Location, Location, Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington
03/01/2005
For many, commuting entails navigating heavy traffic or enduring crowded trains. But for residents of Bainbridge Island, Wash., the journey is pure respite. The 35-minute ferry ride between home and downtown Seattle offers views of the city skyline, snowcapped mountains and breaching orcas. “There is nothing like it on a hot summer day,” says John Gunter, a Realtor with Prudential Northwest Real Estate, who commutes by ferry from the island to Seattle daily. “When the breeze hits your face, it breaks the day away—removes the hustle and bustle of the city.”; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Bainbridge Island has ample supplies of
flora. Photography by Pete Saloutos (Click image to enlarge)
Erasing the threat of a clogged commute is a major reason residents choose to settle in this quaint suburb 10 miles west of Seattle. But they also come for the chance to live something of a double life, sandwiched between urbanity and wilderness. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Gunter. When residents crave the culture and culinary experiences of a metropolis, they can hop on the ferry for the short trip downtown, while the Agate Pass Bridge serves as a gateway from the island to the peaceful open spaces and recreational activities of the Olympic Peninsula.
Having many opportunities within off-island reach is an advantage to living here, but Bainbridge’s natural beauty and small-town atmosphere offer residents a reason to stay home. JoAnn and Gerard Bentryn moved here from New Jersey 27 years ago searching for a place to grow grapes and start a winery. “It was like coming to a faraway castle,” says JoAnn. “We took the ferry from Seattle, landed on the island, and all of a sudden we were in a rural area with lots of trees.” They discovered that the island’s climate was ideal for growing northern European grape varieties, such as Pinot Noir. The 2,000 cases that Bainbridge Island Vineyards (www.bainbridgevineyards.com) churns out each harvest can be found at local wine shops and restaurants. The Bentryns’ business is part of a consortium of local artisan farmers who produce everything from goat cheese to berries to Christmas trees. Those who do not farm take advantage of the island’s 180-day growing season by participating in a local favorite pastime—gardening.While Bentryn says she has seen the influence of “yuppification” on the island, she also believes that the rural character that attracts people has been maintained. She praises the town’s comprehensive plan that is dedicated to preserving the island’s forests, meadows, farms, marine views and roads. The plan also protects the island’s water resources, fosters the diversity of the residents, balances the costs and benefits of land use decisions to property owners, and encourages residents to base development on the principle that environmental resources are finite and should be kept at a sustainable level.
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The uncrowded shoreline of Bainbridge Island
has space for lush gardens that
lead to the water. (Click
image to enlarge)
“Bainbridge Island is a community that is very protective of its environment,” says Gunter. The island’s active land trust is constantly searching for new parcels to purchase and has secured 39 easements on existing properties. In addition to the protected land, the Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District maintains more than 1,000 of the island’s 17,779 acres for its 29 parks. For new homeowners, purchasing land here often means acquiescing to strict neighborhood covenants. “Some neighborhoods have committees that determine what trees can and cannot come down, and many heated issues have arisen over trees,” says Gunter.
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While commuters from other Seattle suburbs might
sit
in heavy
traffic, Bainbridge Island
residents can
sit back and enjoy the
half-hour ferry
ride. Photography by John Gunter (Click image to enlarge)Despite the occasional tree squabble, Bainbridge offers buyers who want to be close to Seattle some of the largest waterfront lots around. Recent listings included a seven-acre parcel and a four-acre parcel with an additional two acres of untouchable open space. “You can’t get that type of waterfront acreage on Mercer Island,” says Gunter of an island to the east of Seattle. Bainbridge Island also gives buyers a choice of views. “Some buyers specifically want city views while others want the quiet,” says Gunter. The eastern side of the island offers views of the Seattle skyline, the ferry and shipping lanes, Mount Baker and even Mount Rainier, while the opposite aspect features a quiet channel, beautiful sunsets and the Olympic Mountains.No matter where residents settle, they remain at ease knowing another world is within reach. “The ferry acts as our drawbridge,” says Bentryn. “It allows us to be isolated and to be in the middle of everything we want.
Facts & Stats
• Crowd control: Despite its proximity to Seattle and an area of 28 square miles, Bainbridge Island’s population of 21,000 is not likely to boom, thanks to limited development and an active land trust.
• All island: The island’s town center—once called Winslow—no longer exists. It was renamed the City of Bainbridge Island when an all-island annexation was approved in 1991. Annexation means the entire island is now the city, and vice versa.
• Anchors aweigh: There are five harbors on the island, and long-term moorage is available at four facilities: Winslow Wharf Marina, Eagledale Moorings, Harbour Marina and Eagle Harbor Marina.
• Into the woods: IslandWood is a 255-acre school in the woods designed to provide kids and adults with hands-on learning experiences that combine science, technology and the arts. The 150-acre Bloedel Reserve is an ideal spot for meditative reflection among second-growth forests and more than 100 species of trees.
• Housing bank: A 5,800-square-foot, five-bedroom home on over two acres with 162 feet of waterfront is priced at $2.8 million through Seattle Luxury. Bainbridge Island’s median home price of around $465,000 is more than double the countywide median of $188,000.
• Realtor 101: John Gunter, Seattle Luxury, 206.842.8771, www.seattleluxury.com; John L. Scott Real Estate, 206.842.5636, www.johnlscott.com