Because of its beauty and livable neighborhoods, Bellingham is now more popular than ever, and more people are moving here. Consequently, Bellingham residents must again make important decisions about where we want growth to occur, in a manner that is environmentally sound and that does not impair the quality of life we all value.
In order to save farmland, reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and also to reduce sprawl, it is important for Bellingham to emphasize infill in the city and the Urban Growth Area. However, there is no need to sacrifice Bellingham’s neighborhoods in the process.
Our neighborhoods are essential to our quality of life, provide stability and predictability and have been the backbone of the city since Bellingham’s inception. The state Growth Management Act states we “must” preserve the “character of established residential neighborhoods.”
The Bellingham Comprehensive Plan also calls for the preservation of “neighborhood character.”
Bellingham has made progress recently in locating people downtown, which has helped to revitalize the area, made downtown safer, and saved countless acres of farmland when residents chose to live downtown instead of out in the county. Yet Bellingham has just started to tap downtown’s potential, as most of the buildings are of only one or two stories and the downtown is dotted with underutilized surface parking lots.
Bellingham also has many commercial districts that would benefit greatly from additional residents. Samish Way neighbors are already working on plans to rebuild Samish Way. Adding mixed use buildings with a large capacity for more people and many services would improve the area.
Built as part of Highway 99, the Samish Way commercial area consists of massive expanses of asphalt parking lots and single-story strip malls typical of the auto-centric development of the post-WWII era. There is very little housing, and many of the commercial buildings are reaching the end of their useful life. The commercial buildings are set back from the street and are inconvenient and uncomfortable to reach by foot, so automobiles dominate the area and few pedestrians can be found.
This area holds great potential for a vibrant, attractive, pedestrian-friendly and environmentally smart community.
Fortunately, Samish Way neighbors are working with city staff to create a walkable “Urban Village” type design with multiple levels of housing over offices and retail space. To make such improvements, the city of Bellingham must change a number of its building codes to encourage better urban design, such as placing buildings closer to the street.
We can find a model for this approach to accommodating growth in the city of Tacoma, which has designated 14 “Mixed Use Centers,” including downtown, to accommodate growth and has modified their building codes accordingly. Bellingham could designate at least six mixed-use centers such at Samish Way, the Bellis Fair mall area, downtown, the new waterfront district, Sunset Square, the Fountain District, and Barkley Village, all of which have significant commercial areas that are underutilized for housing. The neighborhoods have made great progress on the redesign and revitalization of Old Town.
Taking these steps would also provide significant affordable market-rate housing, which the city needs. In older commercial districts around the world, housing is often placed above the commercial spaces. This arrangement was ranked very high in visual preference surveys and is used by many cities in revitalizing their downtowns and other commercial areas. Mixed-use centers also can offer new housing choices to aging residents of adjacent single-family neighborhoods who want to stay close to long-time neighbors but need the convenience of elevator buildings and nearby stores and restaurants.
Placing additional residents in mixed-use centers is also better for the success of transit.
While working to infill its commercial centers with higher-density housing and commercial uses, Tacoma has also recognized the importance of protecting single-family neighborhoods.
Adding residential units to commercial areas in Bellingham would also bring vitality to many economically struggling areas and make them more attractive and pedestrian-friendly, with many small businesses and restaurants located within easy walking distance. This is where Bellingham should focus its efforts.
Thus, there is no need to try to force inappropriate development into existing single-family neighborhoods by subdividing lots or forcing accessory dwelling units in them. Such shortsighted action would effectively end single-family neighborhoods in Bellingham by making them multi-family areas.
In meeting our challenges to manage growth, we can obtain a better result by making smart choices that place population in and near commercial areas in the city while also protecting our quality of life through continuing to value our single-family neighborhoods.