Editing Bellingham, Washington (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA. 1978 (50933324551).jpg|thumb|Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham, 1978]]

===Events===
* The [[Ski to Sea]] race<ref>[http://www.bellingham.com/skitosea/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724142004/http://www.bellingham.com/skitosea/|date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> is a team relay race made up of seven legs: cross country skiing, downhill skiing (or snowboarding), running, road biking, canoeing (2 person), mountain biking, and kayaking. The racers begin at the [[Mount Baker Ski Area]] and make their way down to the finish line on Bellingham Bay. Organized by the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the event was first held in 1973 and traces its roots to the 1911 Mt. Baker Marathon.
* The Bellingham Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellinghambaymarathon.org/ |title=Run the Bay... Bellingham Bay Marathon &#124; Bellingham Bay Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K |publisher=Bellinghambaymarathon.org |access-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref> is held annually on the last Sunday in September, attracting approximately 2,500 runners and walkers each year. The Boston-qualifier marathon starts near Gooseberry Point on [[Lummi people|Lummi]] Nation and circumnavigates Bellingham Bay to finish in downtown Bellingham. The half marathon, 10K, and 5K races all start and end at Depot Market Square.
*The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour is an annual event featuring local artists working in a variety of media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studiotour.net|title=Whatcom Artist Studio Tour|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> On the first two weekends in October, artists open their studios up to the public.
*The Bellingham Highland Games & Scottish Festival is held every year at Ferndale's Hovander Park the first full weekend in June. The outdoor event celebrates Scottish culture and heritage, with two days of games, spectator sports, dancing, music and food.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bhga.org|title=Bellingham Scottish Highland Games|work=bhga.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref>
*[[LinuxFest Northwest]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linuxfestnorthwest.org|title=2016 - LinuxFest Northwest 2016|work=linuxfestnorthwest.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> is a free conference dedicated to discussion and development of the [[Linux|Linux operating system]] and other [[open source software|open-source]] and [[free-software]] projects. It is a weekend event held at [[Bellingham Technical College]] in late April or early May which draws more than a thousand enthusiasts.
*The annual International Day of Peace is celebrated in Bellingham on September 21. The holiday was instituted by the United Nations as a 24-hour global cease-fire. The Bellingham-based Whatcom Peace & Justice Center publishes a calendar<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatcompjc.org/calendar.html|title=Calendar|work=Whatcom Peace & Justice Center|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906062959/http://www.whatcompjc.org/calendar.html|archive-date=September 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> of upcoming activist events with a theme of non-violence, community dissent, and worldwide peace.
*The [[Bellingham Festival of Music]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellinghamfestival.org/|title=Bellingham Festival of Music—Homepage of the Bellingham Festival of Music|work=bellinghamfestival.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> is an annual celebration of orchestral and chamber concerts, held in July, hosting musicians from North American orchestral ensembles.
*Bellingham Pride is a gay pride parade and festival held in July each year to celebrate [[LGBT]] people and history. The parade passes through the downtown and ends in the public market area.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article88862962.html|title=See photos from 2016 Bellingham Pride Parade|work=The Bellingham Herald|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

===Beer===
Craft beer is a major emerging industry in Bellingham. As of 2020, there are at least 15 breweries within Bellingham city limits and three additional breweries in greater Whatcom County.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fralic|first=Brandon|date=June 30, 2020|title=Rounding Up Bellingham's Craft Beer Scene - 17 Must See Breweries|url=https://www.bellingham.org/insider-blogs/rounding-up-bellinghams-craft-brewery-scene/|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=bellingham.org/|language=en-US|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930094921/https://www.bellingham.org/insider-blogs/rounding-up-bellinghams-craft-brewery-scene/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022, these breweries combined won 23 medals at seven national and international brewery competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Year End Wrap-Up of Bellingham's Beer, Wine and Cocktail Scene |url=http://www.bellingham.org/year-end-wrap-up-of-bellingham%E2%80%99s-beer-wine-and-cocktail-scene |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=bellingham.org}}</ref>

Most of Bellingham's breweries are located within a couple miles of each other in the downtown core. Some are in very close proximity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rounding Up Bellingham's Craft Beer Scene with Almost 20 Must-Visit Breweries |url=http://www.bellingham.org/itineraries/rounding-up-bellinghams-craft-beer-scene-with-almost-20-must-visit-breweries |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=bellingham.org}}</ref>

===Downtown===
The Bellingham Farmers Market<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/|title=Bellingham Farmers Market Home|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> is open on Saturdays from early April to late December. Originally opened in 1993, the Farmers Market now features more than 50 vendors, music and community events. The association also operates a weekly Wednesday market in nearby Fairhaven.

Wednesday nights in the summer see Downtown Sounds, a family-friendly concert series featuring food booths and a beer garden with local breweries held on Bay Street.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bikman|first1=Margaret|title=Downtown Sounds brings outdoor music to Bay Street|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/article25030345.html|access-date=May 29, 2017|publisher=The Bellingham Herald|date=June 24, 2015}}</ref>

From May to September, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership runs the Commercial Street Night Market, with local food, artisan vendors, live music and performances.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilde|first1=Lorraine|title=See the Real Bellingham At Commercial Street Night Market|url=http://www.bellingham.org/insider-blogs/commercial-street-night-market/|website=Bellingham.org|access-date=May 29, 2017}}</ref>

===Local attractions===
[[File:Boulevard Park and Boardwalk and Bellingham Cruise Terminal.jpg|thumb|alt=The waterfront on the left side with multiple large ships and small sail boats in the water. Mountains are visible in the distance |The waterfront Boulevard Park, with the boardwalk just above, and the Fairhaven waterfront area in the distance.  {{MV|Columbia}} is docked at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.]]

The [[Whatcom Museum of History and Art]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatcommuseum.org/|title=Welcome to the Whatcom Museum|author=Laura Johanson|work=whatcommuseum.org|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929033104/http://www.whatcommuseum.org/|archive-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> sponsors exhibits of painting, sculpture, local history, and is an active participant in the city's monthly Gallery Walks which are pedestrian tours of the historic buildings of the city, offering history and art lessons for [[Bellingham School District|local schools]] and adult groups, and historic cruises on Bellingham Bay.

The [[SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sparkmuseum.org/ |title=SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention in Bellingham, WA |publisher=Sparkmuseum.org |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> formerly known as the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, has a collection of rare artifacts from 1580 into the 1950s, providing educational resources about the history of electronics and radio broadcasting. The Spark Museum had founded KMRE FM [[KMRE-LP|KMRE-LP 102.3 FM]], a [[#FM radio|low-power FM radio station]] which broadcast a number of old shows popular many decades ago, as well as programming of general interest to the community. KMRE was housed at the museum in the beginning, but moved to The Bellingham National Bank Building, a few blocks from the museum because they needed more space. The station's license was cancelled on June 20, 2023.

Mindport<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindport.org/|title=MINDPORT EXHIBITS|work=mindport.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> is a privately funded arts and science museum.

[[File:Upper Whatcom Falls-110506.jpg|thumb|alt=A waterfall surrounded by forest|Upper Falls in [[Whatcom Falls Park]]]] [[Whatcom Falls Park]] is a {{convert|241|acre|ha|adj=on}} public park encompassing the Whatcom Creek gorge, running directly through the heart of the city. It has four sets of waterfalls and several miles of walking trails. Popular activities during warmer weather include swimming, fishing, and strolling along the numerous walking trails.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatcom.kulshan.com/Washington/Whatcom_County/Bellingham/Lakeway-Electric/Outdoors/Whatcom_Falls_Park.htm|title=Whatcom County—Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham, WA|work=kulshan.com|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219094147/http://whatcom.kulshan.com/Washington/Whatcom_County/Bellingham/Lakeway-Electric/Outdoors/Whatcom_Falls_Park.htm|archive-date=December 19, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 10, 1999, the [[Olympic pipeline explosion]] occurred in Whatcom Falls Park, killing three boys who were playing in the vicinity. Operated by Olympic Pipe Line Company, the pipeline that crossed Whatcom and Hanna Creeks leaked gasoline that turned the creeks pink, and then exploded into flames.

To the east of the city lies [[Lake Whatcom]], which provides the local public water supply and is the source of Whatcom Creek.

[[Bellis Fair Mall]], the city's main shopping mall, opened in 1988.

===Music scene===
Bellingham's location between two major cities, universities, record labels, and music magazines have all contributed to making Bellingham a desirable and recognized local music scene.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gooddeedseats.com/50-best-college-town-music-scenes/|title=The 50 Best College Town Music Scenes|website=GoodDeedSeats|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115083015/https://gooddeedseats.com/50-best-college-town-music-scenes/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The presence of a large university-age population has helped Bellingham become home to a number of regionally and nationally noted musical acts such as [[Death Cab for Cutie]], [[Odesza]], [[The Posies]], [[Crayon (band)|Crayon]], [[Idiot Pilot]], [[Mono Men]], [[No-Fi Soul Rebellion]], [[Sculptured]], [[Federation X]], The Trucks, [[Black Eyes & Neckties]], [[Black Breath (band)|Black Breath]], The High Mountain String Band, Shimmertraps, Dizzy Spins, and [[Shook Ones (band)|Shook Ones]]. Local independent record labels include [[Estrus Records]] and [[Clickpop Records]]. The city was also home to ''What's Up! Magazine'' which covered the local music scene for 22 years ending in March 2020, and Lemonade Magazine, devoted to music and entertainment of all kinds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whatsup-magazine.com/2020/12/good-bye/ |title=What's Up Magazine |access-date=January 15, 2009 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116024748/https://whatsup-magazine.com/2020/12/good-bye/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bellingham is also the home of an active classical music scene which includes the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra),<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |website=Bellingham Symphony Orchestra |date=October 2, 2019 |url=https://www.bellinghamsymphony.org/about-us-home |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> North Sound Youth Symphony, numerous community music groups and choirs, and the internationally recognized [[Bellingham Festival of Music]].

===Literary scene===
Bellingham is home to an active writers community at the local universities and independent of them. Western Washington University's English Department publishes the ''[[Bellingham Review]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwu.edu/bhreview|title=Bellingham Review|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> In 2011, the city hosted the first annual Chuckanut Writers Conference,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chuckanutwritersconference.com/|title=Chuckanut Writers Conference|work=chuckanutwritersconference.com|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025162503/http://chuckanutwritersconference.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> run by Whatcom Community College and Village Books,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagebooks.com |title=Building Community One Book at a Time &#124; Three Floors of New, Used and Bargain Books |publisher=Village Books |access-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> a local bookstore. Clover, A Literary Rag, a publication of the Independent Writers' Studio, has produced nine volumes since 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Dean |date=May 26, 2015 |title=Whatcom Profiles: Literary 'Clover' journal coming up roses |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/living/magazine/article22907907.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=December 11, 2023}}</ref> The city is home to writers including [[Steve Martini]] and [[George Dyson (science historian)|George Dyson]]. The [[Bellingham Public Library]] provides free library services at the Central Library, Barkley Branch and Fairhaven Branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org/|title=Bellingham Public Library—City of Bellingham, WA|work=bellinghampubliclibrary.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref>

===Local theater===
[[File:Mount Baker Theatre.JPG|thumb|right|[[Mount Baker Theatre]]]]

Bellingham's theater culture is boosted by the performing arts department at Western Washington University. There are several theaters and productions in Bellingham:

* [[Bellingham Theatre Guild]], a non-profit community theater was founded in 1929. [[Hilary Swank]] performed here before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her career in acting.
* [[Mount Baker Theatre]] is the largest performing arts facility north of Seattle and is listed on the register of National Historic Places. The theater is an example of Moorish architecture, with several sections of the 1927 theater having been restored over the past two decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountbakertheatre.com/Online/default.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808093242/http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/homepage.php|title=Mount Baker Theatre &#124; Home|archive-date=August 8, 2007|website=www.mountbakertheatre.com}}</ref>
* Upfront Theatre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theupfront.com|title=Ryan Stiles' The Upfront Theatre -|work=theupfront.com|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930090242/http://theupfront.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> an improv comedy venue established by Bellingham resident [[Ryan Stiles]] of ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (American TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' fame.
* Northwest Ballet, a regional ballet company, performs classical ballets.
* iDiOM Theater, a non-profit regional theater: almost every show is new, locally written work.
* Firehouse Performing Arts Center, a Fairhaven firehouse converted into a dance classroom and theater.

===Activism===
The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center was founded in 2002 by local activists, and has been one of the most active such centers in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellinghampeace.org/press/02_12center.html |title=Whatcom Peace and Justice Center Opens in Downtown Bellingham |access-date=October 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009223453/http://www.bellinghampeace.org/press/02_12center.html |archive-date=October 9, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oct27.org/node/341|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080301040051/http://oct27.org/node/341|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2008|title=Whatcom Peace & Justice Center—October 27<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=oct27.org|access-date=August 11, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2006, the Bellingham City Council passed a Troops Home! resolution, making Bellingham the first city in the state of Washington to pass the resolution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cob.org/web/COUNCIL.nsf/59da8dfbfadd3723882566730073373b/2e41ea3452babeb1882571f60082fd53?OpenDocument |title=Council Minutes for September 25, 2006 City of Bellingham, WA|work=cob.org|access-date=September 28, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001145929/http://www.cob.org/web/COUNCIL.nsf/59da8dfbfadd3723882566730073373b/2e41ea3452babeb1882571f60082fd53?OpenDocument |archive-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> Two years later, the City Council passed a resolution urging elected representatives and the federal government to avoid war with Iran, becoming the first city in the state to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=726&Itemid=1 |title=Cities for Peace—IPS |publisher=Citiesforprogress.org |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902124807/http://www.citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=726&Itemid=1 |archive-date=September 2, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 2012, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the federal government to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in the case of [[Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission|FEC v. Citizens United]] by declaring that U.S. Constitutional rights apply to natural persons and not to corporations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bellingham council approves anti-Citizens United resolution|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/06/05/2551154/bellingham-council-approves-anti.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118022012/http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/06/05/2551154/bellingham-council-approves-anti.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|access-date=November 17, 2012|newspaper=Bellingham Herald}}</ref> In 2014, coinciding with Columbus Day that celebrates the arrival of European explorers, the City Council officially established Coast Salish Day to celebrate the Native American peoples who continue to call the geographic region their home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/15/bellingham-unanimously-votes-recognize-coast-salish-day-157355|title=Bellingham Unanimously Votes to Recognize Coast Salish Day|work=Indian Country Today Media Network.com|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125060950/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/15/bellingham-unanimously-votes-recognize-coast-salish-day-157355|archive-date=November 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2015, the [[Seattle Arctic drilling protests]] spread to Bellingham when a protester chained herself to the [[anchor]] chain of a [[Royal Dutch Shell]] ship for 63 hours.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title= Arctic drilling update: Protester leaves Shell ship after hanging on since Friday; Student activist Chiara D'Angelo, who has been hanging off the anchor chain of an Arctic oil-drilling support ship since Friday night, has ended her protest |magazine=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date= May 25, 2015 |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0525/Arctic-drilling-update-Protester-leaves-Shell-ship-after-hanging-on-since-Friday |access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref>

In May 2024, students at [[Western Washington University]] formed a [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses|pro-Palestine encampment]] outside of Old Main for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One week into Western's pro-Palestine encampment |url=https://www.thefrontonline.com/article/2024/05/wwu-pro-palestine-encampment-update?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=One week into Western’s pro-Palestine encampment - The Front |language=en-US}}</ref> It disbanded on May 30 after negotiating with the university.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encampment resolution and reflections {{!}} President's Office {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://president.wwu.edu/encampment-resolution-and-reflections |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=president.wwu.edu}}</ref>

===Future development===
[[File:Bellingham City Hall with a homeless camp around it. December 2020. (50693543996).jpg|thumb|Homeless encampment around Bellingham City Hall, 2020]]

Bellingham saw apartment vacancy hit 0.6% in 2016, and plans to use multi-family housing to accommodate more than 50% of the projected growth in housing units (16,525 units by 2036).<ref name="inside-shortage">{{cite news|last1=Hamann|first1=Emily|title=Inside Bellingham's housing shortage|url=http://bbjtoday.com/blog/inside-bellinghams-housing-shortage/33727/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Business Journal|date=May 2, 2016}}</ref> According to Aaron Terrazas, senior economist at Zillow, "Given the area's pace of growth, it would require very aggressive building to keep rent affordability in check."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Dave|title=Ever wonder why rent continues to go up in Bellingham? Just look at the factors at play|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article142981649.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=April 6, 2017}}</ref>

The city has resisted expanding the Urban Growth Area for many years,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Way|first1=Rebekah|title=Pushing City Limits|url=https://theplanetmagazine.net/pushing-city-limits-99f37d65d281|publisher=The Planet Magazine|access-date=June 19, 2017|date=March 6, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and hopes to fit both multi-family and single-family growth within the city limits.<ref name="inside-shortage" /> Builders counter that even City planners acknowledge that the city is "largely built out" and that the remaining land is difficult or expensive to build on.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Twitchell|first1=Linda|title=Should cities expand boundaries to encourage affordable housing?|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article108265807.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=October 16, 2016}}</ref> Attempts to increase density, ease restrictions on 'accessory dwelling units',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wohlfeil|first1=Samantha|title=Bellingham looks to tackle illegal housing after months of public input|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article120077083.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=December 11, 2016}}</ref> or even to develop land already zoned residential, are regularly met with fierce neighborhood opposition: Padden Trails was opposed by the Samish Neighborhood Association;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Tim|title=Another Southside development proposal draws fire|url=http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw/currents/6540|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024195634/http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw/currents/6540|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Cascadia Weekly|date=December 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Carpenter|first1=Joseph|title=SNA position on Padden Trails|url=http://samishneighborhood.org/sna-position-on-padden-trails|website=Samish Neighborhood Association|access-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123073826/http://samishneighborhood.org/sna-position-on-padden-trails|archive-date=January 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> a dense development at the Sunnyland D.O.T. site was scaled-down;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Tim|title=On the Spectrum|url=http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw/currents/17505|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Cascadia Weekly|date=August 20, 2014|archive-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123092441/http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw/currents/17505|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fairhaven neighbors led the effort to prevent the development of Fairhaven Highlands,<ref>{{cite web|title=Case Study: Solving problems with an opposition group.|url=http://masterplanning.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FairhavenHighlands_casestudy.pdf|access-date=June 19, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731213549/http://masterplanning.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FairhavenHighlands_casestudy.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> (now Chuckanut Ridge), which the City ended up purchasing for $8.2 million,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Servais|first1=John|title=City to buy Chuckanut Ridge for $8.2 million|url=http://nwcitizen.com/entry/city-to-buy-chuckanut-ridge-for-8.2-million|website=Northwest Citizen|access-date=June 19, 2017|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> preventing more than 700 new housing units;<ref>{{cite web|title=Fairhaven's Hundred Acre Wood Wildlife Habitat or 1,464 Unit Planned Community|url=http://whatcomwatch.org/index.php/article/fairhavens-hundred-acre-wood-wildlife-habitat-or-1464-unit-planned-community/|website=Whatcom Watch|access-date=June 19, 2017|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> neighborhood groups pressured the City Council to go against staff recommendation to rezone Squalicum Lofts for residential development.<ref>{{cite news|title=Allsop applies for industrial Squalicum Lofts project|url=http://bbjtoday.com/blog/allsop-applies-for-industrial-squalicum-lofts-project/1388/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Business Journal|date=January 31, 2008}}</ref>

In 2017, the Bellingham City Council began acknowledging housing affordability as a critical issue,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mittendorf|first1=Robert|title=First-timers: It's getting harder to find affordable housing in Bellingham. Just look at what you're up against|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article152902544.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> and hosted a town hall meeting on housing affordability and homelessness.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mittendorf|first1=Robert|title=They talked about 'income discrimination.' What does that mean?|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article156255959.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=June 14, 2017}}</ref>

===Waterfront redevelopment===
{{Main|Bellingham Waterfront}}
[[File:Bellingham, Washington, harbor, filled with logs, 1972.jpg|thumb|The harbor of Bellingham, Washington, filled with logs, 1972]]
The Bellingham waterfront has served as an industrial center for more than a century, starting with the arrival of Henry Roeder and Russell Peabody in the mid-1800s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mittendorf|first1=Robert|title=See how Bellingham waterfront has changed since first European settlers|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article105036241.html|access-date=May 29, 2017|work=The Bellingham Herald|date=September 30, 2016}}</ref>

[[Georgia-Pacific]] (G-P) purchased the Puget Sound Pulp and Timber Company in 1963 and operated a pulp mill on the central downtown waterfront until 2001. In 1965, G-P built a [[Chloralkali process|chlor-alkali]] facility, which became a source of [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] contamination in the Whatcom Waterway and on the uplands of the site for decades. The documentary film, "Smells Like Money&nbsp;– The Story of Bellingham's Georgia Pacific Plant"<ref>{{cite AV media |people=David Albright, Brett Bonner, Colin Short |date=2006 |title=Smells Like Money: The Story of Bellingham's Georgia Pacific Plant |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Northwest Film School]] and [[Western Washington University]] |oclc=163579824}}</ref> tells the story of the site, which has since been purchased by the [[Port of Bellingham]] chiefly to create a marina in the {{convert|37|acre|ha|adj=on}} wastewater lagoon.{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}} The Port of Bellingham purchased the G-P site for $10 with the understanding that the port would assume liability for the contamination.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stark|first=John|date=January 21, 2005|title=Ceremony marks first step in creating city's new front door|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/107DAAD1F10C9773?p=NewsBank|journal=The Bellingham Herald |pages=Local, p. 1B|via=NewsBank}}</ref> The City of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham entered into several interlocal agreements in which the City agreed to pay for all infrastructure costs, and the Port would create a marina, clean up the site, and retain all zoning.{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}

The cleanup site (approximately {{convert|74|acre|ha|disp=}}) was divided into two areas: pulp and tissue mill area and the chlor-alkali area. Contaminated soils and building materials were removed in 2011 and 2013; the Department of Ecology finalized the Interim Cleanup Work Plan in January 2017,<ref name="gpwb-ecology">{{cite web|title=Georgia Pacific West Bellingham|url=https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=2279|website=State of Washington|publisher=Department of Ecology, State of Washington|access-date=May 29, 2017}}</ref> and that work was completed in April 2017 when 31 acres were capped with a protective barrier.<ref>{{cite web|title=It's a Wrap on the Cap: Port of Bellingham completes major cleanup milestone to redevelop Bellingham's Waterfront District|url=https://www.aspectconsulting.com/blog/2017/4/18/its-a-wrap-on-the-cap-port-of-bellingham-completes-major-cleanup-milestone-to-redevelop-bellinghams-waterfront-district|website=Aspect Consulting|date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}</ref> Work continues on evaluating cleanup alternatives for the entire chlor-alkali area of the site.<ref name="gpwb-ecology" />

The City and Port have entered into a partnership to redevelop the property, and in 2013 contracted with Harcourt Developments to develop {{convert|19|acre|ha|disp=}}.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hamann|first1=Emily|title=Harcourt lays out next stages of waterfront redevelopment|url=http://bbjtoday.com/blog/harcourt-lays-out-next-stages-of-waterfront-redevelopment/34561/|access-date=May 29, 2017|work=The Bellingham Business Journal|date=November 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107054328/http://bbjtoday.com/blog/harcourt-lays-out-next-stages-of-waterfront-redevelopment/34561/|archive-date=January 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Granary Building remodel will be completed in 2017; Harcourt has submitted plans for two waterfront condo buildings in 2018 and 2019; the city planned to construct two main roads through the side in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wohlfeil|first1=Samantha|title=Granary Building puts up fight; other waterfront projects in the works|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article122562484.html|access-date=May 29, 2017|date=December 23, 2016}}</ref>