Is downtown Bellingham getting safer? Here’s a recap of the city’s recent update

Mayor Kim Lund’s “Downtown Forward” initiative aims to make Bellingham safer, more walkable and welcoming to residents and businesses. A new progress report details the changes since the plan launched in 2024, though recent business closures show challenges remain.

FULL STORY: Is downtown Bellingham becoming safer? Here’s the latest update from the city

Here are key takeaways:

• In an April survey, most respondents said they feel about the same regarding downtown safety as they did a year ago, according to Lund.
• The city’s bike patrol unit has made 691 calls for service this year, impounded 329 grams of narcotics and handled 147 infractions or citations.
• In April, the city closed a three-block section of downtown alleys that had been sites of drug dealing and other dangerous activities. Lund said neighboring businesses have been grateful for the pause in crime.
• About 10% of first-floor properties in the city center are vacant, according to a new “Vacancy & Vibrancy” report from the city — at the high end of the 5%-10% range considered healthy.
• The report says the city plans to pursue strategies including business development investment and lobbying for a state-level vacancy tax.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.