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closeA recent editorial in The Bellingham Herald found it "odd" that the waterfront development might include historical buildings. Yes, these buildings were designed for local industry, and that is part of the reason they should be retained: they speak to Bellingham's industrial heritage.
No one argues that every building should be saved, but a 2004 due diligence report showed that some of these buildings comprise a coherent grouping. They could form a historic district within the new waterfront. These buildings have already been evaluated for their historic value and would bring Federal and Washington State rehabilitation incentives to the project.
The editorial argues that it is too expensive to save these structures. The cost of adaptive reuse, however, can be less than new construction when one figures in the total costs of demolition and the burden on the landfill - in addition to new materials.
A historic district provides a desirable tourist destination, adding another link to the network of attractions such as Whatcom Museum and the Fairhaven district. Heritage tourism is a growing industry in Washington and is one of the cleanest and greenest kinds of tourism. Buildings that testify to our local industrial heritage make Bellingham unique and authentic - different from Seattle and Vancouver.
Lynette Felber
Bellingham
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Caregivers
The Courtyard -
Accounts Receivable - Contracts Manager
Sicklesteel Cranes, Inc. -
Finance Director
WTA -
Research & Development Engineer
Samson Rope -
Contracts Assistant, Financial Services
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
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