Port to vote on contract to build waterfront innovation zone facility

MESLISSA SCHAPIRO

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On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the port commission will vote on a contract to build the 10,000-square-foot Innovation Partnership Zone facility, in the former Georgia-Pacific tissue warehouse.

The contract is for RMC Architects to complete the design and manage construction of the facility, which is made possible by a $1 million grant from the Washington Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. Bellingham Technical College and Western Washington University are partner agencies that will occupy the new facility.

The new facility will serve ongoing research and development projects and provide technical training programs as the "Marine Trades Area" in The Waterfront District continues to develop.

The regular port commission meeting will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 1801 Roeder Ave., in Bellingham.

FIRST PROJECT FOR INNOVATION ZONE

Last week, Western Washington University announced its Engineering Technology program received $125,000 in private contributions to build a hydrofoil that will be used on a new passenger ferry being built by Bellingham's All American Marine.

A hydrofoil is a T-shaped wing mounted to the hull of the ferry that lifts and raises the boat partly out of the water, reducing drag and increasing speed.

This project, for Kitsap Transit, is the first to be conducted in the new Marine Trades Innovation Partnership Zone.

Details about this project can be found at WWU's communications Web site, news.wwu.edu.

PORT TO PICK MEMBER FOR DEVELOPMENT ENTITY

At its Tuesday meeting, the port commission will select one member to serve on the newly created development entity that will work with the university on its waterfront development.

Last month both the port commission and the university's board of trustees approved creating the development entity, which is expected to be formed and the board established this year.

TERRAQUARIUM SEEKS PLANNING FUNDS

Northwest Discovery Project, a local nonprofit that operates the Marine Life Center at Squalicum Harbor, is working to develop a Terraquarium in The Waterfront District. It would combine modern aquarium features with interpretive exhibits about the regional land and sea environments.

This week the port commission will vote on whether to act as the grant sponsor for $600,000 the Discovery Project is seeking from the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Program.

If awarded, the port would pass the grant to the group so it can complete its pre-construction studies and continue its public and private fundraising.

SUSTAINABLE STORMWATER STRATEGIES SHOWCASED

On Thursday, Sept. 4, Sustainable Connections will offer a daylong workshop that focuses on smart growth strategies being used in our community and beyond Bellingham.

The Smart Growth for Sustainable Communities Conference will feature information about urban infilling, developing on brownfields, balancing competing interests, building green buildings and much more. To register, go to www.sconnect.org.

At the conference, the port's environmental project site manager, Brian Gouran, and Sustainable Connections program and development director, Derek Long, will give a brief update about dealing with stormwater at the G-P site. The Waterfront District is being planned as one of the nation's first LEED neighborhood projects.