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What’s New on the Bellingham Waterfront?

by Theresa Carpine7/14/2008 2:28:05 PM

The winds of change are wafting through Bellingham, specifically in the area of town known as the Waterfront District. It’s been a soft breeze for the past seven years—ever since the 137-acre Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill closed down in 2001—as various committees and advisory groups worked with the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham to decide how best to use this area. In recent years, and especially the last few months, significant targets have been reached as the discussion of waterfront development turns into action.

The Georgia-Pacific mill closed in 2001, leaving the waterfront area open for redevelopment.

In 2005, the Port purchased the mill and treatment lagoon site, and planned to develop the site with the City. In late 2006, they enlisted Seattle-based design firm CollinsWoerman to help market and plan a waterfront development proposal. The areas included in this development span Bellingham Bay’s shoreline, from the start of Roeder Avenue at Squalicum Way to the south end of Cornwall Avenue.

Georgia-Pacific began demolition of their mill and other buildings on site earlier this spring to clear the way for the upcoming changes that will take place over the next 20 years as part of our community’s effort to revitalize the waterfront for business and community living.

In June, the Port and City presented a Preferred Alternative & Target Densities Proposal from CollinsWoerman to the Waterfront Advisory Group and citizens, describing a preliminary development plan for the Waterfront District.

According to this plan, the Waterfront District will be a mixed-use neighborhood, integrating residential, commercial, industrial and recreational space as an extension of Bellingham’s Downtown. Another important factor in this plan is to restore and improve the environmental health of the Whatcom Waterway and Bellingham Bay. The plan also includes working with State and Federal government agencies to develop the Waterfront District as a LEED-Neighborhood and create a Clean Ocean Marina™ to encourage environmental protection and sustainability.

Plans for the waterfront include resorting natural habitats and improving water quality.

The Waterfront District will also be a place of interacting learning. Western Washington University has been a vital partner in the development project, as they plan to use the waterfront location for an off-campus branch of Huxley College of the Environment. Plans for an innovative TerrAquarium, with displays about Puget Sound marine life, will provide another opportunity for learning that all ages can enjoy. And while not included in the Preferred Alternative Proposal, Mayor Dan Pike has also suggested the idea of building a new main branch of the Bellingham Library in the waterfront area.

Many details of the development plan still need to be finalized before construction can begin on roadways and buildings. Planners are still evaluating costs, both environmental and financial, as the projects moves forward. Part of the Preferred Alternative Proposal also includes relocating the current route of the BNSF Railway, so some waterfront development will be dependent on that project’s completion.

 Some citizens are concerned that historical buildings will be demolished in the development.

Several citizens, organized as the group Historic Bellingham, have also voiced their concern about possible plans to demolish several buildings on the waterfront. Many of these buildings, including the old Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association building on Central Avenue, are eligible for placement on the National Registry of Historic Places. This group would like to see these buildings restored, preserved, and adapted for use within the waterfront development plan.

A projected timeline for the rest of this year includes a review of the Preferred Alternative Plan with public comment during August and a final Environmental Impact Statement for October, both of which will inform a draft Master Plan, due by the end of the year.

You can find out more about this project by visiting The Waterfront District, City of Bellingham’s Waterfront Planning, and Port of Bellingham, or read the latest news about the Waterfront District from The Bellingham Herald.

What do you think about the Port and City’s plans to develop Bellingham’s waterfront? How do you think it will impact your family? Leave a comment or post in the Neighborhood-Kids.com Forum.

A Note About the Author: Theresa Carpine

Theresa Carpine graduated from WWU in 2006 with a BA in English Literature. She enjoys yoga, listening to music, riding her bike in downtown Bellingham, and babysitting really cute kids.