The City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham joined forces to create a master plan to guide the redevelopment of Bellingham's downtown waterfront. The 137-acre parcel was acquired by the Port early in 2005 after decades of industrial use. The 20-year vision: a new city neighborhood with homes, shops, offices and light industry, as well as parks and promenades, a healthy shoreline habitat along Bellingham Bay, and a new marina.
This extensive planning effort has been ongoing since 2005, and a Waterfront District Master Plan and accompanying development regulations are anticipated to be completed in 2009-2010. Background documents and information are available in the New Whatcom section.
The New Whatcom Redevelopment Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) was released on October 15, 2008, by the SEPA Responsible Official for the Port of Bellingham for a 30-day public review and comment period.