Port Townsend’s historic character is one of its greatest assets, and the Belmont team’s investment means a great deal to this community.”

Mari Mullen, executive director, Port Townsend Main Street Program

The Bellmont Building and Hotel

925 Water St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368

The Belmont recently received the coveted Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation award at Washington Main Street’s Excellence on Main Awards Ceremony.

The event was held July 20, virtually, with attendees safely celebrating at socially distanced watch parties.

The Port Townsend building known today as The Belmont has in fact had many lives. 

It was a saloon until Prohibition, after which it served as a real estate and insurance office, shoe store, confectionery and tobacco shop. Most recently, it has housed hotel rooms and a restaurant featuring local seafood with a bar that was used by locals as a gathering place. 

The 1889 Sterming Block, the building’s historic name, was built in the High Victorian Italianate-style and featured corbeled friezes, straight cornice, and projecting bay windows. However, over a century of use in Port Townsend’s busy downtown takes a toll, the owners said.

The building name letters had fallen off the front façade and the brickwork was failing when Kirk Nesbeitt, Marya Sessions, and Enrique Ferreyros, purchased it in 2017. 

Private funding, in addition to a Port Townsend Main Street Program HUD Revolving Loan, contributed to the current rehabilitation work, including re-pointing the brick exterior, putting copper roofs on the bay window to replace shingles, rebuilt parapets, general roof repair, and extensive woodwork on the windows and saving the rope & pulley system. 

“Restoring a Victorian building from the ground up is a huge challenge, with all the headaches and joys you can imagine,” said Mari Mullen, executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program. 

“Port Townsend’s historic character is one of its greatest assets, and the Belmont team’s investment means a great deal to this community.”

Local firms, including Studio STL and general contractor G. Little, were brought in for the job. The crew reportedly updated everything from the basement up, including completely refreshed hotel rooms and a beautiful new deck overlooking the waterfront to replace the storm-worn one.

“This team did a remarkable job honoring the quality craftsmanship of the original building,” said Breanne Durham, Washington Main Street Director. “Their rehabilitation restored its elegance and style; the historic Belmont is an architectural gem in Port Townsend.”

The Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation award is designed to recognize building owners or programs that positively impact preservation efforts.

The Excellence on Main Awards, organized by the Washington State Main Street Program, recognize communities, organizations, and individuals who are helping to achieve economic vitality and build sustainable communities through downtown revitalization and preservation.