Bellingham Real Estate Blog

Here's a surprise. Whatcom County issued 691 permits for construction of houses in unincorporated areas while all of the cities in the county combined issued 482 building permits for houses, according to statistics compiled by The Bellingham Herald. According to the research in the article "Bellingham population grew slower than planned from 2000 to 2005, but in the unincorporated county, population growth was about three times faster than expected."      

Sounds like sprawl to me. With all the talk of stopping sprawl and keeping growth in Bellingham it just doesn't seem to be happening. Wouldn't it be better to grow the city than build houses in the rural parts of the county? It seems like it to me. Sure we are  not going to completely stop growth in the rural areas but who about confining it a bit. Growth is a big issue here in Bellingham and Whatcom County. We have been discovered, people are coming from all over. Where are they going to live is an ongoing debate. But these numbers seem to speak for themselves as to the past few years. How about the next few. Will the new high-rises planned change the tide.

What do you think? ................................Stay tuned.

$280,000  - Abundant opportunities for property in Alger with Rural Village Residential zoning. Halfway between Bellingham & Mt. Vernon. Rural setting yet minutes to I-5. Has been a church for many generations. 2+ acres. It has a building with kitchen, mens & womens restrooms & large meeting room. Also on property is 2BR mfg home. Large parking lot. Possible uses w/RVR zoning are: family day care; home based business; animal clinic; preschool; retail & wholesale nurseries/greenhouses; seasonal roadside stand.

The Heritage Flight Museum at Bellingham International Airport will be hosting the "Sentimental Journey", A World War ll era B-17 aircraft at the Bellingham Airport Sunday and Monday July 29 & 30. The Sentimental Journey the "most accurately restored B-17 that exists," said its pilot Bob Blue, a retired United Airlines. The B-17's were known as the Flying Fortress

The airplane was built in 1944, and entered United States Army Air Corps service as a photo reconnaissance plane in the Philippines.  It then worked at sea rescues, next as a mother ship piloting drone planes through atomic bomb blast areas, Blue said. It flew over forest fires until the Commemorative Air Force purchased it in 1978 and it has been touring since.

The free car show sponsored by Northwest European Autoworks is to encourage people to get their older European cars out of the garage and out on the road.

The show will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Flickr stephentrepreneur

The road to Artist point will open tomorrow, Saturday July 28. Road crews have been working this month to clear up to 20 feet of snow from the final few miles so people can get to the end of the road and the beautiful views and hiking trials that are available there. Artist point is above 5000 feet  of elevation and provides some spectacular views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. I will be heading up very soon to take my 2 new sons who have recently arrived from Thailand and never seen snow before, except in pictures.

Bellingham has just been awarded $150,000 grant to help preserve it's historic character and promote heritage tourism. The grant will fund a survey historic homes in the Lettered Streets, York and South Hill neighborhoods. The grant comes to us from Preserve America and was awarded by Laura Bush who designated Bellingham as a Preserve America community.

"To qualify for the grant we had to demonstrate the city's dedication to its historic resources, and show that we understand preservation's role in economic development and community revitalization," sid Katie Franks, Development Specialist for the Planning and Community Development Department

For more information you can visit the city of Bellingham website.

Anthropology students from Western Washington University haver determined that people lived at a site on Chuckanut Bay at the site of the present Woodstock Farm as long as 2,500 years ago. The discovery was made from finely ground bits of shells near the shore. They believe that carbon dating shows people processed shellfish at these sites in what in America are ancient times.  Students also found evidence of temporary fishing camp and more permanent settlements. 

There will be a discussion of the archaeological dig Friday at an event at Woodstock Farm from 5 - 8 pm.

The Washington state's County Road Administration Board will pay Whatcom County more than $8.1 million in grant money for a new Lummi Island ferry. The money will come in installments of more than $407,000 annually for 20 years.

A lot of Lummi Island residents came to Tuesday night's council meeting to voice their opinion for a new ferry to replace the aging 45- year-old Whatcom Chief, which is not in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and is showing signs of a deteriorating hull. 

Don't miss  the 11th annual Bellingham Co-op Community Party, Sunday, July 29, noon-6 pm
Admission Free & Everyone Welcome!

Come on down to Boulevard Park for musi, magicians and jugglers, kids' activities, a parade, and the opportunity to connect with local non-profits. You can even feast on a famous 2-Buck Burrito.

The -RE Store will have a Recycled Art Station, transform something old into a new work of art, lots of materials will be provided.

Five bands will play the day away. Juba Marimba will start the show , followed by the Happy Valley Sluggers with John Hatten calling circle, square, and line dances for the whole family, a new Bellingham "fusion Latin alternative" band, Sabrina y Los Reyes. LaPUSH Street Dance Band will lead a kids parade. The Monday Night Project will close the show for all .

Co-sponsors of the event are  Bellingham Parks and Recreation and the RE Store.