The Lettered Street’s View

At this month’s Lettered Street Neighborhood association meeting on Tuesday, May 11, there was concern about the redevelopment of the Georgia Pacific plant. Neighbors were upset that their view of the bay might be disrupted.

Linda Stewart, Neighborhoods and Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Bellingham gave a presentation about the prospective waterfront design. Concerns were voiced that the view from the neighborhood would be diminished or all together blocked out by new structures.

The Plan

Currently, there are no limits in place that govern the height of buildings. Stewart said that the existing brick buildings at the Georgia Pacific location are a good determinant of the size of the future buildings. Some neighbors were enraged at the prospect of the new buildings being so high.

The new plan includes parks and greenways along with commercial and residential development. Since there are no height regulations, there is expected to be high-rise buildings which would block the view of people living towards downtown and the lettered streets.

Building Blocks

Since the installment of the Hotel Bellwether and other recent development of high-rises on Bellwether Way, Lettered Street neighbors have complained that their view is ruined. The big red crane behind Anthony’s Restaurant is stacking floor after floor on the structure which, Lettered Street residents say, is obstructing their water view.

On the edge of the bluff, there is a condo that stands in the way of Eldridge St. residents. Earl Hutchins, a Lettered Street local and attendee of the association meeting referred to this location specifically. “Want to see an example of [what’s going to happen]? Go look at 1203 W. Holly,” Hutchins noted, “My house is the one right behind it.” Others in the room agreed and said that the building was ugly. Hutchins said he had lost faith in Bellingham.

A Lack of Trust

Feld tried to sum up the feelings of the group to Stewart, saying, “I think what your hearing is a general lack of trust.” At the meeting, there was mention of the phrase, “view corridor,” referring to a line-of-site view, purposefully left for those who are being blocked. Feld said, “A view corridor is just a euphemism for taking away the view and replacing it with a sliver.”

The plan is still in the developmental phase, Stewart said. She carried a clipboard and notepad to jot down the opinions of the Lettered Street neighbors. She insisted that people should get their voices heard, now, while the plan is still malleable.

Just Can’t Dig it

Ray Edwards, a Lettered Street neighbor, talked about how parking is going to become an issue. She brought up the fact that the buildings are going to be built on landfill. That means that digging below the surface is not an option. “There won’t be any underground parking garages,” Edwards insisted, “so they’re either going to raise the building up and make room, or people are going to park on the street.” So traffic and parking could possibly become problematic as well.

Biggest Dollar Speaks the Loudest

One resident said she remembered when you could go to Zuanich Point Park and have a perfect panoramic view of your surroundings. With the new development at the port, the view no longer exists. Hutchins was angered at the city and the port for not listening to their complaints about prior development. Hutchins said it was all about money. He told Stewart it was unfair that the plans always end up in the favor of the port. “We need to stop another Bellwether,” he said.