Downtown Forward – Current Actions

Our actions and accomplishments since February 2024 include commitments outlined in Mayor Lund’s Executive Order 2024-01 as well as other City-led actions focused on making downtown safe, clean, beautiful and welcoming. We’ve also taken steps toward our other goals for Downtown Bellingham.

Downtown Bellingham is safe and welcoming.

Select the drop-down for each action to see updates as of August 2024.

Improve hygiene and cleaning services downtown 

The City installed three new public restrooms, called Portland Loos – one at Waypoint Park, and two in downtown, along Railroad Avenue. These bathrooms are designed to be easily cleaned and resistant to vandalism and are accessible most hours of the day.

City staff increased sidewalk and alley cleaning in late February, cleaning downtown streets weekly and downtown alleyways monthly. Staff pick up litter and address illegal dumping concerns downtown several times each week. The City also contracts with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership to provide litter cleanup, graffiti removal, and cleaning services. 

The City has installed 30 new, covered garbage and recycling bins downtown and plans to install 30 more by the end of the year. The larger, enclosed bins keep out wind and rain and prevent discarded items from becoming litter.

Expand community-oriented policing and other safety strategies 

Bellingham Fire Department opened the downtown safety office near the Commercial Street Parking Garage in late February 2024. It is a hub for community paramedics and alternative responders.

Starting in March, Bellingham Police Department (BPD) began hour-long, community-oriented foot patrols downtown. Until June, BPD also conducted additional foot patrols on an overtime basis.

The City continues to engage Risk Solution Unlimited (RSU) to provide private security patrols in the public parking garages and safety patrols along public streets and sidewalks. RSU officers respond to behavioral health needs and minor crimes such as graffiti, littering, public inebriation and trespassing and provide a connection between various social service outreach organizations, downtown business owners, and Bellingham Police.

Bellingham Police Department has hired six new officers in 2024, with 10 additional applicants pending as they go through the background investigation process.

Trespass stickers, requested by downtown businesses, alert police officers and patrons that a business has asked and authorized police to issue a notice of trespass to anyone who is not abiding by the business’s posted rules or conditions of entry.

More energy-efficient LED lights were recently installed in both the Railroad Avenue parking garage and the mezzanine of the Commercial Street Parking Garage. More lighting to improve visibility and safety will soon be installed at the Commercial Street garage.

Implement justice system improvements

BPD worked with Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Bellingham Municipal Court to create space in the Whatcom County jail for BPD officers to temporarily book people arrested downtown for misdemeanor offenses. Offenders are able to quickly see a judge and have bail or bond set, be released, or proceed with jail alternative programs.

Due to constraints at the Whatcom County Jail, BPD works with South Correctional Entity to book offenders into jail who might otherwise not be booked. This guarantees they will go in front of a judge for their initial court appearance instead of being immediately released. 

The Bellingham Municipal Court continues to expand therapeutic court options and expects to launch its Community Court this winter. Community courts are specialty courts that reduce low-level, quality-of-life offenses, such as shoplifting, and hold participants accountable while connecting them to social services to address behavioral health, substance use, and other needs. 

Focus services for substance use disorder and other behavioral health needs 

Community paramedics are stationed in the downtown public safety office seven days a week. By being downtown, community paramedics are closer to their clients and the services clients regularly use, enabling them to spend more time providing care and strengthening client relationships. 

A behavioral health specialist began working at the Central Library in February 2024, providing support, referrals and staff training for about 40 unique individuals each month. This innovative program is jointly funded by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Health and Community Services and is staffed by Lake Whatcom Center. 

The Bellingham Public Library is hosting a community education event on Sept. 12, 2024. The City and Library are key sponsors of and participants in All Hands Whatcom, an effort led by the Chuckanut Health Foundation to educate and inspire action related to the opioid crisis. 

The City is working alongside tribal governments in their efforts to secure funding for expanded treatment options for opioid use disorder, including additional mobile services tentatively planned to be provided in Bellingham.

Prioritize law enforcement for illegal drug distribution and sale

Bellingham Police Department rejoined the Whatcom County Drug Task Force in July. The two BPD staff assigned to the Task Force began their new role in mid-August.

During downtown patrols, BPD officers are highly visible, and officers observe, investigate, disrupt, and arrest those engaged in drug-related illegal activity.

Downtown Bellingham has active public spaces and thriving arts and culture.

Support events and activities to enliven downtown 

The City provided funding and logistics support for the 20th anniversary of this annual event, drawing crowds into the heart of downtown several nights this summer.

Northwest Tune-up, SeaFeast and Bellingham Exit were all funded by City grants. The City is now offering grant funds to support the next big signature event through a competitive application process. Results will be announced in late 2025.

As of January 2024, the Whatcom Museum offers free admission, extended hours, and free programming on the first Friday of each month.

The City contributes logistics support, such as traffic control and street cleaning, and other sponsorship support, for special events like Pride IN Bellingham parade, the Memorial Day parade, St. Patrick’s Day parade, and Coast Salish Day at Whatcom Creek.

With support from the City, Allied Arts collaborated with Downtown Bellingham Partnership, WTA and local businesses to host the 2024 Rockin’ the Railroad Summer Block Party on August 18.

Create engaging and beautiful public spaces 

In June, the City awarded $350,000 to seven projects to add aesthetic appeal and create more enjoyable experiences for pedestrians downtown. Several projects are underway, with the first – a mural on the Old Fire Station 1 building – now complete.

The City continues to fund the Downtown Bellingham Partnership to maintain planters, hanging baskets, and landscaping beds throughout the downtown. Additionally, City staff enhanced the State and Wharf Street roundabouts and areas along Cornwall Avenue. Six information kiosks were also refreshed with new panels and updated information.

In collaboration with the Whatcom Museum, the City installed window clings in the former Rite Aid building that describe the history of the building and promote participation in the Bellingham Plan. 

Illustrated banners are in production and will be installed throughout downtown in 2025. 

Downtown Bellingham is a top location to work, shop and invest.

Support business with strategic use of public spaces 

The City completed an analysis of the Commercial Street Parking Garage to study the necessary improvements to address architectural, security, structural, and aesthetic issues. We will continue to evaluate the best use of this space within the context of downtown parking needs and prioritize improvements for the future and expand affordable parking options for residents and visitors.

About 30 “streateries” – structures built in on-street parking areas to create outdoor spaces for dining– were built between March 2020 and December 2022, mostly within downtown. Based on a 2022 assessment, the City recommended several improvements to the program, which will be implemented by the end of 2024. These include higher standards for design, safety and accessibility.

Provide funding to support businesses and tourism downtown 

The City provides ongoing funding for the operation of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, which provides support for downtown businesses, as well as marketing and events, such as Downtown Sounds, First Fridays and Wine Walks.

Downtown Bellingham is walkable, bikeable and resilient.

Provide infrastructure to support safe and accessible biking

In April, the City began piloting a new bike lane through downtown on Holly Street. This fall, staff will conduct a final evaluation of public input, traffic and bike counts, and safety indicators that will inform the final design of the permanent bike infrastructure to be installed.

Secured bike lockers are coming to downtown in Fall 2024, pending City Council approval. A total of 10 bike lockers are slated for installation: four lockers on the corner of Railroad and Champion, near the downtown WTA station, and six at the base of the Commercial Street Parking Garage.

Provide more electric vehicle charging downtown 

As part of our project to install 90 new electric vehicle (EV) plugs across Bellingham, the City added two new public EV chargers next to the Depot Market Square in summer 2024. More chargers are coming near the downtown WTA Station and to the Waterfront on Laurel Street by the end of 2024. 

Downtown Bellingham is a desirable, lively and affordable neighborhood to live in. 

Providing funding and support for affordable housing development

The 56 units of rental housing for seniors in this development, which opened in May, received $2M in City Housing Levy funds. 10% of the building’s units are reserved for homeless seniors, and the remainder for those making less than 50% of the average median income.

The City contributed approximately $4.89M toward this family-oriented affordable housing development, including $600,000 in Housing Levy dollars. In addition to the 83 one- to three-bedroom units targeting families with less than 60% AMI, this development also includes an on-site childcare center, supported with $1M in City funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Its grand opening was in August.

Encourage development of additional multifamily housing options 

The Multifamily Tax Exemption program incentivizes multifamily housing development by temporarily waiving a portion of property taxes. Since it’s inception, the program has supported over 1,800 market rate residential units, with over 75% located downtown, including 240 new, planned units. We are examining improvements to this ongoing program.

The City is exploring solutions that can spur both market-rate and subsidized housing options through redevelopment of existing, vacant properties.

Increase staffing to lead health and human services projects

This role will help advance the City’s work on behavioral health initiatives, opioid crisis response, justice project programs and addressing the unmet needs of community members without a home or regular shelter. As planning for downtown continues, we must also plan to meet these needs with compassion and care.

Contact the Mayor’s Office

Please contact the Mayor’s Office for more information.

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