Mayor’s City Center Awards

​​​​​​​​​​​​​The annual Mayor’s City Center Awards provides an opportunity for the Mayor to honor, showcase and recognize some of the outstanding achievements and exceptional private projects that have led to the revitalization of Bellingham’s City Center Neighborhood. City Center Neighborhood map (PDF).

The Mayor selects property owners, businesses, and/or organizations as awardees based on criteria that includes: outstanding restoration, rehabilitation, or renovation of an existing building; creating unique residential and commercial spaces within existing buildings; activating adjacent public spaces; and other actions that improve the quality of life in Bellingham’s City Center.​​

2024 Awards

The 2024 City Center Awards were presented by Mayor Kim Lund at an award ceremony hosted by the City on September 19, 2024, at the Chuckanut Bay Distillery event space. Fun fact: Chuckanut Bay Distillery won a City Center Award in 2023 for their vision for and restoration of that space (you can see more about this in the 2023 Awards section below).

Learn more about the ​​2024 City Center Awardees​:

COF&, located at 1209 Cornwall Avenue
Structures Brewing, located at 601 West Holly Street
JUXT Taphouse, located at 119 West Holly Street
The Portal Container Village, located at 298 West Laurel Street
2024 Mayor’s City Center Award winners

2023 Awards

The 2023 City Center Awards were presented by Mayor Seth Fleetwood at an award ceremony hosted by the City on July 27, 2023, at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building.

Learn more about the ​​2023 City Center Awardees​:

  • Chuckanut Bay Distillery and Penny Farthing, 1309 &1113 Cornwall Avenue: YouTube Video
  • Renaissance Building (a.k.a. Elks Building), 1414 Cornwall Avenue: YouTube Video
  • Hudson Yard, 954 N. State Street: YouTube Video
  • Storia Cucina, 109 Grand Avenue: YouTube Video

Mayor Seth Fleetwood and the 2023 City Center Award recipients

No award events were held in 2020, 2021 or 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 Awards

2019 Awards were presented by Mayor Kelli Linville at an award ceremony hosted by the City on July 25, 2019, at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building.

Learn more about the ​​2019 City Center Awardees​:

Mayor Kelli Linville and the 2019 City Center Award recipients

2018 Awards

2018 Awards were presented by Mayor Kelli Linville at an award ceremony hosted by the City on July 12, 2018, at the Pickford Film Center.

Learn more about the ​​2018 City Center Awardees​:

​​​​Mayor Kelli Linville and the 2018 City Center Award recipients

2017 Awards

​2017 Awards were presented by Mayor Kelli Linville at an award ceremony hosted by the City on July 13,2023, at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building.

Learn more about the 2017 City Center Awardees:

Mayor Kelli Linville and the 2017 City Center Award recipients
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