What is next for Bellingham’s waterfront redevelopment? Here’s an update
While the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down some plans for redeveloping the waterfront, the Port of Bellingham and other groups are moving forward with other projects.
Here’s a breakdown of what is happening on the former Georgia-Pacific property, along with updates on what’s next:
▪ Waterfront condominiums: Construction is underway after being delayed a few months because of the pandemic. The three-building, 94-unit condominium project developed by Harcourt is now expected to be completed in early 2022, said Mike Hogan, spokesman for the Port of Bellingham.
Reservations for the first building are going strong, with 24 of the 28 units already reserved, said Christopher Erdmann, co-owner of Blu.ink Real Estate. Erdmann is the listing agent along with co-owner Stacy Graves and broker Kyle van der Velde.
Erdmann said the first round of reservations have mostly been filled by local residents. Once the reservations are filled in the first building, units for the other buildings will become available for reservation. Current listings for available one- and two-bedroom units are in the $515,000 to $750,000 range.
According to the Blu.ink Real Estate website, the waterfront condo units are broken down as 38 one-bedroom, 50 with two bedrooms and six with three bedrooms.
▪ Bike track: With the bike track remaining popular with the public, Hogan said they plan on keeping it going year-round. The port is also working with the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition to develop a skills area for younger riders. That is expected to open next year.
To keep it in good shape, the port is asking riders to remain off the track after big rain events because the bike tracks left in the mud will harden as the park dries out.
▪ Food campus, affordable housing: Known as the Millworks project, the plan includes a food campus, which helps connect local producers with buyers, childcare facilities and about 70 affordable residential units geared toward people working in the area.
The project is in the design phase as partnerships and investors are being developed while input is being taken from potential tenants, said Mauri Ingram, president and CEO of the Whatcom Community Foundation. The foundation is one of the groups driving the project.
Hogan said the port, in coordination with the foundation, has hired Bellingham-based RMC Architects and Aspect Consulting for pre-construction cleanup activities. He expects those activities to be complete and the project concept finalized in 2021.
▪ Western Crossings: This project, which involves partnering with Western Washington University and the private sector to develop a six-acre innovation park, appears to be on hold until there is more clarity on what’s happening with the economy.
At a Port Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, Don Goldberg advised commissioners that now is the time to “be a little conservative” and see where the economy goes before making big decisions on the project. Goldberg is the director for economic development for the port.
“This is an unknown economy that we’re in right now,” Goldberg said, referring to the pandemic and how it has changed the way businesses are thinking about office and research development space.
Once it becomes clear what is happening with the pandemic and the economy, the port will start sending out requests for proposals to see what interest they might get from private companies.
▪ Office building, hotel/conference center: Harcourt remains interested in developing an office building and a hotel conference center, but the development company is focused on the condominium project and securing tenants for the Granary building, Hogan said.
The port is currently working with the company on some preliminary concepts, but is trying to be flexible with the plans to allow a shift to commercial, residential or retail projects if needed to adjust to new market conditions.
▪ Waypoint Park and Cornwall Beach Park: The city is starting to gear up for the next phases of the two parks, but is waiting for the completion of other work before starting.
Phase 2 of Waypoint Park is expected to get going after the completion of the waterfront condominium project, said Gina Austin, a project engineer for the city. That phase will extend the park west in front of the condominiums.
Phase 1 of Cornwall Beach Park is expected to begin once cleanup of contamination in the landfill area and the RG Haley site is complete. Cleanup for both Cornwall Beach areas is expected to begin in 2021.
“Public informational meetings may start in 2021 to reacquaint everyone with the master planning work that was completed in prior years,” Austin said in an email. “We’ll also look at areas of work at each park that have been prioritized based on the funding available at this time.”
▪ Granary building: The restored building has four tenants and Harcourt is working on bringing in more.
Erdmann said he has three more potential tenants lined up to be in the building by next spring. One of those tenants has a coffee/taphouse concept.
The most recent tenant to open is Artivem, a mead tasting room and production company. It is currently doing online ordering, special events and delivery. It recently opened its tasting room in a way that meets COVID-19 restrictions. Other tenants in the building are the Bellingham Yoga Collective, Blue.ink Real Estate and the Honey Salon studio.
▪ Other projects: The port has several smaller-scale activities planned for 2021. A bathroom and small lawn being built near the digester tanks are expected to be ready this spring.
In that same area, the port plans to bring water and power to support temporary food and beverage services, such as food trucks. The port is also working with the city to repair ceramic tiles on Georgia-Pacific’s former pulp storage towers, as well as putting in new interpretive signs at Waypoint Park.
This story was originally published October 25, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
