Proposal

Center for Local Self Reliance

A Community Learning Environment in

the Fairhaven Park Rose Garden and Caretaker’s House

City of Bellingham RFP 65-2008

Submitted by RE Sources for Sustainable Communities

and the Center for Local Self Reliance

July 2, 2008

Contact information:

Steve Wilson

1733 Old Samish Rd.

Bellingham, WA 98229

360-671-3380

Contents of this Proposal

v Information about the purchaser

v Introduction

v Vision for Adaptive Re-use of the Fairhaven Park Rose Garden caretaker’s house

v Attachments:

Ø Pro-forma

Ø Capital projects budget

Ø RE Sources documentation (Business license, 501c3 designation, certificate of insurance, balance sheet)

Ø Letters of support

§ Neighborhood Improvement Program

§ Fairhaven Middle School

§ WSU/Whatcom County Extension

§ Edgemoor Neighborhood Association

§ South Neighborhood Association

Ø Draft landscape plan

Ø Draft trail connections

Ø Qualifications of Principals

Ø As-built images

Information about the Purchaser

The proposal is submitted by RE Sources for Sustainable Communities (RE Sources) in partnership with and on behalf of the Center for Local Self Reliance, a new Bellingham community organization.

RE Sources is a twenty-five year old not for profit organization with a mission to promote sustainable communities through recycling, education, advocacy, and the conservation of natural resources. RE Sources operates in seven northwest Washington counties, conducting a variety of recycling, education, and advocacy activities. Our largest and most visible program is the operation of two RE Store operations, where used building material is salvaged and sold. RE Sources operates RE Stores in the cities of Bellingham and Seattle, and salvages buildings throughout western Washington. In addition to The RE Stores, RE Sources works with the agricultural sector in seven counties to develop recycling infrastructure for agricultural plastic wastes, operate the Whatcom County Recycling Hotline, and conducts classroom presentations on a variety of environmental topics in schools throughout Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties. A complete organizational resume and program list are attached.

The Center for Local Self Reliance (CLSR) is a newly forming organization with a focus on teaching gardening, food preservation, and other self reliance skills. The group includes Southside neighborhood organization representatives, builders, gardeners, and educators. The group is currently organizing itself as a legal entity and will soon file for state and federal non-profit status.

Because CLSR does not yet have legal status as an organization, RE Sources has offered to act as the administrative and fiscal umbrella for the organization for the purposes of the rfp. As the organization attains its organizational goals, RE Sources will step back, allowing the new organization to coordinate this project. It should be emphasized that RE Sources staff will stay involved throughout the project as a project partner and act as the non-profit umbrella until federal status has been granted.

Introduction

Fairhaven Park serves as a welcoming gateway to historic south Bellingham. Its playgrounds spray park, tennis courts and lush natural riparian areas beckon community members of all ages, making the park a true asset. Sadly, one part of this jewel has fallen into disrepair in recent years—the historic caretaker’s cottage, built in 1914. A sister to an identical structure in the recently acquired Woodstock Farm, this lovely little house beckons visitors who wonder what it must have been like to live there during Cyrus Gates’ time. Furthermore, its grounds, once a lovely rose garden resplendent with a wide variety of roses draped upon trellises, are now a desert of lawn with little utility or charm.

In recent months a groups of Southside neighbors have been discussing the potential of creating a dynamic community space where area residents can learn about gardening, food preservation, seed gathering, simple mechanics, carving, fiber arts and a host of other self reliance skills. Due to its proximity to four Southside neighborhoods, the Padden Creek greenway, and the now empty grounds of the rose garden, the caretaker’s house at Fairhaven Park would be ideal for such an endeavor.

The new Center for Local Self Reliance will combine place-based education about the riparian and forest environments in and near the park, with community education about a host of useful skills, most especially gardening-related activities. With soaring energy and food prices, many area residents are worried about the future and are looking to their community networks for support and direction about how to respond. Bellingham’s recent establishment of an Energy Task Force to begin planning a future of energy insecurity indicate a growing “re-localization” movement, wherein communities are beginning to explore how they can once again provide for their own needs. Efforts to map each neighborhood’s gardening potential are underway while other community members work to establish alternative modes of transportation and create local business networks.

The Center for Local Self Reliance will provide valuable resources to our community as we explore this new cultural terrain. Located at the edge of the bustling urban village of historic Fairhaven, the caretaker’s house in Fairhaven Park is an ideal location for community gathering, teaching, and learning. This proposal imagines adaptive re-use of the caretaker’s house that offers affordable gathering spaces, classrooms, an office, public restrooms, and a teaching kitchen where food preparation and preservation and other traditional domestic arts would be taught.

The house would make full use of the surrounding grounds, with trails leading to the Padden Creek greenway and to the main portion of the park. The former rose garden will be transformed into educational gardens, each highlighting various landscapes. Visitors to the park could wander the grounds, viewing gardens with a variety of uses including food gardens, medicinal and culinary herbs, plantings for wildlife, low water landscapes, etc. Interpretive signs will be placed throughout the grounds, highlighting educational messages and encouraging visitors to explore further. Park visitors would then stroll down an interpretive nature trail to learn about the riparian area and the value of restoring urban natural areas for storm water retention, wildlife, and human enjoyment. There, one might come across a group of students from Fairhaven Middle School, who are taking a break from working in the gardens to watch the salmon returning up the creek.

There is special interest in this project from teachers at Fairhaven Middle School. Currently, there is a group of science teachers that are ready to form a horticulture club who are committed to working with the CLSR group to develop and use this space as an extension of the school grounds. This is very in-keeping with the “No Child Left Inside” initiative occurring statewide and nationally. This initiative seeks to reconnect young people with the natural world through hands-on recreational and educational experiences in nature.

The CLSR hopes to link arms with the Woodstock Conservancy to ensure that these two properties, each with their identical caretaker’s house, are developed in a manner that is not only compatible with one another, but that add value to one another. The development of urban teaching gardens and creation of a community learning space in Fairhaven Park will strengthen programming at Woodstock Farm and add value to Fairhaven Park.

The proposed uses will help return a little used corner of Fairhaven Park into a park destination. Parks are often used as education spaces. Certainly the Fragrance Garden at Whatcom County’s Tennant Lake Park is a good example of a beautiful landscape that is at once aesthetically pleasing and educational. The house at Tennant Lake is used for a wide variety of educational endeavors. We envision the CLSR at Fairhaven Park to serve as an engaging passive use area for strollers to enjoy the gardens, as an active educational space for students and adults alike, and as a community meeting space, making good use of the meeting rooms in the house, which will be available for rental to community groups when not in use for educational activities. There is a dearth of affordable meeting space for community groups in Bellingham, as demand for park pavilions and library meeting rooms can evidence.

There are certainly numerous precedents for adaptive re-use of public spaces as community educational and gathering spaces. The Firehouse Performing Arts Center is one such example right here in Bellingham, located just blocks away on Harris Avenue. Since its rehabilitation, the Firehouse has become a popular venue for dance and movement classes, candidate forums during the elections, and for a simple visit with neighbors over a cup of coffee.

Adaptive Re-use of the Caretaker’s House

The attached plans show the proposed layout of the refurbished building. Note that the project is envisioned in several phases. The development of the landscape into interpretive and teaching gardens is discussed herein in order to give a full sense of the scope of the project. Note that the landscape planning process will occur with neighborhood and stakeholder input. The attached landscape plan is conceptual only and intended to identify site improvements necessary for this RFP. The landscape plan will be developed in coordination with the Parks Department staff during beginning in the initial phases of the project.

Phase 1: Internal organization, fundraising, and stabilize house for public use. Completion goal for Phase 1: September 2009.

v Complete incorporation of the CLSR as an independent legal entity with Washington state non-profit status

v Negotiation and signing of lease with City of Bellingham

v Filing for federal 501 c 3 non-profit status

v Exploration of benefits of local and/or National Historic Register designation for the building

v Stakeholder initiation

v Initiate site master planning in coordination with constituent group and Bellingham Parks Department

v Address building maintenance necessary for life and safety and to ensure no further structural damage is done

v Develop fundraising plan

v Work with Planning and Community Development and Parks Departments to coordinate potential 2009 Neighborhood Initiatives Program funding

v Public fundraising with a goal of $75,000 by March 31, 2009

v Development of a formal parking plan and a final site plan

v Develop final construction plan

v Contractor selection

Phase 2: House remodel to be ready for public use

Completion goal for Phase 2: September 2010

v Asbestos and mold abatement

v Plumbing update

v Electrical service installation

v Removal of downstairs interior walls and drywall, creating a large open-space for multi-use

v ADA accessible bathroom on main floor

v ADA ramp to access the main floor

v Repair or replacement of doors and windows

v Improve drainage around house with low impact storm water facilities (demonstration rain garden)

v Development of a minimum of four parking stalls; two of which are ADA compliant (pursuant to parking plan developed in Phase I)

v Interior drywall where needed

v Interior and exterior painting

v Landscaping in area immediately surrounding house

v Staff selection for on-going program oversight

v On-going fundraising and grant submittals

Phase 3: Programming begins for public usage

Completion Goal: Phase 3: Spring 2011

v Rental office and meeting rooms ready for leasing

v CLSR office ready for occupancy

v CLSR staff begin program scheduling

v Develop Phase 1 Landscape Plan, including trail connections. Plan to be developed through a stakeholder involvement process.

v Kitchen updates for extended use

Landscape Plan development:

Phase 1/Planning (2008/09):

v Children’s garden: developed in cooperation with Fairhaven Middle School horticulture club

v Gazebo repair: summer/fall 2008, in cooperation with South Neighborhhod Association(do this early on – small and simple grant in 2008 is paying for this)

v Stakeholder process for Phase 2 landscape plan developed in coordination with Parks Department

v Coordinate with COB to develop trail plan to connect with Fairhaven Park and Padden Creek greenway

Phase 2/Construction (2010 and beyond)

v Development of gardens (this is envisioned as a long term process)

v Use of gardens for educational programs

v Development of interpretive signage

Project Partners

This vision is more than a charming picture; it is an exciting possibility made real by the interest and efforts of a broad coalition of community residents. Project partners (committed and prospective) include:

v RE Sources for Sustainable Communities (committed)

v City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department / Neighborhood Initiatives Program (committed pending anticipated funding and federal conditions met)

v Fairhaven Middle School—science teachers and future horticulture club (committed)

v Master Gardeners from WSU Cooperative Extension (committed)

v Members of the South, Happy Valley, Edgemoor and Fairhaven neighborhood associations (All have committed)

v Whatcom Community College (prospective—in discussion)

v Woodstock Conservancy (prospective)

v Small Potatoes Gleaning Project (prospective—in discussion)

v Bellingham Food Bank (prospective)

v Whatcom Horticultural Society (prospective)

v Old Fairhaven Business Association (prospective)

Outreach will also occur to a variety of constituent groups including garden clubs, youth groups, etc.

Access

While many community members drive their cars to Fairhaven Park, increasing numbers of people walk or ride bicycles to the park, generally on the Interurban Trail. The park is also located on a WTA bus line, making it an ideal urban park. Moreover, the park is located across the street from Fairhaven Middle School, creating the potential for an outdoor learning laboratory for classes and clubs.

Visitors to the Center for Local Self Reliance will transport themselves to the site in the variety of ways that park users do currently—some will drive there, but it is envisioned that the site will be accessed primarily on foot or bicycle via existing sidewalks from Fairhaven and the surrounding neighborhoods or via the Interurban Trail through the Padden Creek greenway. For the majority of visitors accessing the site by car, ample parking is available at the main lot at Fairhaven Park, a one minute walk down the new improved sidewalk along Chuckanut Drive. For an additional 30 seconds, those that desire a more sylvan and contemplative journey from the main parking lot to the house can walk down the Interurban Trail and take an informal trail directly to the house (potentially an official trail in the future development phases of the project). Handicap parking, staff/maintenance vehicle parking, and delivery parking will be located on site. User parking would be available in the main Fairhaven Park area, with pedestrian access to the site via trail. Travel via trails connecting Fairhaven Park proper with the nearby neighborhoods and urban amenities will be encouraged. There will be two (2) handicap accessible parking spaces and two staff/maintenance parking spaces available near the house. Minimal improvements will be needed to further accommodate access. The attached site plan shows the proposed location of parking spaces and trail access points, as well as the existing bus stop.

A formal parking plan will be developed during Phase I of the project

Timeline

Summer/Fall 2008

v Complete incorporation of the CLSR as an independent legal entity with Washington state non-profit status

v Negotiation and signing of lease with City of Bellingham

v Filing for federal 501 c 3 non-profit status

v Develop fundraising plan

v Grant applications, as appropriate

v Explore HUD grant opportunities with COB

v Gazebo repair (Led by South Neighborhood Assoc)

Winter 2008/09

v Address building maintenance necessary for safety and to ensure no further structural damage is done

v Exploration of state and federal register designation for the building

v Stakeholder process initiation

v Initiate master planning in coordination with constituent group and Bellingham Parks Department

v Public fundraising with a goal of $75,000 by March 31, 2009

v Grant applications, as appropriate

Spring/Summer 2009

v Development of a formal parking plan and a final site plan

v Develop final construction plan

v Contractor selection

v Basic grounds keeping

Fall 2009 – Summer 2010

v Asbestos and mold abatement

v Plumbing update

v Electrical service installation

v Removal of downstairs interior walls and drywall, creating a large open-space for multi-use

v ADA accessible bathroom on main floor

v ADA ramp to access the main floor

v Repair or replacement of original doors and windows

v Improve drainage around house with low impact storm water facilities (demonstration rain garden)

v Development of a minimum of four parking stalls; two of which are ADA compliant (pursuant to parking plan developed in Phase I)

v Interior drywall where needed

v Interior and exterior painting

v Landscaping in area immediately surrounding house

v Staff selection process

v On-going fundraising and grant submittal

Fall 2010-Spring 2011

v Rental office and meeting rooms ready for leasing

v CLSR office ready for occupancy

v CLSR staff begin program scheduling

v Develop Phase 1 Landscape Plan, including trail connections. Plan to be developed through a stakeholder involvement process.

v Design and build commercial kitchen

v Development of Children’s garden: developed in cooperation with Fairhaven Middle School horticulture club

v Beginning of educational programs

v Stakeholder process for Phase 2 landscape plan

v Coordinate with COB to develop trail plan to connect with Fairhaven Park and Padden Creek greenway

Summer –Fall 2010, and on-going

v Development of gardens (this is envisioned as a long term process)

v Use of gardens for educational programs

v Development of interpretive signage

v Development of trail linkages as identified in trail plan, above

Maintenance Plan

A grounds maintenance plan will be developed, in collaboration with COB Parks Department staff, as soon as our proposal is accepted. It will include mowing and line trimming of traditional Rose Garden grounds. South Neighborhood Association, operating with a current Small & Simple grant, will re-hab the existing gazebo and trellis structures during 2008.

See attached maintenance plan and budget for details on building maintenance.

Funding

It is anticipated that the total budget for Phase 1 and 2 improvements (remodeling and repair of the structure) will be approximately $160,000. See the attached budget for a detailed budget. Further improvements, which include development of storm water facilities parking, and the gardens, have not been included in this proposal, pending more detailed site planning, to be completed during Phase 1. This project will be funded through a variety of sources. As a community non-profit group, the project team has not yet secured funding for the project. However, the first step to achieving funding is securing site control. We propose that the City of Bellingham give the group site control on the understanding that we will attain adequate funding for all Phase 1 & 2improvements within the timeline articulated above. The group will volunteer to keep the house from becoming a nuisance while the funding package is assembled.

Funding sources may include City of Bellingham HUD block grant funds. The Department of Planning and Community Development has indicated that they may be able to allocate $75,000 toward the house re-hab or the development of the landscape in 2009 through the City’s Neighborhood Initiatives Program (NIP), with the possibility of additional NIP funding in future years (see Planning and Community Development letter of support, attached). Upon gaining site control the group will also begin a private fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $75,000 in private gifts by March of 2009. As well, grant proposals will be developed for submittal to a variety of funders for both planning and capital improvements. Further, some funds will be saved through pro-bono donations from professionals, materials donations from local businesses, including the RE Store, and volunteer labor.