A Bellingham community organization recently made a suggestion that could help provide affordable housing for residents, and help the food industry at the same time.
At a recent meeting of the Commissioners of the Port of Bellingham, Mauri Ingram suggested that the former Georgia-Pacific facility on the waterfront should be repurposed as a food campus. Ingram is the Whatcom Community Foundation's president and CEO, and said that a number of organizations in the local area have said they are interested in the idea. They include the Opportunity Council, the Bellingham Food Bank, and the Community Food Co-op.
In addition to the food campus, the complex would include residential units. One suggestion calls for a mixed-use structure seven stories in height, with apartments on five floors. The port commissioners all seemed enthusiastic about the concept, and directed their staff to consider the idea. Officials might like to present ideas like this to residents via a newsletter created with the help of Print shops.
One of the commissioners, Michael Shepard, said he would like to look into the project because it could provide affordable housing near the waterfront, and also create jobs at the same time it helps local employers.
The food campus in particular could be used in various ways, all of which would help local food trucks, restaurants, farms, and stores. For instance, spaces could be reserved for caterers, commercial kitchens, and farmers who need to store their products.
Get a Free Quote for Print
