23 urban villages have been recommended for accommodating Bellingham’s growth, although the new comprehensive plan says that most of these cannot be relied on to be developed in the next 20 years. While urban villages are great and can help with growth, they cannot be forced.
An urban village is a HUGE project for any developer to take on. Residential, commercial, parking and park space are all combined into one fluid project. It is a very large and expensive project.
Here in Bellingham our best example of an urban village is Barkley Village. It has been well designed with a consistent style throughout. It has shops, groceries, services and offices and is a very popular place, but it is missing one fundamental piece: residences.
An urban village is meant to be a place where people can live, work and enjoy the community that smaller towns experience while still living in an urban city setting. The idea is that you live there (usually upstairs with shops below) and down in the common area are all the amenities that you need - hopefully even your own job, eliminating the need for a vehicle.
There are several challenges that I see with putting in 23 urban villages:
Location. Many people in our area are pushing to limit urban sprawl and increase density. While an urban village would satisfy the density aspect, the reality is to do this kind of project from scratch requires a large open space.
Communal living. Are people ready to give up their private backyards and large garages? Not sure, but that inclination is not reflected in most of the requests we get from buyers. Single family homes with yards are still the Number 1 choice with our clients.
Businesses. Finding enough businesses to fill the commercial space below, at a lease rate they can afford, can be a challenge. Small business is not easy, and the attrition rate is extremely high. Sustaining the village in terms of jobs and services needed may be a challenge.
Money. As with many things, the dollars must be taken into consideration. An urban village would cost millions of dollars to develop, and the payout comes a long time after the investment.
Many people by now must think that I am completely anti-urban village. Not true. I think that urban villages are wonderful, and when implemented properly, can be an excellent addition to a community and a great way to live. At the same time I am a realist and I see difficulties in mandating a certain amount of urban villages, particularly in a city the size of Bellingham.
The Solution?
I hate it when people nag about a problem but then don’t offer any potential solutions in return. So here is mine: wait for Barkley Village to finish. They are supposed to be putting in some condominiums in the next couple of years. Once they are finished and occupied, then lets look at how it is working. Bellingham has a very unique character and I think that it would be difficult to take a big city solution and stamp it into mid-size Bellingham. Let’s complete Barkley Village, learn from Barkley Village, and then decide if it is compatible with a Bellingham lifestyle.
Any other potential solutions? I would love to hear them.
This honor comes to Whatcom County’s hospital at a special time as they are celebrating their 115th anniversary. This picture shows the hospital in 1901 when it was located on Forest Street.