These Bellingham construction, housing projects will keep workers busy this winter
Bellingham construction activity is expected to remain busy heading into the fall and early winter as more projects continue to go through the permitting process.
According to the city’s construction dashboard website, 1,446 residential units are currently under construction, with 855 in review as of Wednesday, Oct. 6. The total units currently under construction is similar in total that it was back in July, but the total going through the permit is down about 100 units.
About $52.5 million in commercial projects is currently under construction, up from $37 million in July. Projects valued at $11.3 million are currently in the permitting process, down from $24 million in the summer.
Here’s an update on some of the residential and commercial construction projects either under way or going through the permit process:
▪ Caitac is getting ready to start phase 5 of its major home-building project in the north Cordata area.
It’s building 47 units in what is known as the Northview Homes. Since it began work in 2016, the company has built 309 homes in the area. In recent projects, solar paneling is a standard feature in each of the single-family houses or townhomes.
Future additions in Phase 5 will include up to 65 homes, either of the single-family or duplex variety.
Alex Wynstra of AJW Builders estimates that 1,600 solar panels have been installed to this point., contributing more than $50,000 back to the grid a year.
Phases 6 and 7 are in the planning stages and are expected to be townhomes, Wynstra said in an email.
With Bellingham lacking in new home inventory, each phase is selling more quickly than the last, Wynstra said, adding that by Phase 4, the homes were pre-sold. With the first part of Phase 5, the company is taking reservations but selling after framing is in place so that they can keep up with the serious cost fluctuations in lumber and other material.
In terms of who is buying the houses, Wynstra said it’s been a mix of seniors, professionals and families, with about 30%-40% moving into the area and the majority being local buyers.
Longer-term, Caitac is hoping to continue building neighborhoods further north, closer to its North Bellingham Golf Course. That will include working to incorporate it into Bellingham’s urban growth area.
“We have been working with the local community, city and county leaders to develop a master plan which will be responsive to current and future social, economic and environmental challenges associated with housing and employment opportunities,” Wynstra said.
Details about the project can be found on the Larrabee Springs website.
▪ The Lighthouse Mission’s plans for a new building at 910 W. Holly St. continue to move forward. The project is currently going through an environmental permit stage for the demolition of the building. Details about the demolition plans of the current building can be found on the city’s website; comments are due Tuesday, Oct. 19.
A neighborhood meeting was also recently held about the new building, which would be five stories tall and have 75,000 square feet of space. If permitting and funding goes as planned, construction would begin in the summer of 2022 and take 14 months to complete.
▪ A planned development proposal was approved for a new project at 3909 Bennett Drive, near the Bellingham International Airport. The proposal would redevelop an area currently being used as airport parking and put in a 75,000-square-foot commercial self-storage facility.
▪ The Washington State Department of Ecology has approved a shoreline variance for a new, 40,000-square-foot addition to an existing cold storage processing facility at 350 W. Orchard St.
▪ Public comment is being accepted for a proposal to build 19 townhouse units at 215 Prince Ave., near the Deemer Road intersection. A public Zoom meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12. Details about the meeting can be found on the city’s website.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
