Clearing begins at Bellingham’s Bakerview encampment with excavators, hand crews on scene
Crews began clearing one of Bellingham’s largest encampments on Tuesday, Jan. 21, starting what could be a days-long effort in the coldest time of the year.
The encampment on West Bakerview Road and Northwest Drive has grown rapidly in recent months and become the focus of significant outreach and service efforts after dozens of unhoused community members relocated there when the city of Bellingham cleared a separate encampment behind Walmart on E. Stuart Road in November.
Several excavators and a hand crew — privately hired by the property owners — were on site gathering items and moving them into large dumpsters.
City employees were onsite to help monitor traffic in the area. Bellingham Police were also present Tuesday, providing on-scene public safety support, City Deputy Administrator Janice Keller told The Herald.
“We have addressed this encampment with care and urgency, recognizing the serious public health and safety concerns for all involved — people who live in or visit the encampment, affected property owners, area residents and impacted businesses,” Keller said.
The encampment spans multiple properties owned by different people and entities, presenting “complex and unique challenges,” according to Keller.
“We have collaborated with the five owners of six specific properties for many months, hosting meetings and urging a coordinated approach. We have also provided extensive technical assistance, including guidance on best practices for property cleanup and security measures to prevent future encampments,” Keller told The Herald. “We have been in touch with businesses in the area, such as Fred Meyer, and participated in community meetings to provide updates and address questions.”
Ultimately, Keller said, property owners bear the responsibility of addressing an encampment on their land.
“The city is limited in what it can do on private land and focuses on providing support, facilitating coordination among property owners, and ensuring public safety,” Keller said.
City staff notified encampment residents Jan. 16 that they would be required to vacate the site by Jan. 20.
Local service providers continue to express concern about clearing encampments without a specific and immediate housing solution for the individuals living there.
Whatcom County shelters were open and accepting guests Tuesday night, including the Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter and Lighthouse Mission Ministries. Overnight temperatures were expected to drop to 32 degrees.
Keller said the city actively worked with local social service providers leading up to the clearing to connect unhoused individuals with resources including shelter, treatment programs and other essential services.
“This coordinated effort, ongoing for over a month, aims to support the transition for those living on the properties while minimizing disruptions to their lives,” Keller told The Herald.
Homeowners near the encampment told The Herald they were grateful the encampment was being cleared and hoped impacted individuals would take advantage of available services.
“We are both thankful to the city and property owners for taking action to clean this encampment,” Garland Lane resident Jeremy Lemcke said, referring to himself and his wife. “Our neighborhood, which is adjacent to the camp is so happy to have the camp cleaned and believes that moving the camp out will allow individuals dwelling at the camp new opportunity to be introduced to community resources that will have a positive impact on their lives.”
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
