Waterfront District

Subarea Plan

In December 2019 the Bellingham City Council approved amendments to the Waterfront District Subarea Plan and related development regulations. Together, these planning tools will guide private development and public improvements, and help prioritize city investment in the development of the waterfront.

Waterfront District Subarea Plan (6,207K PDF)

Regulations

Waterfront District Permitting Handbook – March 2014
Planned Action Ordinance (Ordinance 2013-12-091)
Development Agreement Between Port of Bellingham and City of Bellingham (PDF)
Interlocal Agreement for Facilities within the Waterfront District (PDF)
- Minor Modification 2024-1 Waterfront District (PDF)
- Major Modification 2024-1 Waterfront District (PDF)

Over $60 million in environmental cleanup efforts has removed over 110,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sediment.
New All-American Marine manufacturing facility will bring 75 skilled trade jobs to the Waterfront.
Upgraded marine trade infrastructure includes a new barge terminal, loading ramp and 250-ton crane.
Construction and expansion of a Silfab facility, North America’s largest solar panel manufacturer. This will bring over 100 clean energy jobs to Bellingham.
Waypoint Park is open! The park provides the first public access to the former GP Mill site.
Construction is nearly complete on the Granary Building. Bellingham Yoga Collective has moved in as the first tenant to occupy the building since GP closed in 2007.
Construction on new roads, sidewalks, utilities and Bellingham’s first Cycle Track is underway.
A clean energy district heating and cooling system will connect all new buildings. The system is more efficient and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Ram Construction operated a live camera feed of the Laurel/Granary street construction and Waypoint Park, including time-lapse images.

City Center Neighborhood Plan

Granary Avenue and Laurel Street

The Granary Avenue and Laurel Street project involves the construction of a new roadway through the site and includes bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, public and franchise utilities, landscaping and street lighting. At a cost of $10.9 million, these streets will provide further public access through the waterfront area, facilitate the opening of the Granary Building and connect to Waypoint Park.

These waterfront streets will establish new connections to our city center and provide the infrastructure needed to further develop the district.

Waterfront Historic Resources Plan

Many Community members and other stakeholders have expressed interest in the retention and/or reuse of equipment remaining from the pulp and tissue mill processes. These features can help reinforce the unique character of the Waterfront District, providing visual connections from the surrounding neighborhoods and opportunities for historic interpretation, artwork and wayfinding.

The City of Bellingham partnered with the Port of Bellingham to develop Waterfront Historic Resources Plan. These recommendations showcase how the remaining buildings, icons and smaller features could be linked into a cohesive story and visual concept as the site redevelops.