The Eliason Building, a 1908 landmark in downtown Poulsbo, Washington, has been saved from demolition and transformed into a mixed-use development after years of neglect. The renovation preserves the building’s Scandinavian-inspired architecture while adding modern residential, retail, and dining spaces—14,000 square feet of housing, 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and a restaurant.
Developer Kelly Clark of Chinook Contractors purchased the structure in 2020. It had deteriorated into a patchwork of three separate buildings. Local calls for demolition had grown louder. Clark’s renovation, which began in August 2023, aimed to restore the original elegance while adapting it for contemporary use.
“We can’t wait to bring more life back to this section of downtown,” Clark said. “It’s a wonderful location and deserves a modern hub of activity that contributes to Poulsbo’s beauty.”
The building’s namesake, Jorgen Eliason, was a Norwegian immigrant and one of the city’s founders. Its revival has become a model for balancing historic preservation with urban renewal.
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Plumbing a century-old structure
Kimco Plumbing, a Poulsbo-based company founded in 1990, handled the building’s entire plumbing overhaul. The project required installing all-new piping, fixtures, and water systems—no original plumbing remained. Challenges included working within the building’s fragile structure and handling logistical constraints in a busy downtown location.
“We couldn’t shut down Front Street, so we had to work from Third Avenue,” said Jessica Young, Kimco’s co-owner. “Everything was brand new on our end. We had to route waste piping without compromising structural beams, which meant constant adjustments with Chinook Contractors.”
Kimco installed basic wastewater and gas lines before tenants were secured, then customized each space as leases were signed. A hair salon needed water lines for styling chairs, while a restaurant required rough-ins for a full bar kitchen, including three-compartment sinks and dishwashers.
Robb Young, Jessica’s husband and Kimco’s other co-owner, joined the company in 1997. The couple now leads a team of 12 plumbers and office staff, scaling operations based on workload. While their primary service area covers Kitsap and Clallam Counties, they occasionally take projects across the Olympic Peninsula.
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The Eliason Building’s plumbing work took just over a year. Kimco credits Chinook Contractors for the project’s smooth execution, citing collaborative problem-solving among trades. “Everyone asks, ‘How can we solve this?’ instead of one company carrying the burden,” Robb Young said.
Kimco has another multifamily project with Chinook lined up later this year, but the Eliason Building’s impact may last far longer. The Youngs hope the building’s revival will serve as a lasting contribution to their hometown—a place where history and modern life intersect without compromise.
For now, the building stands as a quiet example of what can happen when preservation meets practicality. The original 1908 facade remains, but behind it, the systems are entirely new. what can happ
