Whatcom County strikes tentative deal to buy Hannegan Road site for new jail
Whatcom County has entered into a tentative agreement to buy a property on Hannegan Road in Bellingham as an alternative site for the new jail.
In an announcement Wednesday, county officials state the location has “a number of advantages” over the property on LaBounty Drive in Ferndale, which was chosen as the new jail site by County Council in 2023. The property was purchased by the county over a decade ago.
The Hannegan Road property will have better construction conditions, a simpler permitting pathway and a potentially shorter construction timeline, according to the county. It could also net up to $2.5 million in capital construction cost savings.
The decision to tentatively purchase this new property comes amid decreased funding for the project, with last year’s sales tax revenue falling 9% below projections. Combined with rising inflation and tariffs, those involved in the planning of the new county jail are being forced to re-evaluate.
The new site, located at 4160 Hannegan Road, is near Whatcom County’s Behavioral Health Campus on Division Street. It was previously determined that the Behavioral Care Center, a major part of the new county jail, will be located on Division Street to serve individuals who are out of custody.
An appraisal of the new 19-acre site by the county determined the fair market value to be $4.07 million, which is the agreed purchase price pending the County Council’s approval. The county said it is already in discussions with the city of Bellingham about the permitting process for the new facility.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 10:07 AM.