Development at ‘The Pit’ in Fairhaven set to begin. Check out Phase 1 details
Construction is expected to begin soon on a large development in Bellingham, bringing additional housing and commercial space to the heart of Fairhaven.
The “Fairhaven Center” project, which is expected to bring almost 200 new residential units and 80 public parking spots to the neighborhood, is expected to be completed in three phases over the next several years, according to the city of Bellingham.
The project site abuts the Fairhaven South Bay Trail to the east and southwest, which is expected to close soon for about 18 months during the first phase of construction. The site also abuts 10th Street to the west and the undeveloped portion of Knox Ave to the north.
The development will include three buildings with both residential and commercial space above a large parking garage on the property at the northwest corner of Mill Avenue and 11th Street — known as “The Pit,” a dirt parking lot where Fairhaven visitors have had access to free parking for more than two decades.
Upon completion, the first phase of the three-part “Fairhaven Center” project will feature a three-story, 27-unit residential building on about 21,000 square feet. Floors 1-3 will each contain a mixture of nine one- and two-bedroom units, permit documents show.
The first phase of the project will provide 17 parking stalls on site. Additional parking will be provided during phases two and three of the project.
Parts of the property will be four stories high, which is an increase in the height limit for buildings in the area. That exception is a result of a development agreement between the private developer and the city of Bellingham in exchange for certain “public benefits,” including:
- Adding 80 public parking spaces in the private garage with at least five equipped for electrical vehicle charging.
- Allocating 20 percent of units as affordable housing for 12 years.
- Dedicating a permanent easement for the South Bay Trail, which will be rerouted as a result of the project.
- Creating an outlook toward Bellingham Bay along with view corridors and pedestrian connectivity through the site.
Phase 1 of the project began this summer and is expected to continue through next summer. Phase 2 of the project is expected to last through the winter of 2028, with Phase 3 targeted for completion in 2029 or 2030.
