Seattle consulting firm CollinsWoerman, who had been contracted to redesign the waterfront area of the former GP site, is getting the boot from Bellingham. The Waterfront Advisory Group (an appointed panel) is telling the city of Bellingham and Bellingham Port authorities that the plan presented by the Seattle group does not take into consideration what locals are saying.

The Waterfront Futures group (another citizen panel) spent 18 months researching the area and came up with guidelines for its development. Their plan called for creating a new neighborhood with a combination of industrial, commercial, residential and open space.

Many citizens feel that the Seattle plans involve too much private development too quickly.

The Waterfront Advisory Group will continue to work on a plan for redevelopment of the GP site which will include many of the recommendations and guidelines from the Waterfront Futures Group.

Oh yeah - and the price tag for this Seattle firm: $113,000. Thankfully, they had other projects in that contract so the money isn’t a complete waste - we hope.