BELLINGHAM - A hot dog stand, empty gas station and abandoned railroad cars could give way to a new building modeled after the long-gone Fairhaven Hotel, which first opened on the site 120 years ago.

Developers and brothers Ralph and Mike Black propose a building that would be inspired by the old hotel, an icon of the formerly independent town of Fairhaven that was lost to fire and demolished in the 1950s.

After settling a legal dispute over landownership last week and gaining full ownership of the property at 12th Street and Harris Avenue, Ralph Black says he wants to move forward with building at the gateway to Fairhaven.

"The secret is: Can you maintain the architectural integrity of what it looked like? And I think you can," Black said, as he toured the property recently. "We're hoping that when we're done here we would have created the signature piece, the signature of Fairhaven."

From a pile of soil left from digging test holes, Black pulled out fragments of brick from the old hotel, a piece of charcoal, likely from the devastating fire, and broken shards of porcelain with caked-on dirt. Demolition crews had simply pushed fragments of the building into its basement, he said.

Although not yet designed, Black said he envisions a four- to five-story building, perhaps with underground parking, first-floor retail space, second-floor offices and condominiums above that. Boutique hotels, coffee shops and banks already have inquired about the project, he said. He also envisions a piano bar or jazz club. Part of the building also could extend over the sidewalk, providing shelter for pedestrians and outdoor seating.

Soon, he'll ask for bids from local architects. The challenge will be balancing modern code requirements with historic architecture, he said. Developer Ken Imus, a key player in Fairhaven's redevelopment, is holding onto the hotel's original blueprints for the Blacks, Ralph Black said. Imus has expressed his enthusiasm for building a new building inspired by the old hotel.

Black would keep the new building in the family for the rest of his life, and said he'd probably move in himself.

MOVING FORWARD

The project is possible now that the Blacks settled more than three years of legal disputes with developer Joel Douglas. Decades ago, the property was illegally divided without city permission. The Blacks and Douglas each bought the parts and, after a dispute over use of the property, the Blacks sued to formally divide it. A settlement last week gives the Blacks Douglas' portion for just less than $1 million, Black said.

But there may be controversy to come, involving heights and views.

In the late 1800s, the Fairhaven Hotel rose about 60 feet above the sidewalk, with a nearly 100-foot tower.

Today, height is a sensitive topic in Fairhaven. Neighbors, fearing damage to the area's walkable character, have proposed height limits, only to encounter strong resistance from some commercial property owners. The debate erupted when another project, Fairhaven Harbor, proposed a tower rising more than 100 feet. The project, still unbuilt, was delayed for years by appeals from neighbors, who still oppose a proposed 85-foot tower.

On the Blacks' property, zoning allows buildings to rise up to 35 feet. That might not be tall enough, said Black, who may ask the city to rezone the land or allow a variance for construction up to about 50 feet.

Neighbors want the Blacks to work with them to create a new neighborhood plan, not seek a variance on his own, said Vince Biciunas, president of Fairhaven Neighbors. Last year, Fairhaven Neighbors submitted a proposed new plan allowing buildings up to 54 feet if developers meet certain conditions, including preserving homes' bay views, and if they get City Council approval.

City planners next year will work with residents and landowners to refine the plan.

"Most people in Fairhaven do not really object to small increases over 35 feet," Biciunas said. "If he puts out a reasonable proposal, I'm sure reasonable people won't object."

Reach Jared Paben at 715-2289 or jared.paben@bellinghamherald.com.