Actions to resolve a long-standing unauthorized encampment will become more visible next week, when crews begin cleaning and fencing near an encampment on private property off E. Stuart Road, near Walmart.
At the same time, increasing community concerns and a growing list of allegations about criminal activities on private properties at Northwest Avenue and W. Bakerview Road are also demanding attention.
Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund said that while long-standing concerns and recent court action compelled activities planned next week at the E. Stuart Road encampment, she and her team are also focusing on an encampment at Northwest Avenue and W. Bakerview Road. Lund has urged owners of this growing encampment to act to clean up and secure their properties or face enforcement actions for public health and safety violations.
“We share the concerns we are hearing from community members. We are acting on the significant impacts unauthorized encampments have on area residents, businesses and people who live in or spend time in them,” Mayor Lund said. “We are addressing encampments with diligence and compassion, using humane and supportive approaches, while actively pursuing enforcement, crime prevention and cleanup activities.”
E. Stuart Road encampment update
The week of Nov. 18, 2024, the City and contractors will clean, clear and fence the western property line of the E. Stuart Road property that has been the subject of extensive litigation (also known as the Fang property). This work is a coordinated effort with the owners of the Tullwood Apartments, who will also clear and fence the northern area of their property. (link to map)
This coordinated action between the City and an adjacent private property owner is the first step in what is anticipated to be a multi-phase, multi-year effort necessary to clean up and repair environmental damage to the 20-acre property and surrounding areas. Implementing cleaning, fencing and consistent monitoring as best practices are important first steps to securing properties and preventing encampments from forming.
Lund emphasized this specific first step was chosen to help protect the residents of the Tullwood Apartments from the impacts of encampment activities, a long-standing problem at this location. Her team is also working closely with human services outreach providers in advance to offer resources to people who need support.
Details about this encampment, City legal steps to address it, recent court rulings and future updates available on the E. Stuart Road encampment page.
Bakerview and Northwest encampment update
Lund stated that activities linked to the encampment at the intersection of Bakerview and Northwest are impacting neighboring residents and businesses, resulting in escalating public health and safety concerns and a growing list of criminal activity allegations in and near it. This highly visible location adjacent to a busy commercial area spans multiple parcels with separate owners, all of whom are being urged to clean up and secure their properties.
Lund and her team have met three times this fall with these property owners and their representatives. During a meeting on Nov. 8, 2024, she urged them to take immediate action to clean and secure their properties or face enforcement actions. “We are reconvening the property owners in December to hear their plans for a coordinated action at a future date,” Lund said.
While individual property owners have taken actions in the past, these efforts have not been successful in eliminating encampment activities due to a lack of area-wide coordination and effective monitoring, Lund noted. Her team has presented options and cost estimates to clean and fence all the properties, as well as offered security and other technical assistance to property owners who participate in coordinated efforts. Lund has also directed additional police patrols and retail theft prevention support in the area and has taken other steps to address this encampment. More details and future updates can be found on our Northwest and Bakerview encampment page.
“Our community is calling on all involved to address legitimate concerns about this encampment and its impacts, swiftly and with compassion for those who live in or are affiliated with it,” Lund said. “These efforts are part of our ongoing commitment to address community concerns and find long-term solutions that balance public safety, private property rights and responsibilities, and the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and behavioral health challenges.”
“We are committed to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as those affected by the encampment,” Lund added. “This is a complex situation that requires thoughtful and comprehensive solutions. We are working closely with neighboring property owners, community partners and health and human service providers to develop effective strategies to address the root causes of homelessness while balancing the needs and safety of the broader community.”
More information about the City’s work to resolve encampments available at cob.org/encampments.
