcome mat for the community.

Inn owner Gary Keister said Monday there are two purposes for the property that is again being called the Old Alcohol Plant: The west side (the main building) houses a market-rate inn and space for a restaurant and bar. The east side, or tower property, has been leased to Bayside Housing & Services. Bayside initially plans to use 10 rooms for transitional housing, helping people who are in need of safe and affordable housing while they are in line for permanent housing.

“We have two tracks we're running on. Bayside is not for profit and the inn is for profit,” said Keister. “The whole reason for the inn is to support Bayside.”

Keister said he is not in control of the Bayside project and details of the inn side still are being worked out.

A public open house of the whole property is set for 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 at 310 Hadlock Bay Road.

HISTORIC NAME

The Old Alcohol Plant name is a historic reference. In 1910, ethyl alcohol was manufactured on the site at the head of Port Townsend Bay. The facility was vacant from 1913 until the 1980s, when it was remodeled into a resort and inn. Parts of the alcohol plant remain under part of the building's east side. It served as an inn until it was shut abruptly in June 2011 and went into foreclosure. Keister and investors bought it in December 2014 for $852,000. The upland property is separate from the adjacent marina business.

The main inn has 14 suites, banquet rooms, a commercial kitchen, restaurant and bar. At one point, it hosted an art gallery. The east side has 33 rooms.

“We're in the process of putting the food service together,” Keister said Monday of hopes for a bar and restaurant.

AIRBNB

Kim Carver, facilities manager for the inn, said Monday the business has passed all inspections, and technically can start renting rooms.

“We're going to start with eight market-rate rooms and use Airbnb primarily,” she said of marketing the rooms. Although one room is currently listed for rent on Airbnb.com for $250 a night, Carver said the goal is to get the commercial kitchen going and have food catered, which could take another two months. People who want to check in now will be asked to check back later.

“We would love to have a very serious restaurateur come in and lease the space. Right now we've had a couple of looky-loos. Nobody is serious. But we are working with one caterer who is enthusiastic,” Carver said.

She also said the inn and grounds are ideal for “pop-up dinners” that are becoming popular. She also hopes it will return to its days as a popular wedding venue.

“We're way too behind to book weddings, but we're hoping that people who have last-minute arrangements for events will consider us. We're hoping events will help fund Bayside.”

BAYSIDE HOUSING

On the other side of the property, Aislinn Palmer is managing director of Bayside Housing services, which has already filled three of 10 rooms on one floor.

The first three tenants are Jefferson County women referred to Bayside by one nonprofit in Jefferson County and one in Clallam County.

All three women are on a waiting list for permanent housing, but “the lists are long,” Palmer said.

Bayside can accommodate people for 28 days at a time.

“It's not long-term at all. That's super important,” Palmer said.

All three women – and future guests – have some form of income and must pay 30 percent of their income to Bayside.

“One gal, when I showed her her room, she started crying because she was so happy,” Palmer said.

Bayside's mission is to work with community social-service agencies such as Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) to assist adults over age 21 who need housing. For now, children and families cannot be accommodated.

Seniors at risk of homelessness, and underemployed or low-wage workers needing housing in order to keep a job, and military veterans have priority.

Those who have been accepted into Bayside must agree to abide by house rules – no smoking in the building, for example – and be working toward finding permanent housing. If they do all that, their stay can be renewed another 28 days and then again.

A press release indicates there also will be work-trade units and bunks for “economizing travelers seeking a convenient place to stay, but those details also have not been worked out.

“The Old Alcohol Plant hopes to provide a gathering place for the community, taking advantage of its multiple ballrooms, classroom/studio and gallery, as well as build a community garden on the grounds,” stated the press release.

For more information about the Old Alcohol Plant or Bayside Services, visit oldalcoholplant.com.