HeidiSchiller
Lately, downtown’s crane index — an unofficial measurement used by planners and developers to gauge construction activity — has been high. Literally translated, it’s hard to turn a corner downtown these days without running into hard hats, the sounds of jackhammers and the buzz of upward building. With all of this development, some clarification on who’s doing what, where and by when, will help readers wade through downtown’s crane maze.
The map below, created with the help of the planning department, lists current projects and their status. To find the projects’ details, search the map for a specific development’s number and find its corresponding description below.
1.
Project: Kateri Court, formerly Chestnut Street Housing
Address: 110 E. Chestnut St.
Developer: Chestnut Street Housing LLC, led by the Archdiocesan Housing Authority of Western Washington
Plans: 5-story building with 40 affordable housing multi-family units, ground floor commercial space and basement parking. LEED certification a priority for builder.
Status: Under construction
Projected completion date: June 20, 2006
2.
Project: Gateway Building
Address: 202 E. Holly St.
Developer: Ron and Lisa Woo, EWHA Inc.
Plans: Commercial and office space with residential apartments.
Status: south side of the building completed, north side under construction
Projected completion date: May 2006
3.
Project: Bay View Tower
Address: 1217 N. State St.
Developer: Bayview Tower LLC, Will Honea, project manager
Plans: 20-story mixed-used building with 121 residential units, underground parking and ground floor commercial space.
Status: Under review
Projected completion date: 2008
4.
Project: Laube Hotel
Address: 1226 N. State St.
Developer: Bellingham Housing Authority
Plans: Renovation of 20 low-income residential units with ground floor commercial space.
Status: Not yet applied for permit
Projected completion date: End of 2007
5.
Project: Whatcom Educational Credit Union Loan Center
Address: 500 E. Holly St.
Developer: Whatcom Educational Credit Union
Plans: 9,000-square-foot commercial loan center; LEED certification a priority.
Status: Under construction
Projected completion date: End of 2006
6.
Project: Morse Landing
Address: 112 E. Maple St.
Developer: Rick Westerop, West-Lind Construction
Plans: 5-story mixed-use building with 25 residential apartments and ground floor commercial space with basement parking.
Status: Under construction
Projected completion date: August 2006
7.
Project: Morse Square
Address: 1010 and 1020 Railroad Ave.
Developer: Rick Westerop, West-Lind Construction
Plans: 131 residential units in three separate buildings supported by a parking structure and some commercial space. The entire site encompasses 1.94 acres.
Status: One building completed, others under construction
Projected completion date: 1010 Railroad Ave. by March 2008, 1020 Railroad Ave. by April 2007
8.
Project: Unnamed
Address: 1031 N. State St.
Developer: Rick Westerop, West-Lind Construction
Plans: 4-story building with 35 multi-family units, basement parking and ground floor commercial space.
Status: Under construction
Projected completion date: June 2006
9.
Project: Laurel Village
Address: 2110 E. Laurel St.
Developer: Bellingham Housing Authority
Plans: 51 low-income multi-family units, includes three structures totaling 19,430 square feet and underground parking.
Status: Under construction
Projected completion date: September 2006
