600 West Holly Street Project

The vacant brownfield site just west of Maritime Heritage Park on Holly Street is owned by the City of Bellingham, with management of the property by the BPDA. The BPDA Strategic Plan programs this site for development for institutional use, with potential for an additional surplus site or building area for an office over street-front retail mixed-use building with onsite parking. That level of reuse for this space would provide an activity center within the Old Town District contributing to economic development.

Uses of the 2.1-acre parcel for which environmental clean-up and remediation has been partially completed for future redevelopment will be determined and per requirements of the Consent Decree issued by the Department of Ecology.

For the purposes of the Strategic Plan, the highest and best use in the near term would generate activity around the site that would not be impacted by continued operation of the adjacent recycling center. Projected first phase development is currently focused on an educational and research facility that would support the fisheries and environmental industries.

A phased building program totalling 40,000-50,000 sq. ft. would be projected for the parcel. The facility requirement for the institutional/educational facility is to be determined and may or may not require the entire parcel. Any remaining real estate may be suitable for retail or commercial services uses, particularly along the Holly Street frontage.

Should the research center with the educational consortium not proceed, the BPDA will re-evaluate the highest and best use and shift its plan to a mixed-use building. Options for a mixed-use building could include retail and commercial services and upper floor office space.