Three concurrent infrastructure investments are reshaping what Belfair and North Mason look like over the next several years — a new $9 million fire station on Old Belfair Highway, a federal-funded electrical upgrade that removes the single biggest barrier to business recruitment on the SR-3 corridor, and fresh state funding for the Allyn waterfront that keeps two long-promised projects alive. None of these made major headlines this week, but together they represent the most consequential ground-level development activity in the North Mason area right now.
North Mason RFA’s $9 Million Fire Station: September 2026 Opening
North Mason Regional Fire Authority’s new headquarters fire station at 490 NE Old Belfair Highway is on track for a September 2026 opening. The facility — being built directly adjacent to the existing Station 21 — is one of the largest public safety investments this community has seen in years.
The new headquarters includes an eight-vehicle bay — a significant upgrade from the current facility’s capacity — along with a dedicated training center, administrative offices, and on-site living quarters for up to ten on-call firefighters. TRICO Companies is the general contractor.
North Mason voters approved the bond measure that funded this project in 2019. When complete, the new station will meaningfully expand emergency response capacity across the entire North Mason service area — which stretches from Belfair and Allyn to the Tahuya Peninsula and beyond. The existing station is expected to be leased to Mason County, housing the north precinct of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and space for Mason County’s Department of Emergency Services.
For a community where SR-3 is the primary artery and response times matter, a modern eight-bay headquarters in Belfair with resident firefighters changes what emergency response looks like on the north end of Mason County.
PUD 3 Electrical Upgrade: Unlocking Growth on the SR-3 Corridor
Mason County PUD No. 3’s Belfair Electrical Capacity Infrastructure Project is quietly one of the most consequential economic development investments happening in North Mason. Backed by $3 million in federal funding secured through U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and the House Appropriations Committee — with additional $1.5 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds passed through Mason County and $1 million in state funding secured by 35th District legislators — the project has two main components:
- A new switching station at the site of the former Belfair Warehouse, upgrading PUD 3’s connection to BPA’s transmission lines
- Replacement of the 1967-era Belfair substation transformer with a modern, higher-capacity unit — placed in July 2025 and energized in October 2025
The reason this matters: for years, Mason EDC has been unable to recruit businesses to Belfair’s Urban Growth Area because electrical capacity constraints made it impossible to meet the power requirements of commercial and light industrial tenants. When businesses ask about locating to the SR-3 corridor and the answer is “we can’t provide adequate power,” the conversation ends.
That constraint is now being resolved. The upgraded substation and new switching station give the Belfair UGA the electrical infrastructure to say yes to companies that were previously turned away. With the SR-3 commercial corridor under development pressure and the Belfair Bypass eventually reshaping traffic patterns, having the power infrastructure in place before those projects mature is the right sequencing.
Port of Allyn: State Funding Keeps Pier Repair and Oyster House Alive
On the Allyn waterfront — about twelve miles north of Belfair on North Bay — the Washington State Legislature reappropriated grant funds for two Port of Allyn projects that were approaching deadline. Governor Bob Ferguson signed the budget, securing the remaining balances: approximately $443,074 for pier repair and $411,044 for the Sargent Oyster House restoration.
The pier repair contract has already been awarded to Lakeshore Construction for $142,569.20. Work is proceeding.
The Sargent Oyster House is the more historically significant project. The building will be relocated to the site of the existing boat ramp at Allyn’s Waterfront Park, with pilings driven to support an overwater position. When complete, it will serve as a museum dedicated to the shellfish industry’s role in North Bay’s history — a cultural anchor for the Allyn waterfront that also has genuine visitor draw potential for Hood Canal tourism.
The shellfish industry built this corner of Mason County. The Sargent Oyster House restoration is about making sure that history is legible on the landscape where it happened.
The Bigger Picture
These three projects don’t share a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a single headline. But they share a direction: North Mason is investing in the infrastructure — public safety, electrical capacity, waterfront identity — that positions the community for the growth already arriving via the SR-3 corridor and the eventual Belfair Bypass.
The Grocery Outlet at 23960 NE State Route 3 (the former Rite Aid space) is also now six months into operation — a real anchor for the commercial corridor that keeps North Mason grocery spending local after years of residents driving to Shelton or Silverdale.
For more on what’s happening in the North Mason commercial corridor, see the full Belfair Business Pulse for April 29. For context on SR-3 infrastructure and the bypass timeline, see our North Mason commuter infrastructure guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the new North Mason fire station open?
North Mason Regional Fire Authority’s new headquarters at 490 NE Old Belfair Highway in Belfair is on track for a September 2026 opening. TRICO Companies is the general contractor. The facility includes an eight-vehicle bay and quarters for up to ten on-call firefighters.
What is the PUD 3 Belfair electrical upgrade project?
Mason County PUD No. 3 is upgrading the Belfair substation with a new high-capacity transformer (energized October 2025) and building a new switching station at the former Belfair Warehouse site to improve BPA transmission connections. The project is backed by $3 million in federal funding plus additional state and ARPA funds — totaling over $5.5 million invested in Belfair’s electrical infrastructure.
What is the Sargent Oyster House in Allyn?
The Sargent Oyster House is a historic building being restored by the Port of Allyn at the Allyn Waterfront Park. When complete, it will serve as a museum honoring the shellfish industry’s history on North Bay. The Legislature reappropriated approximately $411,044 in state grant funds for the project in 2026.
Why does the Belfair electrical upgrade matter for businesses?
Limited electrical capacity in Belfair’s Urban Growth Area was a primary reason Mason EDC turned away business recruitment opportunities. The upgraded substation and new switching station resolve that constraint, making the SR-3 corridor viable for commercial and light industrial tenants who require reliable, higher-capacity power.
Where is Grocery Outlet Belfair located?
Grocery Outlet Belfair is at 23960 NE State Route 3 in Belfair — the former Rite Aid space — and opened November 13, 2025. It’s a 17,455-square-foot independent operator store offering discounted name-brand grocery, wine, and household items.
What happened to the former Belfair fire station when the new one opens?
The existing fire station at 490 NE Old Belfair Highway is planned to be leased to Mason County to house the north precinct of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and space for Mason County’s Department of Emergency Services.
Leave a Reply